Kirstin's retail philosophy is based on providing tasteful, meaningful gifts for virtually any occasion. For instance, she can work with you on something for a priest's jubilee, and her mix of offerings, while not particularly seasonal, has been adjusted to take into account that this is the time of year for weddings and first communions. In the autumn, she'll feature leaf bowls. And always, there will be the appropriate Hallmark card, along with a range of fine gift wraps and stationery for that personal note. She freely admits that there is a great deal of intuition in what she does.
Good retailers respond to trends while trying to avoid short-lived fads.
One of the best introductions in the last few years has been Ty's Beanie Babies. These not only were popular gifts but also brought younger people to Calnan's, who then brought their own friends in. According to Kirstin, the most important thing is for a customer to ask. She can offer many suggestions for each specific occasion. Some of Calnan's more interesting gifts are among its simplest.