[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":803},["ShallowReactive",2],{"help-\u002Fhelp\u002Fgift-boutique-website":3,"help-related-\u002Fhelp\u002Fgift-boutique-website":688},{"id":4,"title":5,"body":6,"category":676,"description":677,"extension":678,"meta":679,"navigation":680,"order":681,"path":682,"product":683,"seo":684,"stem":685,"updated":686,"__hash__":687},"help\u002Fhelp\u002Fgift-boutique-website.md","Gift shop and boutique website: what shoppers look for",{"type":7,"value":8,"toc":657},"minimark",[9,13,16,21,24,92,109,113,116,143,147,150,194,198,201,276,290,294,297,317,321,324,345,349,352,387,391,394,421,425,439,443,461,464,468,511,515,518,541,551,555,558,578,597,601,607,630,645,649],[10,11,12],"p",{},"People open a gift shop's website to ask four things. Are you open now? What's new? Can I get it without coming in? What if it doesn't fit or they don't like it? Most shops have a cart; what's missing is the plain information around it.",[10,14,15],{},"In October 2026 we opened 32 independent gift shop, boutique and local-goods shop websites in 22 towns and 16 states, on a phone and a computer. Twenty-nine had a cart (22 on Shopify). Hours were posted on 27, but only 2 had a phone number you could tap on the first screen, only 7 showed any reviews, and none of the 8 clothing boutiques mentioned plus sizes. This guide goes in order of how much each part matters.",[17,18,20],"h2",{"id":19},"make-your-hours-seasons-and-phone-easy-to-use","Make your hours, seasons and phone easy to use",[10,22,23],{},"People search \"open now\", \"open late\" and \"open Sunday\". Eight shops stated seasonal or holiday hours, which matters if you're in a tourist town.",[25,26,27,44,57,67,85],"ol",{},[28,29,30,31,35,36,39,40,43],"li",{},"Click ",[32,33,34],"strong",{},"Business info"," and set ",[32,37,38],{},"Regular hours",". Use ",[32,41,42],{},"Note under hours"," for what doesn't fit, like \"Closed Mondays in winter\".",[28,45,46,47,50,51,56],{},"For summer, fall or winter schedules, add ",[32,48,49],{},"Seasonal hours",". See ",[52,53,55],"a",{"href":54},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbusiness-info-and-hours#set-seasonal-hours","Set seasonal hours",".",[28,58,59,60,50,63,56],{},"For holidays and sale weekends, use ",[32,61,62],{},"Holidays and special hours",[52,64,66],{"href":65},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbusiness-info-and-hours#add-holiday-hours-and-closures","Add holiday hours and closures",[28,68,69,70,73,74,77,78,50,81,56],{},"Type your ",[32,71,72],{},"Phone",", then click ",[32,75,76],{},"Menu"," and turn on ",[32,79,80],{},"Call bar on phones",[52,82,84],{"href":83},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fmenu#add-a-call-bar-on-phones","Add a call bar on phones",[28,86,87,88,91],{},"Add an ",[32,89,90],{},"Open today"," section near the top of your home page.",[10,93,94,95,98,99,102,103,50,106,56],{},"For a surprise closure, click ",[32,96,97],{},"We’re closed today",", then ",[32,100,101],{},"Publish",". For a month-long notice, use the ",[32,104,105],{},"Announcement bar",[52,107,105],{"href":108},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbusiness-info-and-hours#announcement-bar",[17,110,112],{"id":111},"say-what-you-carry","Say what you carry",[10,114,115],{},"Gift shoppers search for a person or an occasion, like \"gifts for kids\" or \"hostess gifts\". Two shops had a page of lines they carry, and the makers' shops told each maker's story.",[117,118,119,133,136],"ul",{},[28,120,121,122,125,126,129,130,56],{},"Add a ",[32,123,124],{},"Services"," section called \"What we carry\", with a card for each category, a ",[32,127,128],{},"Photo"," and a short ",[32,131,132],{},"Description",[28,134,135],{},"Name your best lines and local makers. For a maker, add a photo and two sentences about them.",[28,137,138,139,56],{},"Put your town and kind of shop in your home page's search title, like \"Gifts and home decor in Brevard, NC\". See ",[52,140,142],{"href":141},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fsearch-and-sharing#set-a-pages-search-title-and-description","Set a page's search title and description",[17,144,146],{"id":145},"show-whats-new","Show what's new",[10,148,149],{},"Visitors come back for new stock. Belle Rive says \"New arrivals every Thursday\", which gives people a day to plan around.",[117,151,152,166,180],{},[28,153,154,157,158,161,162,165],{},[32,155,156],{},"A few pieces a week:"," add a ",[32,159,160],{},"Gallery"," section with a ",[32,163,164],{},"Caption"," on each photo, like \"Linen scarf, $38\". Change it when stock changes.",[28,167,168,171,172,175,176,56],{},[32,169,170],{},"Instagram as your feed:"," a ",[32,173,174],{},"Social posts"," section shows posts you pick; it doesn't update itself. See ",[52,177,179],{"href":178},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fadd-social-posts","Show Facebook and Instagram posts",[28,181,182,185,186,189,190,56],{},[32,183,184],{},"Tell people:"," the ",[32,187,188],{},"Newsletter sending"," add-on emails your list. See ",[52,191,193],{"href":192},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fsend-a-newsletter","Send a newsletter",[17,195,197],{"id":196},"let-people-buy-without-visiting","Let people buy without visiting",[10,199,200],{},"Say what shoppers can do: ship, pick up, or order by phone.",[117,202,203,227,266],{},[28,204,205,208,209,211,212,215,216,219,220,223,224,56],{},[32,206,207],{},"Your own shop elsewhere:"," if you already run Shopify or Square Online, keep it. Click ",[32,210,76],{},", then under ",[32,213,214],{},"Header button"," set the ",[32,217,218],{},"Button text"," to \"Shop online\" and ",[32,221,222],{},"Goes to"," to ",[32,225,226],{},"Another website…",[28,228,229,185,232,235,236,239,240,239,243,39,246,249,250,253,254,50,257,261,262,56],{},[32,230,231],{},"A short list here:",[32,233,234],{},"Online store"," add-on suits a signature line, gift bundles and pickup items, not hundreds of changing pieces. Add each under ",[32,237,238],{},"Lists"," › ",[32,241,242],{},"Products",[32,244,245],{},"Add product",[32,247,248],{},"Choices"," for sizes and ",[32,251,252],{},"Extras"," for gift wrap, and ask for a gift message under ",[32,255,256],{},"Questions for the customer",[52,258,260],{"href":259},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fonline-store","Sell products with the online store",". Connect Stripe first: ",[52,263,265],{"href":264},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fconnect-stripe","Connect Stripe",[28,267,268,271,272,56],{},[32,269,270],{},"By phone or Instagram:"," send a payment link once they say yes. See ",[52,273,275],{"href":274},"\u002Fhelp\u002Frequest-a-payment","Request a payment",[10,277,278,281,282,285,286,56],{},[32,279,280],{},"The store has no stock count."," A one-of-a-kind piece that sells in your shop stays buyable until you turn on ",[32,283,284],{},"Sold out",". Do it the moment it sells; see ",[52,287,289],{"href":288},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fonline-store#mark-a-product-sold-out-or-take-it-down","Mark a product sold out",[17,291,293],{"id":292},"know-what-the-store-cant-sell","Know what the store can't sell",[10,295,296],{},"The store's payments run on Stripe, which restricts or bans some things a gift shop may stock. Two of the 32 shops listed CBD and two sold knives.",[117,298,299,305,311],{},[28,300,301,304],{},[32,302,303],{},"Not allowed:"," CBD above the local THC limit, tobacco and vapes outside the law, swords and machetes, pepper spray, counterfeit or unauthorized brand-name goods, and adult products.",[28,306,307,310],{},[32,308,309],{},"Ask Stripe first:"," CBD with only trace THC, and folding knives.",[28,312,313,316],{},[32,314,315],{},"Sell those in person,"," and keep them off the store's Products list.",[17,318,320],{"id":319},"post-your-return-rules","Post your return rules",[10,322,323],{},"Sixteen of the 32 stated a return rule, and 8 of those listed final-sale items. New York, for one, requires a store to post whether it gives refunds, and a store that doesn't can owe a buyer a refund for 30 days. Other states have their own rules.",[25,325,326,329,342],{},[28,327,328],{},"Write your rule in your FAQ: the days, refund or store credit, what to bring, and what is final sale (sale items, jewelry, gift cards, vintage).",[28,330,331,332,239,335,239,338,341],{},"With the Online store, put it under ",[32,333,334],{},"Store",[32,336,337],{},"Settings",[32,339,340],{},"Returns and fine print",". It shows in the cart and on every product.",[28,343,344],{},"Say it at the register too.",[17,346,348],{"id":347},"be-honest-about-prices-and-claims","Be honest about prices and claims",[10,350,351],{},"This isn't legal advice, and states differ.",[117,353,354,364,375,381],{},[28,355,356,359,360,363],{},[32,357,358],{},"\"Regular price\":"," the Products list has ",[32,361,362],{},"Regular price (optional)",", shown crossed out. The FTC says a \"was\" price must be one you really charged for a reasonable time.",[28,365,366,369,370,374],{},[32,367,368],{},"\"Made in USA\":"," it means all or virtually all of the product is made and sourced in the United States. \"Handmade\" and \"made in ",[371,372,373],"span",{},"town","\" must be true too.",[28,376,377,380],{},[32,378,379],{},"Native American work:"," federal law lets you say \"Native American\" or name a tribe only for work made by a member or certified artisan. Otherwise say \"Native American style\".",[28,382,383,386],{},[32,384,385],{},"Children's items and kids' jewelry:"," a shop can't knowingly sell products that break the lead limits. Ask each maker for their Children's Product Certificate and keep it.",[17,388,390],{"id":389},"gift-cards-wrapping-and-baskets","Gift cards, wrapping and baskets",[10,392,393],{},"Thirteen of the 32 had gift cards, and one stated free gift wrapping.",[117,395,396,415,418],{},[28,397,398,399,402,403,406,407,410,411,56],{},"Add the ",[32,400,401],{},"Gift cards and coupons"," add-on, then a ",[32,404,405],{},"Gift cards"," section with ",[32,408,409],{},"Amounts to offer",". Buyers pay online and you scan the card at the till. See ",[52,412,414],{"href":413},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fgift-cards-and-coupons#sell-gift-cards-on-your-site","Sell gift cards on your site",[28,416,417],{},"Federal rules say a gift card can't expire within five years, and some states are stricter. Say on the page whether yours expire.",[28,419,420],{},"Say whether wrapping is free, and how long a custom basket takes.",[17,422,424],{"id":423},"if-you-sell-clothes-sizes","If you sell clothes: sizes",[10,426,427,428,431,432,434,435,56],{},"None of the 8 boutiques mentioned plus sizes and only one had a size guide, yet people search \"boutique with plus size\". Put your size range and a size guide in your FAQ. In the Products list, use ",[32,429,430],{},"Choices (optional)"," for sizes and turn on ",[32,433,284],{}," on a size you've run out of. See ",[52,436,438],{"href":437},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fonline-store#add-sizes-colors-and-other-choices","Add sizes, colors and other choices",[17,440,442],{"id":441},"take-work-from-local-makers","Take work from local makers",[10,444,445,446,449,450,453,454,50,457,56],{},"Only 2 of 32 explained how a maker gets on their shelf, though many say makers are the point. Add a \"Sell your work with us\" page: what you take, your consignment split, when you pay, and how to apply. Add a ",[32,447,448],{},"Form"," section from the ",[32,451,452],{},"Contact"," ready-made form and turn on ",[32,455,456],{},"Let people attach photos",[52,458,460],{"href":459},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fforms-and-inbox","Forms and your inbox",[10,462,463],{},"Some states, New York among them, treat consigned crafts as the maker's property and the sale money as held for the maker. Keep a list of what you hold for whom, and pay on your schedule.",[17,465,467],{"id":466},"events-trunk-shows-and-personal-shopping","Events, trunk shows and personal shopping",[117,469,470,497,508],{},[28,471,30,472,98,474,477,478,481,482,485,486,39,489,492,493,56],{},[32,473,238],{},[32,475,476],{},"Edit events",", and add each event with its ",[32,479,480],{},"Date",", ",[32,483,484],{},"Where"," and ",[32,487,488],{},"Full details",[32,490,491],{},"Repeats"," for a monthly night. See ",[52,494,496],{"href":495},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fevents","Events",[28,498,499,500,503,504,56],{},"For a personal shopping or style session, say what it costs and how to book. The ",[32,501,502],{},"Bookings & RSVPs"," add-on takes appointments; see ",[52,505,507],{"href":506},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbookings","Take bookings on your site",[28,509,510],{},"If you run a free loyalty list, say what it earns and whether it expires. A paid membership that renews follows state renewal laws, so say how it bills and how to cancel.",[17,512,514],{"id":513},"show-your-reviews","Show your reviews",[10,516,517],{},"Only 7 of the 32 showed any. Handwork shows its Google rating and review count, which is the one to copy.",[25,519,520,527,532],{},[28,521,522,523,526],{},"Add your best Google reviews to your ",[32,524,525],{},"Reviews"," list.",[28,528,121,529,531],{},[32,530,525],{}," section to your home page.",[28,533,534,535,538,539,56],{},"Paste your Google review link into ",[32,536,537],{},"Leave-a-review link"," in ",[32,540,34],{},[10,542,543,544,485,547,56],{},"Don't offer a coupon only for good reviews. See ",[52,545,525],{"href":546},"\u002Fhelp\u002Freviews",[52,548,550],{"href":549},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fask-for-reviews","Ask for reviews",[17,552,554],{"id":553},"photos-that-sell","Photos that sell",[10,556,557],{},"Your own photos do the most. Shoot in daylight:",[25,559,560,563,566,569,572,575],{},[28,561,562],{},"The storefront from across the street, with the sign",[28,564,565],{},"A wide shot from the door",[28,567,568],{},"Each wall or table of goods",[28,570,571],{},"Each product straight on, with a size shot",[28,573,574],{},"A maker's tag or the maker at work, with their permission",[28,576,577],{},"You or your staff helping someone",[10,579,580,581,584,585,588,589,592,593,56],{},"Until then, ",[32,582,583],{},"Free photos"," has good ones for \"gift shop interior shelves\" and \"boutique storefront entrance\". See ",[52,586,583],{"href":587},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fedit-text-and-photos#free-photos",". Add a short ",[32,590,591],{},"Describe this photo"," to each; see ",[52,594,596],{"href":595},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fedit-text-and-photos#describe-your-photos","Describe your photos",[17,598,600],{"id":599},"answer-what-people-ask","Answer what people ask",[10,602,87,603,606],{},[32,604,605],{},"FAQ"," section. Shops get asked:",[117,608,609,612,615,618,621,624,627],{},[28,610,611],{},"Are you open today? Do your hours change in winter?",[28,613,614],{},"Where do I park, and are dogs welcome?",[28,616,617],{},"Do you ship? What does it cost?",[28,619,620],{},"What is your return policy?",[28,622,623],{},"Do you sell gift cards? Do they expire?",[28,625,626],{},"Do you carry plus sizes?",[28,628,629],{},"I make something. Can you sell my work?",[10,631,632,239,634,239,637,640,641,56],{},[32,633,238],{},[32,635,636],{},"FAQs",[32,638,639],{},"Suggest questions"," drafts more from your site. See ",[52,642,644],{"href":643},"\u002Fhelp\u002Ffaq-list#use-suggested-questions","Use suggested questions",[17,646,648],{"id":647},"tips","Tips",[117,650,651,654],{},[28,652,653],{},"Read your site once a season for old hours, a sale that ended, or a \"regular price\" that no longer applies.",[28,655,656],{},"Photo-only pages with no prices send people to the phone. Put a price in each caption.",{"title":658,"searchDepth":659,"depth":659,"links":660},"",2,[661,662,663,664,665,666,667,668,669,670,671,672,673,674,675],{"id":19,"depth":659,"text":20},{"id":111,"depth":659,"text":112},{"id":145,"depth":659,"text":146},{"id":196,"depth":659,"text":197},{"id":292,"depth":659,"text":293},{"id":319,"depth":659,"text":320},{"id":347,"depth":659,"text":348},{"id":389,"depth":659,"text":390},{"id":423,"depth":659,"text":424},{"id":441,"depth":659,"text":442},{"id":466,"depth":659,"text":467},{"id":513,"depth":659,"text":514},{"id":553,"depth":659,"text":554},{"id":599,"depth":659,"text":600},{"id":647,"depth":659,"text":648},"Guides by business","We looked at 32 independent gift shop and boutique websites: what shoppers check, how to show hours by season, what's new and your return rules, and the legal basics.","md",{},true,386,"\u002Fhelp\u002Fgift-boutique-website","sites",{"title":5,"description":677},"help\u002Fgift-boutique-website","2026-10-30","9sDH0IA66EEMwMANmPNgz3i8YbbTczM-o40WiJuTVDU",[689,692,695,698,701,704,707,710,713,716,719,722,725,728,731,734,737,740,743,746,749,752,755,758,761,764,767,770,773,776,779,782,785,788,791,794,797,800],{"path":690,"title":691},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fauto-repair-shop-website","Auto repair shop website: what earns the call",{"path":693,"title":694},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcar-wash-website","Car wash website: what brings drivers in and keeps members happy",{"path":696,"title":697},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fsmoke-shop-website","Smoke and vape shop website: useful and on the right side of the rules",{"path":699,"title":700},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdeli-website","Deli website: what gets the order",{"path":702,"title":703},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fstaffing-agency-website","Staffing agency website: what brings in applicants and orders",{"path":705,"title":706},"\u002Fhelp\u002Flive-theater-website","Live theater website: what sells the tickets",{"path":708,"title":709},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcinema-website","Independent cinema website: what fills the seats",{"path":711,"title":712},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fhair-salon-website","Hair salon and barbershop website: what gets people into your chair",{"path":714,"title":715},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fplumber-website","Plumber website: what earns the call",{"path":717,"title":718},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdentist-website","Dentist website: what patients check before they call",{"path":720,"title":721},"\u002Fhelp\u002Frestaurant-website","Restaurant website: what gets the table filled",{"path":723,"title":724},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fgym-website","Gym website: what brings people through the door and keeps members",{"path":726,"title":727},"\u002Fhelp\u002Freal-estate-website","Real estate agent website: what brings sellers and buyers to call you",{"path":729,"title":730},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fveterinarian-website","Veterinarian website: what pet owners check before they call",{"path":732,"title":733},"\u002Fhelp\u002Flaw-office-website","Law office website: what clients check before they call",{"path":735,"title":736},"\u002Fhelp\u002Flandscaping-website","Landscaping and lawn care website: what earns the estimate",{"path":738,"title":739},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdaycare-website","Child care website: what parents check before they call",{"path":741,"title":742},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcafe-bakery-website","Cafe and bakery website: what gets the order",{"path":744,"title":745},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fmassage-spa-website","Massage and spa website: what gets people onto your table",{"path":747,"title":748},"\u002Fhelp\u002Felectrician-website","Electrician website: what earns the call and the big jobs",{"path":750,"title":751},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fhvac-website","Heating and cooling website: what earns the call and the sale",{"path":753,"title":754},"\u002Fhelp\u002Froofer-website","Roofer website: look local, honest and easy to call",{"path":756,"title":757},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fpainter-website","Painter website: what earns the estimate",{"path":759,"title":760},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fcarpenter-website","Carpenter and remodeler website: what earns the estimate",{"path":762,"title":763},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fflorist-website","Florist website: what gets the order and the trust",{"path":765,"title":766},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fphotographer-website","Photographer website: what clients check before they write to you",{"path":768,"title":769},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fyoga-pilates-website","Yoga and Pilates studio website: what fills your classes",{"path":771,"title":772},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fmartial-arts-website","Martial arts school website: what parents look for and how to show it",{"path":774,"title":775},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fdance-studio-website","Dance studio website: the classes, costs and policies parents look for",{"path":777,"title":778},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fnail-beauty-website","Nail salon and beauty studio website: what gets people in the door",{"path":780,"title":781},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fpet-grooming-website","Pet groomer website: what dog owners check before they book",{"path":783,"title":784},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fbookstore-website","Bookstore website: what brings readers through the door",{"path":786,"title":787},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fantiques-website","Antique and vintage shop website: what buyers and sellers look for",{"path":789,"title":790},"\u002Fhelp\u002Faccountant-website","Accountant and tax preparer website: what clients check before they call",{"path":792,"title":793},"\u002Fhelp\u002Finsurance-agent-website","Insurance agent website: what customers check before they call",{"path":795,"title":796},"\u002Fhelp\u002Finn-bnb-website","Inn or bed and breakfast website: what guests check before they book",{"path":798,"title":799},"\u002Fhelp\u002Fwinery-brewery-website","Winery, brewery or distillery website: what fills the tasting room",{"path":801,"title":802},"\u002Fhelp\u002Ffarm-stand-website","Farm and farm stand website: what gets the visit and the order",1793740286915]