Everyone likes the sight and sound of their own name. This very basic fact, say suppliers, accounts for the timeless appeal of personalized products. "People love to see their names on things," says Debi Allison, co-owner, Deb & Co., who notes that personalization has become more popular in a variety of product categories.
Personalized ornament and holiday stocking from Rudolph & Me
(866/827-1400).
Suppliers say that personalized Christmas products, particularly ornaments, are continuing to sell well even as retailers and consumers generally cut back their spending. "Our sales were actually up last season," says Susan Brielmann, owner, Rudolph & Me. She observes that although cash-strapped holiday shoppers may hold off on purchases of electronics and other expensive gift items, they still want to commemorate the holiday by giving affordable, meaningful gifts to family members and close friends. Brielmann reports that personalized ornaments with embellishments - glitter, bells, bows and other adornments - are proving popular this season.
New introduction from Ornament Central (888/662-8831)
celebrates retirement.
Ron Casey, office manager, Ornament Central, notes that in more prosperous times, shoppers would often choose a personalized ornament as a stocking stuffer or as a less-expensive additional gift for someone. "Now, they're still giving the ornament, but it's often the only gift," says Casey. He notes that ornaments that depict people or animal characters sell better than those depicting inanimate objects such as trees or fireplaces.
Holly ornament from Art of the Spirit
(770/475-2811) has blank side
for inscriptions.
Ornament suppliers say a key to strong retail sales in the category is the range of professions, hobbies and emotional milestones represented in a store's personalized-ornament display. This year, say suppliers, they are getting requests for more pieces that show women in traditionally male professions and men in traditionally female ones. Says Allison of Deb & Co.: "We have a male nurse and we are doing a female veterinarian. We've had a lot of requests for it." Similarly, Ornament Central is debuting a male teacher.
Brielmann of Rudolph & Me says she is seeing increases in sales of personalized tabletop pieces with holiday themes. "People display them in the kitchen or on the mantel, or sometimes they buy them for their desk at work, so they can bring a little bit of the holiday into the workplace," says Brielmann.
