CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Gulfport, MS
Gift, novelty and souvenir stores in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area: 34 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 7-person team.
- Establishments
- 34CBP 2023
- Employees
- 227mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 8.0U.S. 5.6
- Rank
- 102nd of 602areas by count
How many gift, novelty and souvenir stores are in Gulfport, MS?
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 34 establishments classified as Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores (NAICS 453220) in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area. They employed 227 people in mid-March and paid $4,502,000 in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 102nd out of 602 areas with published figures for gift, novelty and souvenir stores.
Measured against its 427,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 8.0 gift, novelty and souvenir stores per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 5.6, so Gulfport, MS is 43.4% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 6.7 employees, compared with 6.8 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $19,833, 22.3% below the national $25,533.
| Measure | Gulfport, MS | Mississippi | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 34 | 175 | 18,896 |
| Mid-March employees | 227 | 1,053 | 127,699 |
| Annual payroll | $4,502,000 | $16,725,000 | $3,260,545,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 6.7 | 6.0 | 6.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $19,833 | $15,883 | $25,533 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 8.0 | 5.9 | 5.6 |
Census County Business Patterns 2023 (mid-March employment; annual payroll). Employees and payroll flagged high-noise are shown but not used in the text. Residents: Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
How big gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Gulfport, MS are
Of the gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Gulfport, MS that had employees in March 2023, 48.5% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 55.8%). 81.8% had fewer than ten. When a business has only a few people, whoever is free answers the phone, and calls that arrive while everyone is busy go to voicemail unless they are routed somewhere else.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 16 | 48.5% | 55.8% |
| 5–9 employees | 11 | 33.3% | 21.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 6 | 18.2% | 17.4% |
| 20–49 employees | not published | — | 4.2% |
| 50 or more employees | 0 | 0.0% | 0.7% |
Employment-size classes count establishments by mid-March 2023 employment. Establishments with no March employees are excluded from the size classes, so shares are of establishments with employees. Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023.
Calls a gift shop in Gulfport, MS has to catch
Gift shops take calls about stock, holds and gift wrapping, with seasonal peaks. Quick answers help capture holiday sales. That holds for gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Gulfport, MS as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Gulfport, MS:
- A customer calls to ask about a specific item.
- A customer calls to hold an item.
- The store calls a customer about an order.
Texting customers
Shops text hold and order-ready notices.
Because carriers require registration for business texting from local numbers, Callata files a 10DLC registration for a one-time $49; after approval, anyone on the team can reply from the business number.
What a phone system costs a gift shop in Gulfport, MS
The average gift shop in Gulfport, MS has 6.7 employees, so a 7-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 7 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $210.00 a month and 7 on Ooma Office Pro cost $174.65. Callata comes to $139.00 a month for 7 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $852 less than RingCentral for a gift shop in Gulfport, MS of that size. Annual contracts lower some competitors' prices, so compare the plan you would actually sign.
| Provider (plan) | Pricing basis | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Callata (Callata Office) | $99 incl. 5 users, $20 per extra user | $139.00 | $1,668.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $133.00 | $1,596.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $161.00 | $1,932.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $174.65 | $2,095.80 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $189.00 | $2,268.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $210.00 | $2,520.00 |
Competitor prices are each vendor's published month-to-month list price per user for its lowest plan that includes business calling and texting, checked September 28, 2026: Quo Starter $19, Nextiva Core $23, Ooma Office Pro $24.95 (Essentials excludes texting; one-time $29.95 activation not included), Dialpad Standard $27, RingCentral RingEX Core $30 ($20 billed annually). Prices exclude taxes and fees and may change; annual contracts lower some competitors' prices.
Getting a local number in Gulfport, MS
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 228 has the most, with 247 of 260 exchanges (95%). A local number lets customers in Gulfport, MS call without dialing out of area. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, and which numbers are open in an area code depends on carrier inventory when you choose.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 228 | 247 | Central | 1997 | none |
| 601 | 13 | Central | 1947 | 769 |
Exchanges are NANPA-assigned central office codes (NPA-NXX) in the rate centers matched to the area's named places. Source: NANPA utilized code and NPA reports.
How Callata works for gift, novelty and souvenir stores
Callata Office costs $99 per month for up to 5 people, and each additional user is $20 a month. That covers up to 3 local numbers, calling from a browser or your cell, transcribed voicemail, recorded calls with AI summaries, after-hours routing and E911 on each number.
Porting a number you already use in Gulfport, MS is free, and business texting is available once the carrier registration (10DLC) is approved; the registration carries a one-time $49 fee. Which specific numbers are open in a given area code depends on carrier inventory at the time you sign up.
AI agents are optional: an AI receptionist or scheduler can pick up when the team is busy or closed, take a message, send a text or email, or transfer the call. They draw on prepaid AI minutes ($0.25/minute), disclose that they are AI, and outbound AI calls require prior consent and are limited to 8am–9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many gift, novelty and souvenir stores are there in Gulfport, MS?
Census County Business Patterns counted 34 gift, novelty and souvenir stores in the Gulfport-Biloxi, MS metro area in 2023. They employed 227 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 7-person gift shop?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 7 users cost $210.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $174.65 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $139.00.
What area code should a gift shop in Gulfport, MS use?
Area code 228 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 601. If you already have a local number, you can port it to Callata for free.
Can an AI receptionist answer calls for a gift shop?
Yes. Callata's optional AI agents can answer when the team is busy or closed, take a message, text, email or transfer the call. They disclose that they are AI and are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute.