Industry Profile: Best of… By Zeke Jennings

What is the best retail advice you’ve ever received or could offer?

Sallie Stutz, Brooklyn Museum in New York City

Look to develop beneficial partnerships in every way. For example, working with the American Fine Craft Fair was about building new audience while educating our visitors on quality American and Brooklyn made products.

Joseph Hammer, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas

Surprise your customers. Try to have a wow” factor with your goods and presentation. Be hospitable. We have signs all over our store that encourage people to touch the merchandise. And like all finer stores, we have a liberal returns policy, not a suspicious, hardnosed one.

Jennifer Stupica, Coastal Discovery Museum in Hilton Head, South Carolina

I ask the staff and volunteers about what they are reading to gain the knowledge they need to run our programs on history and nature and then try to bring those books into the store. Besides creating a great resource center it creates a sense of ownership.

Michael Davis, Cameron Park Zoo’s Zootique in Waco Texas

Communicate with your staff constantly, let them know top sellers, what is hot, what we need to focus on and keep them involved in future plans. An engaged, informed sales associate is your best tool in retail.

Sandy Hollett, Newfoundland Insectarium in Reidville, Newfoundland and Labrador

The best retail advice I have ever received is to try and make the customers happy. If customers have a positive experience while visiting our facility, they are more likely to return, and that’s what we want to achieve.

Zeke Jennings