CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Myrtle Beach, SC
Gift, novelty and souvenir stores in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metro area: 70 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 6-person team.
- Establishments
- 70CBP 2023
- Employees
- 429mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 16.9U.S. 5.6
- Rank
- 49th of 602areas by count
How many gift, novelty and souvenir stores are in Myrtle Beach, SC?
County Business Patterns counts 70 gift, novelty and souvenir stores (NAICS 453220, Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores) in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metro area for 2023. They employed 429 people in mid-March and paid $11.5 million in annual payroll. By establishment count the area is 49th out of 602 areas with published figures for gift, novelty and souvenir stores.
Measured against its 413,000 residents (2024 estimate), the area has 16.9 gift, novelty and souvenir stores per 100,000 people; the U.S. rate is 5.6, so Myrtle Beach, SC is 204.8% above the national figure. The average establishment here has 6.1 employees, compared with 6.8 nationally. Payroll per employee comes to $26,709, 4.6% above the national $25,533.
| Measure | Myrtle Beach, SC | South Carolina | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 70 | 344 | 18,896 |
| Mid-March employees | 429 | 1,990 | 127,699 |
| Annual payroll | $11,458,000 | $45,205,000 | $3,260,545,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 6.1 | 5.8 | 6.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $26,709 | $22,716 | $25,533 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 16.9 | 6.3 | 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.
Team sizes at gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Myrtle Beach, SC
Of the gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Myrtle Beach, SC that had employees in March 2023, 50.0% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 55.8%). 85.7% had fewer than ten. For a business of a few people, phone coverage is a staffing question as much as a technology one: someone has to be free to pick up, or the call needs somewhere sensible to go.
| Employment size | Establishments | Share | U.S. share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 employees | 35 | 50.0% | 55.8% |
| 5–9 employees | 25 | 35.7% | 21.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 6 | 8.6% | 17.4% |
| 20–49 employees | 4 | 5.7% | 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 Myrtle Beach, SC 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 Myrtle Beach, SC as much as anywhere.
A few of the calls that come in to gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Myrtle Beach, SC:
- A customer calls to ask about a specific item.
- The store calls a customer about an order.
- A customer calls about holiday hours.
Business texting for gift, novelty and souvenir stores
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 Myrtle Beach, SC
The average gift shop in Myrtle Beach, SC has 6.1 employees, so a 6-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, 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 Myrtle Beach, SC 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.
Getting a local number in Myrtle Beach, SC
NANPA records place the exchanges of the area's named cities and towns in 2 area codes. 843 has the most, with 84 of 97 exchanges (87%). A local number lets customers in Myrtle Beach, SC 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 843 | 84 | Eastern | 1998 | 854 |
| 854 | 13 | Eastern | 2015 | 843 |
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.
What gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Myrtle Beach, SC get with Callata
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 Myrtle Beach, SC 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 Myrtle Beach, SC?
Census County Business Patterns counted 70 gift, novelty and souvenir stores in the Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC metro area in 2023. They employed 429 people in mid-March.
What does a business phone system cost for a 6-person gift shop?
At month-to-month list prices checked September 28, 2026, 6 users cost $180.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $149.70 on Ooma Office Pro. On Callata, $99 a month with 5 users included, then $20 per additional user, the same team pays $119.00.
What area code should a gift shop in Myrtle Beach, SC use?
Area code 843 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places, followed by 854. 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.