CallataGuidesBusiness phone system for gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Waco, TX
Gift, novelty and souvenir stores in the Waco, TX metro area: 24 establishments in 2023, the local area codes, and what phone service costs a 6-person team.
- Establishments
- 24CBP 2023
- Employees
- 147mid-March 2023
- Per 100k residents
- 7.8U.S. 5.6
- Rank
- 146th of 602areas by count
Gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Waco, TX by the numbers
The Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns lists 24 establishments classified as Gift, Novelty, and Souvenir Stores (NAICS 453220) in the Waco, TX metro area. Together they reported 147 mid-March employees and $2,447,000 of payroll for the year. That ranks 146th of the 602 metro and micropolitan areas where Census published a count for this industry.
With 307,000 residents in the Census 2024 estimate, that is 7.8 gift, novelty and souvenir stores per 100,000 people, 40.7% above the national rate of 5.6. Establishments average 6.1 employees, 9.4% below the U.S. average of 6.8. Payroll per employee comes to $16,646, 34.8% below the national $25,533.
| Measure | Waco, TX | Texas | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Establishments | 24 | 1,390 | 18,896 |
| Mid-March employees | 147 | 9,893 | 127,699 |
| Annual payroll | $2,447,000 | $222,253,000 | $3,260,545,000 |
| Employees per establishment | 6.1 | 7.1 | 6.8 |
| Payroll per employee | $16,646 | $22,466 | $25,533 |
| Establishments per 100,000 residents | 7.8 | 4.4 | 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 Waco, TX
Of the gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Waco, TX that had employees in March 2023, 45.8% had fewer than five (the U.S. share is 55.8%). 79.2% 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 | 11 | 45.8% | 55.8% |
| 5–9 employees | 8 | 33.3% | 21.9% |
| 10–19 employees | 5 | 20.8% | 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.
What gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Waco, TX use the phone for
Gift shops take calls about stock, holds and gift wrapping, with seasonal peaks. Quick answers help capture holiday sales.
Typical inbound and outbound calls for gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Waco, TX:
- A customer calls about holiday hours.
- The store calls a customer about an order.
- A customer calls to ask about a specific item.
After-hours calls
After-hours calls are mostly hours questions.
Business-hours routing in Callata sends calls to voicemail, a teammate's cell or an AI agent once the day ends, and voicemails arrive transcribed with an urgency flag.
What a phone system costs a gift shop in Waco, TX
The average gift shop in Waco, TX has 6.1 employees, so a 6-person team is a reasonable benchmark. Priced per seat, 6 users would run $180.00 a month on RingCentral RingEX Core and $149.70 on Ooma Office Pro (month-to-month list prices, checked September 28, 2026). On Callata the same 6 people cost $119.00 a month, less than either per-seat plan.
The annual difference against RingCentral's monthly list price comes to $732. Some vendors discount annual contracts; the table shows month-to-month prices.
| 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.
Which area code to use in Waco, TX
The exchanges in the area's named cities and towns are all in area code 254 (193 exchanges in NANPA's file). Callata's plan includes up to 3 local numbers; you can pick them in the area codes your customers recognize, subject to carrier inventory, or port the number you already have for free.
| Area code | Exchanges | Time zone | In service since | Overlay with |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 254 | 193 | Central | 1997 | 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.
What gift, novelty and souvenir stores in Waco, TX 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.
If you already have a number in Waco, TX, porting it to Callata is free. Texting from a local number requires a one-time carrier registration (10DLC, $49), and the numbers available in any area code depend on carrier inventory when you choose them.
Optional AI agents (receptionist, sales, support or scheduler) can answer calls after hours or when nobody picks up, take messages, text, email and transfer to your team. They are billed from prepaid AI minutes at $0.25 per minute, identify themselves as AI, and may only place outbound calls to people who consented, between 8am and 9pm.
Frequently asked questions
How many gift, novelty and souvenir stores are there in Waco, TX?
Census County Business Patterns counted 24 gift, novelty and souvenir stores in the Waco, TX metro area in 2023. They employed 147 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 Waco, TX use?
Area code 254 has the most assigned exchanges among the area's named places. 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.