Advice on locating persons who buy for gift shops on cruise ships?

Question

I am just starting to investigate contacts who might be interested in buying wholesale crystal art glass for resale in cruise ship gift shops.

These are hand blown crystal art pieces from Poland ranging in price from a few dollars for paper weights which can be held in the hand, to paper weights the length of the average hand, up to pieces which would requires a special box the size of a medium sized suit case to transport.

I am looking for contacts in the cruise industry who might be willing to purchase these products on a wholesale basis.

Couple of cruise ship questions: I hear the cruise ships will offer departing passengers a gift. What would be examples of these gifts, would they be envelopes with discounts, or actual items, and of what value range?

Would glass items be a common item in a cruise ship gift store?

Answer 1

Concessionaires run the onboard shops.  There are two: Starboard and Brown Brothers.

http://www.starboardcruise.com/

http://www.hardingretail.co.uk/

Keep in mind that space is scarce and valuable on cruise ships, so items for sale need to have a very high value relative to the storage space they take up.  

Not sure what you're describing in terms of parting gifts.  I have seen gifts of items with the cruise line logo -- usually things like tote bags or luggage tags.  Occasionally a small commemorative tile or (rarely) a decorative plate.  Low-priced, easy-to-store items of sentimental value.

In terms of the shops, I have not seen glass items.  I think the closest thing to what you're describing that I've seen aboard are Lladro porcelain statuettes.  So unless you're in that range of price and margin per cubic foot of storage, I think you'll have a hard time.

Good luck to you.