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I’m back with another retail update from my acupuncture practice.
In my previous posts, I shared how my practice brought in $4,043.93 in retail sales in 2025 using Faire Wholesale, as well as the exact products that sold the best (and did NOT sell) last year.
In my initial post, I also shared why I started selling retail in the first place: Some acupuncture colleagues that I interviewed on the podcast suggested that I might be able to pay my clinic rent with retail income.
I immediately wanted to try that experiment!
So I’m documenting my progress towards that goal.
Today I want to share:
- What new products I purchased for summer for the retail shop
- Whether they’re selling well
- Which exact products have been best sellers so far this summer (May-July)
- A few things I’ve learned
Let’s get into it!
One thing I’ve learned over the past year is that some patients are simply retail shoppers.
Once you recognize them, regularly bringing in fresh items every couple of months gives them a reason to browse at before their visits.
I’ve realized that if I add a few new items to the shelves, there’s a good chance they’ll buy something.
This is great news because it means I don’t have to reinvent our retail displays every season. Instead, I just add a handful of new products every few months to keep things fresh.
This summer, I kept it very simple.
Instead of bringing in a large collection of new products from Faire, I decided to go with one new product line, and to reorder a classic that always sells well.
The New Products:
And The Reorder:
Are we sensing a theme here?
I find that pet-themed items sell well because they make outstanding, thoughtful gifts. I love that moment when a patient picks up a golden retriever hair claw and says, “This looks exactly like my daughter’s dog. I have to get it for her.”
And you might be thinking that book marks and hair claws have absolutely nothing to do with acupuncture. Of course, you’re right. I position these products in a corner of our small reception area as our “Gift Shop.”
My patients don’t seem to mind that the items are unrelated to health and wellness, because they’re selling surprisingly well.
I think they’re succeeding for the same reason our notebooks, pens, and bookmarks have done well: they’re inexpensive, giftable, and make people smile.
We do sell Chinese herbs, supplements, and skincare products as well. But it’s not a conflict to also sell notebooks, stickers, bookmarks, pens, magnets, and now hair claws. Patients are happy to buy from both categories.
I think the key is simply creating a small gift shop experience that feels fun to browse while patients are checking out.
The Hair Claws I Ordered and Which One is the Bestseller So Far:
Hair claws are very trendy right now, and these are well-made, bright, pretty, and extremely cute.
Dog Hair Claws (in particular the golden retriever)
- Fish Hair Claws
So far all the different hair claws are selling well and I’m already glad I added them to our shelves. They’re a fun reminder that retail doesn’t always have to be serious or directly connected to acupuncture to be profitable.
Drumroll Please… Bestselling Retail Products at My Acupuncture Practice This Summer (May-July):
I like to know exactly what’s selling well at other people’s practices, so I can decide if it’s a good fit for my own practice.
That’s one reason I write these blog posts: to share exactly what is and is not selling or working well for us.
I hope you find it helpful!
So, what are our bestsellers so far this summer?
Oddly enough, it’s a three-way tie between the following:
- These cute $3 stickers from the brand Expression Design Co. (again, pet themed)
- Lilliput brand earrings (especially these coffee cup earrings)
- And always a favorite, medium sized notebooks from Bruno Visconti (at just $5 each, these fly off the shelves)
Thinking About Trying Retail at Your Acupuncture Practice?
If you’ve been considering adding a small retail section to your practice, I still think Faire Wholesale is one of the easiest ways to get started.
There are a couple reasons I use and recommend Faire:
Many brands don’t have a minimum order requirement on your first order, which means you can order a small amount and test what sells.
Faire also has an option to return unsold items from your first order with a brand for a refund (more on that here). This makes trying out retail feel incredibly low-risk.
They also offer net 60 payment terms, which is incredibly helpful. This means you can purchase retail inventory and pay for it 60 days after purchase, without interest or fees.
The goal is that after 60 days, the products will have hopefully paid for themselves (and more than that), so you’re not paying for inventory up front before it has a chance to sell.
This is why I got started with Faire. It makes experimenting with retail feel financially safe. No huge orders required.
Here’s my link to try it and you can use code AMS10 to get 10% if your first order is $400 or more.
(Of course, you do NOT have to spend $400 on your first order – the discount code is there just in case you happen to spend that much.)
Do you have retail at your office? What’s selling well?
I’d love to know! Email me (michelle@michellegrasek.com) and I’ll feature your bestsellers on my Instagram stories, so other acupuncturists and wellness providers can decide what might work well at their own practices.
And as always, feel free to email me with any questions! I’m happy to support you as you build your practice.