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Lisa1958

Lisa1958

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We recently visited a B & B that sold mugs, blankets, night lights, coffee, tea and robes, all with inn logos.
What do you sell?
How much extra income do you make? Is it worth it?
 
It is well worth it - even in a 3-guestroom B & B in Podunk.I have an in-State potter who throws each mug and signs each - they sell. No, they SELL. I sell local honey and jams & jellies. I used to sell T-shirts, lunch bags, aprons - they can no longer get the lunch bags I want, the price went up on the aprons to more than I could sell them for, and I got tired of T-shirts to explain why I no longer sell the textiles.
If you sell things from your area - made in your area, made in your State or Province - they will sell better than something from China with your logo.
 
Mugs. We don't make much and we give most of them away to repeat guests but, we've paid for all of them thru selling them.
We'd do shirts and hats if we could get around to getting a logo we like.
Non logo'd items that are made locally sell much better. (Think food.)
 
we sell local jam, muslie, room biscuits, hand wash and moisturizer (local company),pack of local coffee, soft drinks, and packed lunches
Best seller Jam and local bottled water - jam is local and in the small jars we do a selection of 8 for 8 dollars (approx) and really popular as a slightly unusual gift
I would point out though that we don't sell anything we don't have in anyway so anything we do sell is a bonus. Have sold up to $60 of jam in a day. we do also keep in paper bags with handles which we put on a large sticker with bb info on like a gift bag for them to go in.
We deal a lot with time poor conference guests - means they have the "bring something back" problem easily.
 
We sell mugs, metal water bottles, robes, lotions, soaps, hoodies (sold 2 today), engraved wine glasses & champagne flutes, aprons...we give away logo pens, scratch pads, postcards. It sure adds up over the year.
 
Forgot about the pens and postcards. Those we give away. Look at it as marketing.
 
Mugs (we have our own in-house potter)
T-shirts (although sometimes I think sweatshirts or fleece jackets might sell better here! ;-)
Postcards (we'll give those away, nobody has been buying them)
We're just about to get an order of hats in, and expect those will be popular.
Nothing yet is a big money maker, but it all is part of the overall marketing effort (getting our logo and name out there).
 
Harborfields said:
Mugs (we have our own in-house potter)
T-shirts (although sometimes I think sweatshirts or fleece jackets might sell better here! ;-)
Postcards (we'll give those away, nobody has been buying them)
We're just about to get an order of hats in, and expect those will be popular.
Nothing yet is a big money maker, but it all is part of the overall marketing effort (getting our logo and name out there)..
Click to expand...
Harbor - Where did you order the hats and t-shirts?
 
Morticia said:
Harborfields said:
Mugs (we have our own in-house potter)
T-shirts (although sometimes I think sweatshirts or fleece jackets might sell better here! ;-)
Postcards (we'll give those away, nobody has been buying them)
We're just about to get an order of hats in, and expect those will be popular.
Nothing yet is a big money maker, but it all is part of the overall marketing effort (getting our logo and name out there)..
Click to expand...
Harbor - Where did you order the hats and t-shirts?
.
Click to expand...
From our local place back in NH: Bulldog Designs
eta: we had some polo shirts done for us at the local embroidery shop here in our harbor, but that was a few years ago and since then their machine (or the computer that runs it) broke down, and last time we checked it wasn't clear when (or if?) they would be operational again.
 
Our mugs came from Dis count Mugs. We bought a large quantity several years ago. With shipping they priced out to 1.88 each. If a guest requests I sell them for $5.
We have had requests for shirts and hoodies. We would like to do a hoodie, but need a great logo, I have an idea that has been kicking around my head for years. I may investigate you 99 site to see if someone could do it.
Otherwise we really don't have the space for a gift shop, although hearing about someone else's success with jam sales, I might consider an attractive locking cabinet for that. I do make our jam, but have done so only to put on the table, and occasionally put a jar in our county fair. I'd have to up the quantity to do that. It's a time thing.
 
Skamokawa said:
Our mugs came from Dis count Mugs. We bought a large quantity several years ago. With shipping they priced out to 1.88 each. If a guest requests I sell them for $5.
We have had requests for shirts and hoodies. We would like to do a hoodie, but need a great logo, I have an idea that has been kicking around my head for years. I may investigate you 99 site to see if someone could do it.
Otherwise we really don't have the space for a gift shop, although hearing about someone else's success with jam sales, I might consider an attractive locking cabinet for that. I do make our jam, but have done so only to put on the table, and occasionally put a jar in our county fair. I'd have to up the quantity to do that. It's a time thing..
Click to expand...
We just started selling hoodies this year. Bought them from customink They were the cheapest and they did a good job, quickly. They are selling better than the old sweatshirt or t-shirts did.
Hoodies are BIG in the PNW
Wine glasses, champagne flutes, metal water bottles and mugs are all from discount m ugs. The cheapest place, quick turn around and the price is so good it's just not a big deal when a guest breaks one.
 
Skamokawa said:
Our mugs came from Dis count Mugs. We bought a large quantity several years ago. With shipping they priced out to 1.88 each. If a guest requests I sell them for $5.
We have had requests for shirts and hoodies. We would like to do a hoodie, but need a great logo, I have an idea that has been kicking around my head for years. I may investigate you 99 site to see if someone could do it.
Otherwise we really don't have the space for a gift shop, although hearing about someone else's success with jam sales, I might consider an attractive locking cabinet for that. I do make our jam, but have done so only to put on the table, and occasionally put a jar in our county fair. I'd have to up the quantity to do that. It's a time thing..
Click to expand...
To me, a gift shop is shelves on a wall, not anything that penetrates into a room. Also, an add to the charm/experience for some
 
Skamokawa said:
Our mugs came from Dis count Mugs. We bought a large quantity several years ago. With shipping they priced out to 1.88 each. If a guest requests I sell them for $5.
We have had requests for shirts and hoodies. We would like to do a hoodie, but need a great logo, I have an idea that has been kicking around my head for years. I may investigate you 99 site to see if someone could do it.
Otherwise we really don't have the space for a gift shop, although hearing about someone else's success with jam sales, I might consider an attractive locking cabinet for that. I do make our jam, but have done so only to put on the table, and occasionally put a jar in our county fair. I'd have to up the quantity to do that. It's a time thing..
Click to expand...
Skam - Have it where it will be easily seen. My Hoosier is in the dining room. Seeing it at breakfast has reminder many a guest they needed something for __________ or that they wanted some jam or a mug. I do not have to say anything more than to point out which is the tea tasting cabinet and that the Hoosier is the gift area.
 

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