Museums and More

Fall 2010 Issue

All Articles

Editor’s Letter: A Fresh Coat of Paint

By Abby Heugel, Managing Editor I've recently had my house painted. Upon meeting one of the painters for the first time, him covered in specks of primer and me in my work clothes, the first thing he said to me had nothing to do with business. He introduced himself, we made a little small talk and then he asked how my day was. My painter asked about my day. It was a small thing, but for some reason it meant a lot. He didn't just jump into the details of the job, ask me about pricing or show off what he'd done - fallen off the ladder, I had come to find out later. At any rate, he took the time to make things just a little bit more personal than immediately professional, and after a long day, I appreciated the effort. My point isn't… » Read more

Artist Spotlight: Grass Roots Creations

Transforming everyday materials into something unexpected By Abby Heugel, Managing Editor It all started with a tiny beaded gecko. When Kristen Depante and her mother, Roseann, started Grass Roots Creations in 2001, it began as a way to sell the handcraft that Roseann brought back with her after living in Africa for several years. They were so taken by the art and the people who made it that they decided to start a new business importing African handicraft by integrating their own designs to appeal to the mainstream market. While Depante had been making things people want to buy for years, one particular beaded gecko was especially popular, and from there the Beadworx division was created. "Because we can do exhibit and location-specific figures like geckos or animals, Beadworx has a very broad demographic," Depante said. "We sell to gift shops and boutiques, zoos, aquariums,… » Read more

Have a Magical Day

Walt Disney World's gift shops booming thanks to constant innovation By Wendy Helfenbaum When you go to Walt Disney World, pretty much everything starts with a line and ends with a cash register: You get off a ride and you walk directly through a gift store. And that's just one of the ways the resort attracts customers to its shops, said Erin Catalano, Disney's merchandise coordinator. "When you're on vacation, you tend to think differently than when you're at home. And for many people, Disney is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, so they want to remember that as much as possible," explained Catalano, who promotes and markets new Disney store locations, merchandise and big projects. "Walking out of an attraction with your family is when that memory is top of mind," he continues. "‘We just had the best time on Rock ‘n' Roller Coaster (at Disney's Hollywood… » Read more

Smoky Mountain Sales

Ten stores satisfy visitors' curiosity and interests By Abby Heugel, Managing Editor If you want to know anything about Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP), the shops are where you should be. With 10 different retail locations, the Great Smoky Mountains Association (GSMA) provides the most comprehensive, high-quality, up-to-date information and products related to the park - everything from maps to caps. "Our partnership with the National Park Service is quite unique," said Terry Maddox, GSMA executive director. "GSMA has a signed standard Cooperating Association Agreement authorizing us to sell goods and services in GSMNP." The main purpose of GSMA sales activities is to provide the public with interpretive and educational materials related to the national park system and other regional natural and cultural preserves, the National Park Service (NPS) and values or resources related to GSMNP. Through 2009, GSMA has contributed more than $21.9… » Read more

Profit Proclamation

Use products from the past to create profits for the future By Abby Heugel, Managing Editor The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Store in Springfield, Ill., not only preserves history, it makes history. By enabling millions of visitors from around the world to experience the Lincoln story in its entirety, it is arming the next generation with a passion for history through both the exhibits and the products found in the store. "We see thousands of school-age children each day," said Amy Miller, store director. "The museum opens them up to a world of history they may not get anywhere else. We keep a section of children's books and toys from the time period so they can take a piece of history home with them." When they first opened in 2005, the store only sold apparel that was dark navy or red with a… » Read more

From Good to Great

Know your identity and take your gift shop to the next level By Anne Obarski, Special to Museums & More I love to shop, and I know I'm not alone. Like me, I also know that many people love to take out-of-town visitors to my special "haunts" when they come to visit. I recently started listening to myself and how I describe each location that on my list of "must-sees." Every word is well chosen and creates a sense of anticipation prior to our visit. Think about your favorite gift shops and restaurants and how you would describe them to me if I was to visit. Now describe your gift shop in three words. Then add one sentence after those three words that starts with, "You just have to see our ..." I trust that the reason that they are drawn in represents the core… » Read more

Red, White and Blue — and Green

How selling U.S.-made products sells not just products, but patriotism By Abby Heugel, Managing Editor Considering that many popular tourist destinations cater to American interests and history - especially military/historical sites and national parks - it stands to reason that many visitors would be inclined to purchase U.S.-made products from the gift shops. Although importing product is virtually unavoidable in some instances, retailers and manufacturers alike are making a more concerted effort to stress this characteristic. According to a 2007 Gallup Panel survey, 72 percent of Americans are paying heightened attention to the country of origin in products they buy. And according to a controlled study last year, Jon Krosnick, professor of communications, political science and psychology at Stanford University, found that sales of products bearing American-made logos were four percentage points better than those without the logos. "The ‘Made in U.S.A.' feature is important… » Read more