Hallmark - Competitors

Hallmark Competition

Now Viewing Hallmark's competition in: Gift and Souvenir Stores

Recent Developments

Record Fuel Prices may Hurt Tourism - US gift and souvenir shops may suffer in the months ahead if high fuel prices hinder tourism. As of April 2008, gas prices increased 18 percent compared to the prior year. Some forecasts predict that gas prices could reach $4 per gallon in most parts of the US during summer 2008, and have already done so in some areas. Such a spike in fuel prices is likely to force consumers to travel less, which could curtail spending for discretionary gift items.

Hallmark to Stop Mail Order, Online Gift Sales - Greeting card and gift company Hallmark will stop selling flowers and gifts online and through mail order catalogs by the end of April 2008. The company didn't disclose specific figures, but acknowledged that online and mail order sales of gifts and flowers weren't performing financially. Hallmark will continue online sales of e-cards, paper cards, and stationery.

Recession may Suppress Retail Sales - A March 2008 Wall Street Journal poll of economists concludes that 71 percent of respondents believe that the US economy has slipped into recession. About half of the economists forecast that the economy will contract in both first and second quarter 2009. Growth for gift and souvenir stores for the first two months of 2008 was 0.2 percent compared to the same period the previous year.

Competitive Landscape

Consumer spending, special occasions, and tourist travel drive demand. The profitability of individual companies depends on effective merchandising and the ability to generate store traffic. Large companies have advantages in purchasing, distribution, and marketing. Small companies can compete effectively by selling specialty products, providing superior service, or delivering a unique customer experience. The industry is labor-intensive: average annual revenue per worker is about $80,000.

Full Industry Overview For Gift and Souvenir Stores

Gift and Souvenir Stores Industry Forecast

from Hoover's/D&B subsidiary First Research

US personal consumption expenditures for toys, dolls, and games, an indicator for gift and souvenir stores, are forecast to grow at an annual compounded rate of 5.1 percent between 2007 and 2012.

Spending Growth on Toys, Dolls, Games Steadies

First Research forecasts are based on INFORUM forecasts that are licensed from the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc. (IERF) in College Park, MD. INFORUM's "interindustry-macro" approach to modeling the economy captures the links between industries and the aggregate economy.