Picking the Perfect Souvenir A way to preserve or share a piece of your trip is to bring home a souvenir, but choosing a souvenir isn’t always a stress-free experience. How do you pick the perfect souvenir and not just the first thing you see in a tourist shop? Here are some tips for picking a truly meaningful gift for yourself or your loved ones. Who are you buying for? What are your recipient’s interests, or what do they spend the most time doing? If you’re buying for yourself and enjoy coffee, you might buy a local coffee blend to enjoy from home. However, if your recipient doesn’t enjoy coffee or rarely drinks it, that type of gift might not mean much to them. Is it legal to bring home? Whether you’re traveling domestically or internationally, there are many regulations that affect which souvenirs you can bring home. Even if you find the item in a tourist shop, that doesn’t mean it’ll be allowed into the country or even onto the plane. And the TSA does take this seriously. In 2012, two tourists were detained at the U.S. border for trying to bring home chocolate Kinder eggs — a
specific kind that are illegal in the U.S. due to the potentially hazardous small toys inside.
Purchase a handicraft. Handicrafts — items created by local artisans — are awesome souvenirs! But make sure you buy where artisans actually sell their own goods, such as an open-air market. Unfortunately, while some popular tourist shops may sell “locally made goods,” many souvenirs intended for tourists are actually made by cheap manufacturers in other countries. Keep something from the adventure. Bringing a glass bottle to take home some sand is a popular way of creating your own souvenir from a beach vacation. But you can do this with almost any item! Whether it’s stones, ticket stubs from favorite shows and activities, or a handmade item from a class, make sure to look out for souvenirs that’ll remind you of great memories and experiences.
We hope these tips will help you make the best choice. Bon voyage!
The Way of the Future
WHY DIGITAL TIPPING SOLUTIONS MATTER
Though digital tipping was already growing in popularity, the pandemic created an enormous additional demand. It was a confluence of several events that saw people ordering more takeout, using less cash, and looking for ways to support service workers. We may be seeing a permanent shift in customer habits, and businesses need to consider what comes next. Surveys of restaurant employees show that they would prefer tips in cash, but many people rarely have any on hand. Digital tipping allows employees to receive gratuities when customers pay by card. It’s an increasingly popular option at counter-service point-of-sale machines and online ordering apps, but some restaurants have refused to take the plunge. Many offer digital tipping only in-person or online, not both. And some have stuck with a can of loose change by the register — or nothing at all. Owners who don’t allow tipping offer several reasons. Some think it will offend customers. Others worry about the hassle of splitting up the takings, or believe it will suggest they don’t pay their employees enough. These concerns are valid, but customers have demonstrated that they want digital tipping options.
According to 2019 statistics, 46.5% of customers at fast-casual eateries tip when given the option, and the average tip amount was 17%. If you don’t allow tipping in your establishment, you’re leaving a lot of your employees’ money on the table. That could affect your bottom line by costing you unsatisfied workers in a competitive market. Worse, while tips surged in 2020, they have now fallen below pre-pandemic levels — so each one is more valuable than before. For diners who are conscientious about tipping, the inability to reward your employees could sway them to frequent other restaurants or use third-party ordering apps that provide the option. So, if you haven’t already stepped into this new frontier, it’s time to consider it. Of course, you may not have control over your franchisor’s digital app — but you can control what happens once customers step inside your establishment. Companies like youtip and EasyTip allow customers to scan a QR code left on the counter, receipt, or employee badge and tip directly, keeping employees happy and making the process effortless for customers. Implemented correctly, it might be an ideal solution for everyone involved. Just remember that states have laws governing tips; familiarize yourself with them and act accordingly.
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