State-Focused Gift Shops
Most states have privately owned gift shops that feature products made in that state (or have other connections to that state). The following state gift shops should feature your books if the state is where the publisher is located, the state is the residence of the author, the state is featured in the book, or the book is printed in the state. To get you started, here are several such gift shops:
Goat Hill Museum Store, 600 Dexter Avenue, Montgomery AL 36104; 334-353-4969. Web: http://www.preserveala.org. Gifts made in Alabama as well as gifts about Alabama.
Alaska Feed Company, 1600 College Road, Fairbanks AK 99709; 907-451-5570; 800-478-FEED; Fax: 907-451-5573. Web: http://www.alaskafeed.com. Their Alaska Made Market specialized ins Alaskan-made products, both practical as well as gifts.
Great Alaskan Souvenir & Gifts, 330 Spruce Mill Way #D, Ketchikan AK 99901; 907-247-1414. Email: insidepassageak@kpunet.net. Alaskan souvenirs, apparel, and gifts.
Made in Alaska, 550 West 7th Avenue, Anchorage AK 99501; 907-269-8150. Email: madeinalaska@alaska.gov. Alaskan souvenirs, apparel, and gifts.
Sibley’s West, 72 S San Marcos Place, Chandler AZ 85225; 480-899-4480. Web: http://www.sibleyswest.com. Showcases unique gift items from over 200 Arizona artists and businesses (as well as Chandler AZ items).
Golden State Museum, California Specialty Gift Shop, 1020 O Street, Sacramento CA 95814; 916-653-7524; Fax: 916-635-0314. Web: http://www.goldenstatemuseum.org.
Discover California! Gifts & Souvenirs, 114 J Street, Sacramento CA 95814; 916-433-8275. Web: http://www.discovercal.com.
Made in Colorado, 4840 West 29th Avenue, Denver CO 80212; 303-477-7343; 800-272-1046; Fax: 303-433-7343. Email: roberta@madeincolorado.com. Web: http://www.madeincolorado.com. Features Colorado gifts, food, souvenirs, home accessories, and more.
The Connecticut Store, Made in Connecticut, 120-140 Bank Street, Waterbury CT 06702; 800-474-6728. Email: hank@theconnecticut store.com. Web: http://www.theconnecticutstore.com.
Delaware Made General Store, 32 W Loockerman Street #101B, Dover DE 19904; 302-736-1419. Web: http://www.delawaremade.com.
Georgia Gifts and More, 3781 Presidential Parkway #137, Atlanta GA 30340; 404-241-1375. Email: info@georgiagiftsandmore.com. Web: http://www.georgiagiftsandmore.com.
Georgia Grown Visitors Center & Gifts, Atlanta State Farmers’ Market, 16 Forest Parkway, Forest Park GA 30050; 800-662-7829. Features many Georgia products, including pecans, peaches, and peanuts.
Heart of Iowa Market Place, 211 Fifth Street, West Des Moines IA 50265; 515-274-4692; 866-274-4692; Fax: 515-274-5020. Email: gifts@heartofiowamarketplace.com. Web: http://www.heartofiowamarketplace.com. Iowa’s original specialty store.
The Iowa Store, 400 N Front Street, Burlington IA 52601; 319-753-5314; 866-753-5314. Email: shop@iowastore.net. Web: http://www.iowastore.net. Iowa and Burlington apparel, gifts, and more.
Kansas Museum of History Gift Shop, Kansas Historical Society, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka KS 66615-1099; 785-272-8681. Email: store@kshs.org. Web: http://www.kshs.org/museum. Books related to Kansas history as well as unique Kansas-made products of art, clothing, collectibles, jewelry, posters, and souvenirs.
Kansas State Capitol Gift Shop, Kansas Historical Society, 6425 SW 6th Avenue, Topeka KS 66615-1099; 785-296-3966. Email: store@kshs.org. Web: http://www.kshs.org/capitol. Located at SW 8th and SW Van Buren. Features Kansas inspired art, books, clothing, collectibles, posters, souvenirs, and more.
Sunflower Shoppe, 607 W Douglas Avenue, Wichita KS 67213-4702; 316-265-3933; 888-786-6444. Web: http://www.thesunflowershoppe.com. Kansas gifts.
Take Kansas Home. Web: http://www.takekansashome.com. Features Kansas-made food products, crafts, art, photography, textiles, books and more.
Kentucky State Capitol Gift Shop, 700 Capitol Avenue, Room 001, Frankfort KY 40602; 502-227-2962. Web: http://www.state.ky.us. A gift shop located in the state capitol building.
Krafted in Kentucky, 418 Mammoth Cave Street, Cave City KY 42127; 270-773-8833. Web: http://cavecity.com/welcome-center.
Maryland Store, Columbia MD; 800-999-8330. Web: http://www.celebrate maryland.com.
Heart of Michigan, 203 W Grand River Avenue, Howell MI; 517-548-5454. Web: http://www.heartofmich.com. Michigan-made souvenirs, foods, gift baskets, and more.
Love from Minnesota, Lynn Sutton, General Manager, 2465 Fairview Avenue N, Roseville MN 55113; 651-639-1413; Fax: 651-639-1425. Email: mrchtmoose@aol.com. This chain of 22 gift stores features books and gifts from Minnesota (and Michigan).
The Mississippi Gift Company, 300 Howard Street, Greenwood MS 38930; 662-455-6961; 800-467-7763. Web: http://www.themississippigiftcompany.com. Features Mississippi made food & gifts.
Best of Montana Company, 2912 10th Avenue S, Great Falls MT 59405-3243; 406-761-1233; 877-761-1233. Web: http://www.mtgifts.com.
Nebraska Food & Gift, 208 S Burlington Avenue #104, Hastings NE 68901; 402-462-8083; 877-634-4387. Email: custservice@nebraskafoodand gift.com. Web: http://www.nebraskafoodandgift.com. Includes books on Nebraska, pioneer spirit, Native Americans, regional cookbooks, humor, children’s books, and Nebraska trivia.
Authentic NC Goods, 1707-D N Main Street, High Point NC 27262; 336-870-5026. Web: http://www.authenticncgoods.com. Features North Carolina pottery, food, art, crafts, jewelry, and more.
Celebrate Local Ohio, Easton Town Center, 3952 Townsfair Way, Columbus OH 43219; 614-471-OHIO; 844-289-6446. Web: http://www.celebratelocalohio.com. Showcasing the best of Ohio-made artisanal goods from 300+ Ohio small businesses! Features Ohio wines and craft beers to handicrafts, gluten free products, home decor, skincare, apparel, honey, coffee, children’s clothing, books, local art, and so much more!
Second store: Celebrate Local, Liberty Center, 7127 Foundry Row, Liberty Township OH 45069.
A Taste of Ohio, 59320 Country Club Road, Byesville OH 43723; 740-432-8789; 866-334-6446. Web: http://www.atasteofohio.com. Features Ohio-made foods, gift baskets, and more.
Made in Oregon, 13625 NE Jarrett Street, Portland OR 97230; 503-273-8719; 866-257-0938; Fax: 503-222-6855. Email: catalog@madeinoregon. com. Web: http://www.madeinoregon.com. A chain of 8 stores selling products made in Oregon.
Tennessee Treasures Gift Shop, West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center, 121 Sunnyhill Cove, Brownsville TN 38012; 731-779-9000. Web: http://www.westtnheritage.com.
Y’alls Texas Stores, Samuel T Wisialowski, President, P O Box 12009, Spring TX 77391; 281-320-9733; Fax: 281-320-9733. Email: yallstexas@aol.com. Web: http://www.yalls.com. Nine stores in the Houston area featuring tee-shirts, gifts, souvenirs, books, and more. The president of the company used to be a Texas history teacher.
The Virginia Store, 555 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton VA 23669; 757-727-0600; 800-633-2203. Email: virginiastore@cox.net. Web: http://www.thevirginiastore.org. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheVirginiaStore. Features Virginia gift baskets, wines, foods, pottery, jewelry, books, art, and more.
Made in Washington, 2221 2nd Avenue, Seattle WA 98121-2016; 206-728-0838. Eight stores featuring crafts, books, specialty foods, and more from Washington state.
Scenes of West Virginia, 1709-11 St. Mary’s Avenue, Parkersburg WV 26101; 304-428-0772; 877-987-2363; Fax: 304-428-1169. Web: http://www.scenesofwv.com. West Virginia gifts, food, books, souvenirs, and more.
City-Focused Gift Stores
You can try local city stores as well as state-related stores. Here are several such city-related stores:
The Asheville Shop, Asheville Visitor Center, 36 Montford Avenue, Asheville NC; 828-210-2726. Web: http://www.exploreasheville.com.
Camel City Goods, 1004 Brookstown Avenue, Winston-Salem NC 27101; 336-422-7050. Email: shop@camelcitygoods.com. Web: http://www.camelcitygoods.com. Winston-Salem clothing, gifts, and accessories.
Circle City Souvenirs, 49 W Maryland Street, Indianapolis IN 46204 (P O Box 217, Fishers IN 46038); 317-841-8251; Fax: 317-841-8252. Web: http://www.indianascenicimages.com. Gifts related to Indianapolis and surrounding areas.
Constitution Square Gift Shop, 134 South 2nd Street, Danville KY; 859-236-2803. Features Danville souvenirs as well as Kentucky-made crafts.
Garlic City Mercantile, 7550 Monterey Street, Gilroy CA 95020; 408-767-2434. Email: gcmrcntl@garlic.com. Web: http://www.garliccitymercantile.com.
Gifts of Gansett, 142 Bonn Street, Narragansett RI; 401-363-9450. Gifts, apparel, toys, games, and local art.
Great Chicago Gifts, 65 E Palantine Road #115, Prospect Heights IL 60070; 847-459-5782. Web: http://www.greatchicagogifts.com. Features souvenirs, clothing, sports gifts, and local books.
I Love Cincinnati Shop, Cincinnati OH; 513-381-4401. Web: http://www.ilovecincinnatishop.com. Cincinnati apparel, souvenirs, and gifts.
Made in Fargo, 114 N Broadway, Fargo ND; 701-237-6867. Features gifts made by local artists (and book authors!).
Made Local Marketplace, 529 4th Street, Santa Rosa CA 95401; 707-331-6850. Email: kelley@shareexchange.coop. Web: http://www.madelocalmarketplace.com. Features products made in Sonoma County and the north Bay area.
Only in San Francisco, Pier 39, Box A-01 (Fisherman’s Wharf), San Francisco CA 94133; 415-397-0143. Features San Francisco gifts, books, and souvenirs.
The Pittsburgh Store, Debra King, Store Manager, FullTilt Solutions, 4 Smithfield Street, 4th Floor, Pittsburgh PA 15222; 412-322-4494. Web: http://www.pittsburghstore.com. Features Pittsburgh gifts and guides.
San Diego Trading Company, 535 Fifth Avenue, San Diego CA 92101; 619-237-1674; Fax: 619-233-3966. Email: info@sandiegotrading company.com. Web: http://www.sandiegotradingcompany.com. Features apparel, souvenirs, and gifts related to San Diego. Six stores in the San Diego area.
Tulsa Treasures, 411 East 11th Street, Tulsa OK 74120; 918-582-9178. Features gifts, collectibles, and memorabilia.
Very Ventura Gift Shop, Ventura CA. Web: http://www.very-ventura.com. Features made-in-Ventura sourvenirs, books, and gifts.
There are, of course, many other local and state history museum shops and related stores that might also be interested in regional titles (whether regional by author, by publisher, or by subject). For example, the Tennessee State Museum has a gift shop that features many Tennessee-related gifts.
See also Christmas Gift Shops
See also Specialty Retailers Who Sell Books
Top 900 Independent Bookstores Data Files — This list started out as 500, then 600, and now over 900 top general bookstores. It includes names of the book buyers and event coordinators, address, phone, fax, email, website, and other information about each bookstore. You will be able to download two key formats (Microsoft Access and Excel) as well as an info sheet to let you know what is contained in the various data files. Data file download, $50.00.
About John Kremer
John Kremer is author of 1001 Ways to Market Your Books, the Relationships Matter Marketing program, and many other books and reports on book marketing, Internet marketing, social media, and book publicity. -- John Kremer on Book Marketing.
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