With graduation approaching, seniors are ready to put down their books and celebrate while many of their family members and friends search for the perfect graduation gifts in local Baton Rouge shops — some of which see spikes in sales during grad season.
Sheliah Landry, clerk at Gayle’s Hallmark Shop on Hooper Road, said sales at the shop increase dramatically around graduation time.
The shop sells graduation gifts including autograph hounds, coffee mugs, picture frames and tassel holders. Themed gifts for nurses, doctors and teachers are also available at the store, Landry said.
“We have a whole host of appropriate graduation gifts,” Landry said.
Brandon White, sales associate at Things Remembered on Bluebonnet Boulevard, said he believes Things Remembered is the perfect place to buy graduation gifts because their items are more unique and personal than most other stores.
Customers can request to have special memos engraved on their purchases as well as the student’s name and graduation date.
“A lot of times, we also engrave the school name and incorporate the school colors,” White said.
Gifts at Things Remembered include personalized ink pens, water globes, padfolios and USB key chains.
White said he recommends buying the leather zipper padfolio, which can hold pens, business cards and a cellphone, for graduating business seniors.
With high school and college graduations approaching this spring, White said business at Things Remembered has increased.
“We see a lot of students coming into the store at this time of year,” he said.
While Gambino’s Bakery on Goodwood Boulevard is well-known for its elaborate and delicious baked goods, the store also sells specialized graduation cakes.
Jaclyn Lacaze, assistant manager at Gambino’s, said customers can bring photos to the store and have their ideas incorporated into the cake.
“Each cake varies from person to person,” Lacaze said. “Some of the most unique ideas include images of gowns and hats.”
Nia Scaffidi, marketing senior, said she hopes to receive money when she graduates in May in addition to a trip to Europe from her parents.
“I’ve always wanted to go, and I figure this is my last chance because I’ll officially be in the real world after graduation,” Scaffidi said. “I’d also love it if jobs could be given out as gifts at graduation because it’s a lot harder to find one than I thought.”
David Bray, mechanical engineering senior, said his parents have paid most of his tuition while at the University, and he believes that was the best gift he could have received.
“Other than that, I might have a dinner with my family to celebrate,” Bray said. “If I were going to be unrealistic, a job, car or trip to Paris for a month would probably top my list.”
Elizabeth Berry, sociology senior, said she hopes her parents will help her with a down payment on a new car after graduation.
“I’d really like to have a new car, and it would really help me out,” Berry said.
 
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Contact Kate Mabry at [email protected]