Scale & Scope

To find items with such qualities, Marron constantly is merchandising. She says she never knows when she’s going to find something wonderful. “When I’m walking through the airport, for example, I’m looking around for what might work [in the catalog],” she says.

Although she attends shows such as the New York International Gift Fair, she likes to tread off the beaten path as well. “The continuing challenge for catalog merchants in the gift business is to find unique products,” says Marron. To that end, she often attends shows that aren’t normally associated with the gift world such as events that showcase housewares and outdoor products.