If You Ran the ADPi Gift Mart...
 

We made a half-hearted attempt at something like this about a year ago or so, but I'm throwing an idealistic twist in this. Inspired by the new Lion's Share t-shirt

http://giftmart.alphadeltapi.org/gra...onShare4TN.jpg

and by some of the newer jewelry on Gift Mart

http://giftmart.alphadeltapi.org/gra...a%20RingTN.jpg

I was thinking, if I ran Gift Mart, what would I want to sell?

The world is your oyster - what would YOU like to see available?

This isn't really what you were looking for, I know, but did you read in the last Adelpehean (great articles in there, by the way) that the manager of Gift Mart is a Kappa Kappa Gamma? I thought that was really interesting!

Oh yes, and now to reply to your OP- I've said it before, I'll say it again- I wish they'd make ADPi checks.

I've been really pleased by the recent Gift Mart offerings. Used to be the choices were pretty generic, but now there are a lot of interesting and unique items available.

But if I ran Gift Mart I'd lower some of the prices. For example, $15-$20 for a simple little silk screened t-shirt is way too high. Any time I'm at DLC/VLS/Convention I hit the sale table and have gotten some great bargain items. How about putting a few items in the catalog on sale? I'd also offer an Advisor/International Officer discount since we are giving so much of our time and energy to the organization.

Finally, I'd poll the collegians to find out what they are giving for Bid Day, Initiation, etc. gifts, where they got them (if they didn't go through Gift Mart), how much they cost, etc. This year was also the first year I recall a "Free Shipping and Handling" offer for Bid Day gifts. IMHO that was brilliant.

I'd like to see a better functioning website. I think that there are just too many things to click on to browse and many of the items are duplicated under different categories.

What about some clothes that say "Advisor" on them? Do you think people would buy them? I have a couple of ADPi shirts that say "Alumna" (not that anyone would mistake me for a collegian!).

I also wish we had an in-house t-shirt design option so chapters could order social, philanthropy, etc. shirts through Gift Mart instead of giving money to outside vendors.

Lower prices

More legacy baby/toddler items

I really like the idea of free shipping for min $ orders and promoting more sale items

Not Gift Mart, but related: A new Lion's Share Challenge logo... I'm sure many hours of work went into it, but it could be a stronger mark.

I definately agree with lower prices. I bought a tank top from them (which I love) but it was like 25 bucks, which is just insane.

I'd really like to see more v-neck shirts. I always feel like I'm choking when I wear a crew neck.

Flip flops that don't cost 20 bucks (plus S & H).

I think advisor shirts would be a big hit...at least with my advisory board. As a thank you, the exec board last year bought us all ADPi sweatshirt hoodies with our office embroderied under the letters. They were super cute and very much appreciated! My finance advisor wears hers every chance she gets!

I like the inhouse tshirt design option. WFLEO - I think it'd definitely help unify designs and help with the branding/marketing issues we talked about :)

My wish for GiftMart
 

I would love to see the Pi Pendant made into a window cling/magnetic bumpersticker...I think it would look great and be a great way for sisters to easily recognize each other when on the road!

As an alum, sometimes I felt like a collegian when I had my letters on my car (I got a new car so my window sticker is gone :rolleyes: )...this would be a way where I could still let sisters know I'm an ADPi while keeping my vehicle from looking like I'm still in college!

Just a quick note to let you know that recently the Gift Mart Board did a focus survey of the membership (included some collegians, IOs, advisors etc) and the members were asked "what else would you like to see" etc. Some of the items they have in stock now are direct from those survey results...

There is now much more legacy and baby items (cutest tshirt for baby boys that says " when I grow up I'm going to marry an ADPI".... they also added some really cute cookie cutters (if you were at VLS you saw them)...

As a word of warning, the price of silver and gold has gone up and Gift Mart announced at VLS that the jewelry prices will be going up first of July so if you been holding out on purchasing something, I would order it this week!!!

And while the prices may seem high, we have to remember that Gift Mart is a business and must make a profit to stay in business just like any other company.

I love the new t-shirt for little boys! Too cute!

Also the cookie cutters are great-- I used my lion one the other day & cut out a lion from a peanut butter sandwich for my little girl. I can't say I've actually baked cookies with it yet, but I know I will eventually.

I like the way you think! :D

Crashing to say I always had my sandwichs cookie cut in grade school. How fun would it be to have Letter cookie cutters.

/would it be inappropriate to eat your letters?

I would love a cling on diamond for my car. I am a ADPi for life.... I also would loe to see more alumni items, the silver pi or even a diamond with a pi ring...

They have cookie cutters now?!?!?!? How wonderful!! Are there diamond shaped ones, or just lions & letters? That was actually one of the things I was going to suggest!!

I was once at a wedding shower where a small Christmas tree was the centerpiece, and tons of cookie cutters were tied (with pretty ribbon) onto the tree as decorations! A whisk was at the top.

Honey, they have diamond and lion shaped ones. They gave each person who attend the Recruitment express a diamond shaped cookie cutter at the end of the wkend!

Thank you sooo much! I was about to order something, but I'll put it off until I see it online!

This thread intrigued me enough, so I decided to go look at other sorority shop sites and KD has got the cutest bedding sets! They also have some legacy items that I wouldn't have thought of -- a baby book, etc. And I think that Phi Mu just has a spectacular website for shopping.

If there are things you'd like to see, email the GiftMart manager/assistant manager. They'd love to get suggestions. They polled the collegians and advisors at some of the District Leadership Conferences this past winter and are always looking for new ideas.

I believe that if a chapter whats custom shirts that they have the resources to get that done through GiftMart. I don't think it's used very often since they're not an in-house print shop.

I tried looking at other GLOs' sites, but for the most part, they were down or unavailable to nonmembers. I'd really like to see some of the other things offered - can you imagine an Anne Klein type bedroom set?

One thing I've said before, and will say again is a chambray "sweatshirt" with the crest on it. I cannot thing of any ADPi wear for which I've gotten more compliments! I also have a black t-shirt that I bought in bulk on ebay (and gave a few to friends). It's a more "feminine" cut of a shirt, with the name in a stylized, all lowercase font in a silver - very clean and sharp.

I would definitely buy an "Advisor" item! I also think the volunteers should receive a discount, and that discounts should be offered for $X min purchase.

The idea of GM doing custom-orders is fantastic! Given the price comparison, though, I think it might still be cost prohibitive. (Besides, when purchased by local vendors, you can get around shipping charges...)

I got GREAT cookie cutters from this site that had EVERY shape I could have wanted!! www.TheCookieCutterShop.com

I would like to see a (much) cheaper ring to put my pin on!

Bumping since I thought of one a while ago, and started searching...

I'd love to have an ADPi "lanyard" (if that's even the name for them - it's just what I call them :D) for my ID badge for work (or even my keys)...I'm afraid to just put a key ring in my pocket for my office keys, so typically I'm wearing them around my neck. It'd also be a way (since I work in a school setting ;)) to get the ADPi name out to potential new members at any age (I was at a high school this past semester, and am going to an elementary/middle school setting this fall) :)

I know the possibility is out there, since they have ADPi Foundation ones that we've used at Convention (and maybe VLS?)...

Slight hijack -
 

I saw a beautiful coffee-table type ADPi history when I toured headquarters, but forgot to inquire about buying a copy. It's not listed on Giftmart - does anyone know 1.) the name and 2.)if ADPi still sells it?

Loyally?

I'm thinking more Sisters - as far as I know they still sell it, but it's always been listed in the Adelphean versus Gift Mart (from what I can recall).

It's a gorgeous book, and someday I *will* get one! :)

Loyally (Sisters?)
 

Does that mean I can or cannot order one? I just got my Ordinary Miracles: 100 years of Kappa Delta book from their headquarters - it's really a great, comprehensive history. I also have my PHI MU one, and would hate for PHI MU to have an honoured place amongst my histories, with no ALPHA DELTA PI!!:rolleyes:

SWTXBelle, I just went to try and look for information on Sisters on our website - I didn't find anything in the public or nonpublic side of the site. (Sisters is the coffee-book style history of ADPi, I think it was published around our 150th anniversary - someone please correct me if I'm mistaken :)) I also checked our recent Adelphean, and there was nothing listed about ordering one (unless I missed it, too) :p

Does anyone else have any ideas?

Short of calling EO or the Gift Mart, I don't see how to get a copy of Sisters, either. But I'll bet there are some copies to be had.


[hijack]

Was I the only one seriously impressed with the latest issue of The Adelphean?? I just loved the article called "100 Things I Learned On Recruitment Without Really Trying!!" I can so relate to it!

[/hijack]

I know that after the 150th there were some copies of Sisters remaining but as I recall since then the book has sold out- you can email EO to confirm or perhaps watch Ebay if a copy ever comes up for sale... I'm not sure if they plan to do a reprint but I haven't heard any plans so far.

giftmart ideas
 

I would like to see pins designed for House Mom's, similar to the pretty violet shaped Mother's pin.

I just heard from the person I emailed at Executive Office - they have sold out of Sisters, and said that they were really expensive to produce and hasn't heard of any plans to reprint. :(

I guess I'll be doing my lurking online for a while, myself. Sorry I don't have better news, SWTXBelle.

That would be lovely!! I think there's a House Mother dangle, but I'm not sure. *scooting over to BPA*

ETA: It's not on our site - rats! - I must have confused House Manager with House Mother. I honestly think that there is some sort of insignia for it, though, or at least that there used to be. The pictures I saw of our House Mother (who retired prior to my going to college) all showed her wearing a special diamond pin.

These aren't really Gift Mart suggestions other than they could offer them:

- I love our pin, but hate the actual pinning mechanism. It's so small and nearly impossible to get straight until the 3rd or 4th attempt, especially the guard. How about a tie tack style pin? You know, a straight post with a pinch sort of attachment piece.

- I loved the special 150th dangle. How about designing a new one for every Convention and maybe even VLS? It would be so cool to create a charm bracelet showing all the events attended over the years.

- I'd love dangles for years of voluntary alum service. Maybe for 1 year, 5 years, 10, 20, etc.

-I'd like to see a heavier chain on the guard. For me to have all of my dangles put on my guard, the jeweler insists I get a stronger chain.

-Did you have to go to the 150th Convention to get that dangle?

-More yellow gold! Even if it's just an option.

Honey,

Not that I know of - I have it and didn't attend the 150th Convention. :)

I would like to see an Alumni sticker for the back of your car!!!!!!!

Those have existed in the past and may exist now- check out gift mart :)

I would love a new sweatshirt - not a hoodie and not with letters. They used to have a better selection of them.

I second the sweatshirt idea---not a hoodie or with giant letters. Something in gray maybe, with embroidered letters or full name. That's would be a nice thing for alums to have......