Encouraged by the response it received from its Christian bookselling accounts to its expanded selection of gifts, the Ingram Content Group is adding to the number of gifts and games it is stocking for the general bookstore market. While Ingram has always carried some gift-type items (blank books, diaries) created by traditional publishers, the wholesaler is now reaching out to vendors that it has never worked with, explained Mary McCarthy, director of merchandising for Ingram.
McCarthy estimated that Ingram has contacted 75 new vendors and opened accounts with 35. The greatest interest among general independents has been for plush toys, followed by activity sets and puzzles. Ingram currently is up to 5,400 SKUs and McCarthy expects to reach 7,000 by June 1. Most of the suggestions for items and for vendors have come from booksellers, said McCarthy, and demand has been strong. “I was mobbed at Winter Institute,” McCarthy noted. She said Ingram has had more success signing up gift vendors than those involved with educational games, but that game companies “are beginning to get it.”
Ingram has created a separate catalogue for gifts and games, and product is in all of its distribution centers. The segment will also be a major focus of Ingram at BEA. "It's an exciting opportunity," McCarthy said.
