Museums and More

Editor’s Letter: Freedom of Choice

I'm writing this letter the week after the Fourth of July, so the spirit of patriotism is still running strong throughout the country. Red, white and blue will cover store shelves for the next couple weeks and flags will be displayed on everything from cars to T-shirts. This American pride is what brings us together, and also what brings many people to popular tourist destinations throughout the year. Many museums and other institutions whose mission is to talk about U.S. history and culture will see thousands of visitors, a majority of them stopping into the gift shop as part of that trip. When they browse the store shelves, what will they find? Foreign-made products or those made in the country in which the museum is celebrating? More and more, retailers are finding that customers are checking the back of product packages not for the price,…  » Read more

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Give an Iota

It's always about the little things Often it's the little things that mean the most, something Kelly Alford, sole designer and vice president of design for iota, took to heart when creating the company in 2003. "Our corporate identity, iota, is named for the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet - a word of Phoenician origin meaning ‘a very small amount or thing, a jot, a whit,'" Alford said. "Its simple, yet powerful character is infused in every aspect of our business, from our trademark innovative design and bold colors to our quality and affordable price points." Iota offers a mix of paper and textile-based product in a variety of categories such as baby and women's accessories, social stationery, eco-fashionable totes, kitchen collections, tabletop as well as gifting items. In 2008, the company attracted the attention of CSS Industries and was officially acquired under a…  » Read more

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Cuyahoga Valley National Park

Two retail locations mean twice the chance to raise awareness and sales The Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CCVNP) does whatever it takes to draw people into their unique gift stores, not only to buy souvenirs, but to visit and learn more about the only national park in Ohio. "We opened our stores to provide additional ways for the many visitors to Cuyahoga Valley National Park to enhance their park experience," said Janice Matteucci, C.O.O., CCVNP. "They may be buying a souvenir, getting information about the best place to hike, waiting for the train or just stopping to sit at one of the picnic tables next to our store to take a break after a long bike ride. No matter what, our goal is to engage people in becoming part of our national park - to visit it, protect and conserve it for all…  » Read more

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The Broadmoor Resort Gift Shops

'If you've been here, you know' If you're in the mood for luxury, look no further than The Broadmoor, a 94-year old resort situated on 3,000 acres at the gateway to the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The longest continuous winner of the Forbes (formerly Mobil) Five Star (51 years) and AAA Five Diamond (35 years) awards for service excellence also boasts Colorado's only Five Star restaurant, Penrose Room, as well as the state's only Five Star spa. Along with plush accommodations and fine dining sit 26 specialty shops -everything from spa and golf stores to the Signature Shop, a 1,200-square-foot store with warm and inviting light cherry wood and carpet-bright blues and reds. While it's located in the hotel lobby, the Broadmoor Signature Shop is not your typical hotel gift shop. For everything they sell, they make sure the company they're working with has a reputation…  » Read more

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The New-York Historical Society Museum Store

Shop your way through history On the surface it would appear that the Grateful Dead and Abraham Lincoln don't have much in common. But look a little deeper - perhaps into the expansive 77th Street windows of the New-York Historical Society Museum Store - and you'll find that both play an important historical role with a distinct New York theme. Home to both New York City's oldest museum and one of the nation's most distinguished research libraries, the Historical Society's holdings cover four centuries of American history, and include one of the world's greatest collections of historical artifacts, American art and other materials documenting the history of the United States as seen through the prism of New York City and State. "The New-York Historical Society is recognized for engaging the public with deeply researched and far-ranging exhibitions," said Ione Saroyan, director of merchandise operations, "and…  » Read more

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National Treasures

Buying American helps more than just the bottom line By Abby HeugelManaging Editor Julie Reiser, president and co-founder of Made in USA Certified, Inc., has traveled back and forth to Washington D.C. for years, and said it has always disturbed her that so many shops in the D.C. area carried patriotic items -American flag products, coffee cups with a president's face, etc. - with labels that read "Made in China." "If gift shops in places that are showcasing American history don't honor U.S. sourcing and manufacturing, the message it sends is incongruent with our nation's values and traditions," Reiser said. "However, this past May I purposely went into all the gift shops in the Capital Building and was pleasantly surprised to see shirts, caps, mugs and many other items all Made in the U.S. and very competitively priced." The Capitol Visitor Center Gift Shops opened…  » Read more

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Raise Awareness, Raise Funds

When making a purchase makes a difference Many guests that visit zoos, aquariums and museums do so because they have an interest in their surroundings and the story behind what they're seeing. Parents often hope that the experience will be educational on some level, and the retail store is a great place to educate visitors about the mission behind the destination - and how they can help. Profits for Programs In her 18 years as director of retail operations for the Vancouver Aquarium gift shop, Leslie Smith has picked up a trick or two on how to run a successful store. One thing she learned early on is that consumers respond to products that give to a cause, giving retailers the unique opportunity to not only market a product, but to market a mission. "Our guests respond to the call to support our programs," Smith…  » Read more

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Right Products. Right Prices. Wrong Location.

Facing the challenges of a bad store location head on By Nicole Leinbach Reyhle Special to Museums & More The old saying goes that there is no point in dwelling on the past. And in the case of choosing a storefront that has not proven to be the right location for your business, this is - unfortunately- the best way to actually handle the situation. Sure, you could point fingers and blame someone else for swearing your current storefront would have been a hit or desperately beat yourself up for not picking your second choice as your first, but this won't get you anywhere. Instead, let's look at the reality of your store, its location and how to find success in sales despite the not so great street address. The Glass is Half Empty--or Full Before your store actually existed, did you envision its location…  » Read more

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