Museums and More

Editor’s Letter: Shopping Psychology

We've all heard of "retail therapy," shopping done for the primary purpose of improving a mood or disposition. Research also has shown that museums can be restorative environments - places where people go to relax, recharge and boost their mental and physical wellbeing. When you combine those two things, it sounds like a recipe for retail success. According to an article on psychologytoday.com, psychology professors Rachel and Stephen Kaplan first formulated the Attention Restoration Theory in the 1980s. According to this theory, many tasks in everyday life call for directed attention, which takes a lot of mental effort. Eventually, you hit a mental wall, a state called directed attention fatigue. In that mentally exhausted state, you're prone to being distractible, irritable, impulsive, frustrated and tired. To restore your ability to focus attention, you need to shift mental gears. In the decades since the Kaplans proposed…  » Read more

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Artist Spotlight: Sergio Lub

The Art of CopperArtist remains mindful of timeless traditions, creates modern-day alchemy While some may be drawn to silver and gold, Sergio Lub had other ideas for his jewelry designs when he began his trade more than 40 years ago. After experimenting with everything from steel to titanium, he realized that he truly loved working with copper. "As a young artist I worked with every metal I could put my hands on, even lead and mercury before I knew any better," Lub said. "Gold is beautiful, but I soon found that having it around made me distrustful and paranoid. Silver is elegant, but feels cold and vain. The warmth and malleability of the red metal is unique. "Being so close to copper, I believe it makes me more compassionate and generous," he continued. "Therefore I feel happier, since happiness is proportional to our capacity to…  » Read more

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A Retail Riddle

The answer's in the cards Here's a retail riddle for you. What's a simple, yet useful indulgence that doesn't take up space, have to be dusted or require maintenance? It can be smaller or slightly larger than a breadbox and easily implemented into any specialty retail store. Give up? The answer is in the cards, or more specifically, the answer is stationery, greeting cards and related products. By offering consumers a variety of simple ways to increase personal communication, you show the benefit of their purchase beyond aesthetic value. Yet some retailers still don't carry these products, which is a riddle in itself. WhyIn a society that has become increasingly dependent on electronic communication, stationery products are now unique in the way that electronic communication was years ago. A handwritten note or gifted journal conveys a more thoughtful and personal connection than any e-mail or…  » Read more

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Gifts of the Wild

A Michigan zoo makes the most of the seasons If you've ever been to Michigan in the winter, you know it might not be the best time to explore an outdoor zoo. Keeping that in mind, Theresa Danneffel, gift manager and buyer for the John Ball Zoo Society in Grand Rapids, Mich., makes the most of the warm seasonal months and the retail opportunities that abound. "During the spring and fall we just operate the main Gift Shop that's located at the top of the hill when you enter the zoo," Danneffel said. "But there are a total of five different stands during the warmer months, the busiest part of the year." Danneffel said she takes the time and makes sure she's always out in the shops, getting feedback on what the guests think and feel about the shop and the zoo as a whole.…  » Read more

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Slapshot Sales

The Spirit of Hockey store offers Hall of Fame service to all who come in While it certainly helps, you don't have to be a hockey fan to appreciate The Spirit of Hockey store in the Hockey Hall of Fame (HHOF) in Brookfield Place, Toronto, Ontario. The store is a little unique in comparison to other sports Halls of Fame, where the only reason you would be in the store is if you were visiting the museum. There is nothing else within the vicinity of these facilities. With The Spirit of Hockey, they get traffic from people visiting the museum, but they are also a licensed sports store in the heart of downtown Toronto where a quarter of a million people come in to work every day. Because of that, they get a lot of traffic in the store from people who don't even go…  » Read more

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Artistic Endeavor

The new Dali Museum is one-of-a-kind, like the artist himself When Museums & More featured The Salvador Dali Museum Store in the summer of 2008, Dianne Birmingham, museum sales and merchandise director, shared that The Salvador Dali Museum itself boasts the world's largest collection outside of Spain from this Spanish surrealist, and much like the art of its namesake, the store reflected his flair for the unusual. "We study the artist and his prolific accomplishments," Birmingham was quoted as saying. "One visit will tempt the intellect and beckon subsequent visits." She also added that they were planning on moving to a new facility with added gallery space, a move keeping with their mission to continue to further educate the public and protect the artwork of one of the most significant artists of the 20th century. Upon hearing about the completion of the move in January,…  » Read more

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Been There, Done That

Embracing Change in Your Merchandising Strategies By Nicole Leinbach Reyhle Special to Museums & More Time. You have that, right? Okay, so maybe time isn't on your side. But luckily, changes that can help enhance your store layout and products don't have to take much time. Through simple yet effective merchandising strategies, you can create a store environment that is designed to move products from your store to customers' homes. To top it off, there is little to no cost involved in implementing these changes...other than your time, of course. Ranging from obvious tips - such as using color to help create a focal point - to more complex ideas, the following list of merchandising strategies is intended to highlight product, increase sales and allow for a more pleasant shopping experience. Use signage Remember I said obvious, and this is as obvious as it gets.…  » Read more

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