Sidelines Snapshot: Gardening Tools, Buttons, Puzzles and Cat Bow Ties

Enamel pin from Wildship

At The Raven Book Store in Lawrence, Kan., sidelines buyer Nikita Imafidon reported that notebook tidies, glasses cases and other small organizational items from companies like IF have been very popular lately, with Imafidon adding that she was "surprised" by how often people ask for them. Enamel pins have also been huge, and Imafidon pointed to licensed pins from Ideal Bookshelf and nature-based pins from Wildship Studio as standouts. Recently Imafidon has brought in some different kinds of natural crayons made from beeswax by the company Honeysticks, and she said the customer response has been exciting.

Bow ties for cats from Sweet Pickles Designs

When asked about other children's sidelines, Imafidon said that puzzles are a mainstay, and that she's never seen a time when children's puzzles haven't sold well. She sources a lot of them from Chronicle Books and New York Puzzle Company. On the subject of locally made sidelines, Imafidon said she brings in a lot of greeting cards made by local artists, as well as some notebooks. And in terms of perennial favorites, she said customers come back every year for calendars and planners, particularly the ECOlogical Calendar by Chris Hardman, and Cat Bow Ties from Sweet Pickles' Designs are very popular.

Buttons from Word Emporium

In Chapel Hill, N.C., Flyleaf Books has had success recently with tea towels from Radical Tea Towel, as well as stickers and buttons from Word Emporium Sticker Company. Owner Jamie Fiocco reported that she didn't think buttons would be so popular, but at only $1.50 per button, her store sells "hundreds of them." Fiocco also recently brought in wooden 3D puzzles from German company Fridolin, which are called "IQ-Test." As for locally and regionally made sidelines, Fiocco noted that Word Emporium is local, and that she carries a lot of greeting cards made by local artists. Some of her store's perennial favorites, meanwhile, include socks from Blue Q, greeting cards from Notes & Queries and Blackwing pencils.

Miya bowls

Ann Leyhe, co-owner of Mrs. Dalloway's Literary & Garden Arts in Berkeley, Calif., reported that her store generally carries sidelines that are either gardening-related, kitchen-related or something literary. Some of her gardening items include things like shovels, digging forks, trowels and other tools imported from English firms like Spear & Jackson and Burgon & Ball, as well as a variety of seeds and seed-starting kits from local suppliers. When it comes to kitchen-related sidelines, Leyhe said she's done well with bowls from the Japanese company Miya and an assortment of items like hand-screened aprons and potholders from local artisans. Organic tea sourced from a company in Bellingham, Wash., Flying Bird Botanicals, is also a staple.

Big Dipper candles

Lately, Leyhe said, Blackwing pencils and scarves from Rock Flower Paper have been selling well. She sources candles from Big Dipper Wax Works in Seattle, Wash., which are perennial favorites, and on the subject of children's-focused sidelines, Leyhe said she carries puzzles and matching games from Chronicle Books and Hachette Book Group, along with a variety of things from Maileg. Leyhe added that she visits the NY Now gift show each year in August to source items for the holiday season, and always seeks to round out her sidelines inventory with items from local artisans. --Alex Mutter

Powered by: Xtenit