CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Montana
127 gift, novelty and souvenir stores operated in Montana in 2023. Where they are, how big their teams are, and what phone service costs them.
- Establishments
- 127CBP 2023
- Employees
- 773mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 11.2U.S. 5.6
- State rank
- 41st of 51by count
How many gift, novelty and souvenir stores operate in Montana
Montana had 127 gift, novelty and souvenir stores in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns (NAICS 453220, Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores). They employed 773 people in mid-March and reported $24.5 million in annual payroll. That is the 41st highest count among the 51 states and DC with published figures. Gift, novelty and souvenir stores make up 0.30% of the 42,566 business establishments in the state.
Per 100,000 residents (2024 estimate) Montana has 11.2 gift, novelty and souvenir stores, 101.0% above the national rate of 5.6. The average establishment has 6.1 employees against 6.8 nationally. Payroll per employee is $31,642, 23.9% above the U.S. figure of $25,533.
| Measure | Montana | United States |
|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 127 | 18,896 |
| Mid-March employees | 773 | 127,699 |
| Annual payroll | $24,459,000 | $3,260,545,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 6.1 | 6.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $31,642 | $25,533 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 11.2 | 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.
Where gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Montana are concentrated
Census published gift shop counts for 5 metro or micropolitan areas that include part of Montana. The largest is Bozeman, MT, with 29 establishments. Single-state metro and micropolitan areas account for 62% of the statewide total; the rest are outside any published area or in areas Census suppressed.
| Area | Establishments | Employees | Per 100k residents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bozeman, MT | 29 | 150 | 22.8 |
| Billings, MT | 17 | 93 | 8.8 |
| Kalispell, MT | 14 | 82 | 12.2 |
| Missoula, MT | 10 | 166 | 7.8 |
| Helena, MT | 9 | 48 | 9.3 |
Source: Census County Business Patterns 2023; population from Census Vintage 2024 estimates.
Team sizes at gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Montana
62.7% of Montana's gift, novelty and souvenir stores with employees had fewer than five people in March 2023, compared with 55.8% nationally. 82.5% had fewer than ten. At that size the phone is shared, so routing (who rings, when, and what happens after hours) matters more than the number of desk phones.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 79 | 62.7% | 55.8% |
| 5–9 employees | 25 | 19.8% | 21.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 16 | 12.7% | 17.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 6 | 4.8% | 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 Montana has to catch
Gift shops take calls about stock, holds and gift wrapping, with seasonal peaks. Quick answers help capture holiday sales.
A few of the calls that come in to gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Montana:
- A customer calls to hold an item.
- A customer calls to ask about a specific item.
- A customer calls about shipping a gift.
Texting customers
Shops text hold and order-ready notices.
Texting from a local number in Montana requires carrier registration (10DLC), a one-time $49 fee on Callata.
Callata vs. per-seat pricing for gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Montana
Gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Montana average 6.1 employees, so the comparison uses a 6-person team. Per-seat business phone plans bill every one of those people. At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 6 users on RingCentral RingEX Core cost $180.00 a month and 6 on Ooma Office Pro cost $149.70. Callata comes to $119.00 a month for 6 users ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user), below both.
Over a year, that is $732 less than RingCentral for a gift shop in Montana 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 | $119.00 | $1,428.00 |
| Quo (Starter) | $19.00 per user | $114.00 | $1,368.00 |
| Nextiva (Core) | $23.00 per user | $138.00 | $1,656.00 |
| Ooma (Office Pro) | $24.95 per user | $149.70 | $1,796.40 |
| Dialpad (Standard) | $27.00 per user | $162.00 | $1,944.00 |
| RingCentral (RingEX Core) | $30.00 per user | $180.00 | $2,160.00 |
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.
Area codes in Montana
Montana has 1 geographic area code in service according to NANPA. Callata includes up to 3 local numbers, so a gift shop can hold a number in more than one of them.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 406 | 754 | Mountain | 1947 | none |
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 in Montana
Callata is a business phone system priced at $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user. Callata Office includes up to 3 local business numbers, unlimited inbound calling, 1,500 pooled outbound US and Canada minutes per user each month, a browser softphone that can also ring your cell, voicemail with transcription, call recording with AI summaries, business-hours routing and E911 on every number.
Porting a number you already use in Montana 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 in Montana?
127 in 2023, according to Census County Business Patterns. They employed 773 people in mid-March.
Which Montana metro area has the most gift, novelty and souvenir stores?
Bozeman, MT, with 29 establishments in 2023.
What does a phone system cost a 6-person gift shop?
$180.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core or $149.70 on Ooma Office Pro at month-to-month list prices (checked September 28, 2026); $119.00 on Callata ($99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user).
Do I need to register to text customers from a Montana number?
Yes. US carriers require business texting from local numbers to be registered (10DLC). On Callata the registration is a one-time $49 fee, and texting turns on once it is approved.