Open Forum

I'm interested in new models or ideas for museum stores that veer from the traditional. The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art's previous museum store was fairly typical of encyclopedic museum stores, relatively successful, but we felt it didn't necessarily add anything to our mission nor to our operating budget. So we'd like to rethink what a museum store is and could be which includes where it is within a museum, what it sells, what else does it do beyond just selling objects, and what the design should be. I'd love to hear of any models you all have seen that are a departure from the traditional museum store. 

Many thanks,

Janet 

Hi Janet,

The Corning Museum of Glass store through its programs and services is closely integrated into the museum mission. I would suggest you follow-up with the museum directly Shop | Corning Museum of Glass.

I'm interested in new models or ideas for museum stores that veer from the traditional. The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art's previous museum store was fairly typical of encyclopedic museum stores, relatively successful, but we felt it didn't necessarily add anything to our mission nor to our operating budget. So we'd like to rethink what a museum store is and could be which includes where it is within a museum, what it sells, what else does it do beyond just selling objects, and what the design should be. I'd love to hear of any models you all have seen that are a departure from the traditional museum store. 

Many thanks,

Janet 

I'm interested in new models or ideas for museum stores that veer from the traditional. The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art's previous museum store was fairly typical of encyclopedic museum stores, relatively successful, but we felt it didn't necessarily add anything to our mission nor to our operating budget. So we'd like to rethink what a museum store is and could be which includes where it is within a museum, what it sells, what else does it do beyond just selling objects, and what the design should be. I'd love to hear of any models you all have seen that are a departure from the traditional museum store. 

Many thanks,

Janet 

I'm interested in new models or ideas for museum stores that veer from the traditional. The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art's previous museum store was fairly typical of encyclopedic museum stores, relatively successful, but we felt it didn't necessarily add anything to our mission nor to our operating budget. So we'd like to rethink what a museum store is and could be which includes where it is within a museum, what it sells, what else does it do beyond just selling objects, and what the design should be. I'd love to hear of any models you all have seen that are a departure from the traditional museum store. 

Many thanks,

Janet 

I'm interested in new models or ideas for museum stores that veer from the traditional. The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art's previous museum store was fairly typical of encyclopedic museum stores, relatively successful, but we felt it didn't necessarily add anything to our mission nor to our operating budget. So we'd like to rethink what a museum store is and could be which includes where it is within a museum, what it sells, what else does it do beyond just selling objects, and what the design should be. I'd love to hear of any models you all have seen that are a departure from the traditional museum store. 

Many thanks,

Janet 

I'm interested in new models or ideas for museum stores that veer from the traditional. The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art's previous museum store was fairly typical of encyclopedic museum stores, relatively successful, but we felt it didn't necessarily add anything to our mission nor to our operating budget. So we'd like to rethink what a museum store is and could be which includes where it is within a museum, what it sells, what else does it do beyond just selling objects, and what the design should be. I'd love to hear of any models you all have seen that are a departure from the traditional museum store. 

Many thanks,

Janet 

Janet - It is wonderful that you are rethinking the visitor experience and have noticed that the current shop is just a Cookie Cutter Museum Shop".  The first step i would take is to identify your visitor, then create a mix that speaks to them.  What is the local connection?  Why are they visiting the Museum? What is the most visited collection, wing or part of the Museum? How often do your members visit the Museum? Where are the visitors coming from?  What are demographic make of the visitors?

I have found during my career that the successful Museums stores figured out that most purchases made in their stores or exhibition shops are do to a emotional response, the visitor just had an experience and want to continue or share the experience by taking it home. Does the current assortments speak to this experience? Does if reflect your Museum and its collection? 

As for the placement of the shop in the Museum, near the entrance or exit.  If you make the shop a destination you will find that you will get visitors just to shop that may not even visit the Museum (your local shoppers).  The design should reflect your Museums image.  Also do not create fixtures for one type of product, you want them to be flexible and to evolve with the ever changing assortments. 

I'm interested in new models or ideas for museum stores that veer from the traditional. The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art's previous museum store was fairly typical of encyclopedic museum stores, relatively successful, but we felt it didn't necessarily add anything to our mission nor to our operating budget. So we'd like to rethink what a museum store is and could be which includes where it is within a museum, what it sells, what else does it do beyond just selling objects, and what the design should be. I'd love to hear of any models you all have seen that are a departure from the traditional museum store. 

Many thanks,

Janet 

Hi everyone - 

Good advice on all fronts!

I believe the most important part of being a Museum Store is what makes it different from all other retail (to the point that some retail chains try to imitate what Museums and their stores do best) - and that is to add value to the purchasing experience by continuing the educational engagement in the store!  AND - the one thing Museum Shops have going for them that normal retail cannot imitate is that the "proceeds from the purchase go directly to the educational mission of the organization" - so be sure to say that as many times as possible in the design of the shop.

Ultimately - the store should be as much a program of the institution as the exhibits and educational outreach are. Its location, its educational products and its design should all reflect the mission of the organization, and people should not feel as if they have walked into a store, per se, but that are they are participating in an energized, interactive part of the Museum's mission. Every product should have a related reason for being part of the merchandise selection, and the customer should be able to find what that connection is, and be delighted with knowing more about it. Many off-the-rack merchandise selections can be related through specific groupings assembled with books, music, and information about the story the merchandise is telling.

Work closely with your curators, educators and leadership and find the best products that represent their goals and will sell well. The merchandise must remind people, when they take it home, or give it as gifts, of the evocative and life-enhancing experience they had in the Museum.

Thora Colot

Formerly - Smithsonian Institution, The Phillips Collection, The Foundation for the National Archives

Currently - Gallagher & Associates

Janet - It is wonderful that you are rethinking the visitor experience and have noticed that the current shop is just a Cookie Cutter Museum Shop".  The first step i would take is to identify your visitor, then create a mix that speaks to them.  What is the local connection?  Why are they visiting the Museum? What is the most visited collection, wing or part of the Museum? How often do your members visit the Museum? Where are the visitors coming from?  What are demographic make of the visitors?

I have found during my career that the successful Museums stores figured out that most purchases made in their stores or exhibition shops are do to a emotional response, the visitor just had an experience and want to continue or share the experience by taking it home. Does the current assortments speak to this experience? Does if reflect your Museum and its collection? 

As for the placement of the shop in the Museum, near the entrance or exit.  If you make the shop a destination you will find that you will get visitors just to shop that may not even visit the Museum (your local shoppers).  The design should reflect your Museums image.  Also do not create fixtures for one type of product, you want them to be flexible and to evolve with the ever changing assortments. 

I'm interested in new models or ideas for museum stores that veer from the traditional. The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art's previous museum store was fairly typical of encyclopedic museum stores, relatively successful, but we felt it didn't necessarily add anything to our mission nor to our operating budget. So we'd like to rethink what a museum store is and could be which includes where it is within a museum, what it sells, what else does it do beyond just selling objects, and what the design should be. I'd love to hear of any models you all have seen that are a departure from the traditional museum store. 

Many thanks,

Janet 

Thank you all so much for these thoughtful replies and resources. I'm devoting next week to following up on the links and, if you don't mind, contacting you to pick your brain some more. 

Cheers,

Janet 

Hi everyone - 

Good advice on all fronts!

I believe the most important part of being a Museum Store is what makes it different from all other retail (to the point that some retail chains try to imitate what Museums and their stores do best) - and that is to add value to the purchasing experience by continuing the educational engagement in the store!  AND - the one thing Museum Shops have going for them that normal retail cannot imitate is that the "proceeds from the purchase go directly to the educational mission of the organization" - so be sure to say that as many times as possible in the design of the shop.

Ultimately - the store should be as much a program of the institution as the exhibits and educational outreach are. Its location, its educational products and its design should all reflect the mission of the organization, and people should not feel as if they have walked into a store, per se, but that are they are participating in an energized, interactive part of the Museum's mission. Every product should have a related reason for being part of the merchandise selection, and the customer should be able to find what that connection is, and be delighted with knowing more about it. Many off-the-rack merchandise selections can be related through specific groupings assembled with books, music, and information about the story the merchandise is telling.

Work closely with your curators, educators and leadership and find the best products that represent their goals and will sell well. The merchandise must remind people, when they take it home, or give it as gifts, of the evocative and life-enhancing experience they had in the Museum.

Thora Colot

Formerly - Smithsonian Institution, The Phillips Collection, The Foundation for the National Archives

Currently - Gallagher & Associates

Janet - It is wonderful that you are rethinking the visitor experience and have noticed that the current shop is just a Cookie Cutter Museum Shop".  The first step i would take is to identify your visitor, then create a mix that speaks to them.  What is the local connection?  Why are they visiting the Museum? What is the most visited collection, wing or part of the Museum? How often do your members visit the Museum? Where are the visitors coming from?  What are demographic make of the visitors?

I have found during my career that the successful Museums stores figured out that most purchases made in their stores or exhibition shops are do to a emotional response, the visitor just had an experience and want to continue or share the experience by taking it home. Does the current assortments speak to this experience? Does if reflect your Museum and its collection? 

As for the placement of the shop in the Museum, near the entrance or exit.  If you make the shop a destination you will find that you will get visitors just to shop that may not even visit the Museum (your local shoppers).  The design should reflect your Museums image.  Also do not create fixtures for one type of product, you want them to be flexible and to evolve with the ever changing assortments. 

I'm interested in new models or ideas for museum stores that veer from the traditional. The Memphis Brooks Museum of Art's previous museum store was fairly typical of encyclopedic museum stores, relatively successful, but we felt it didn't necessarily add anything to our mission nor to our operating budget. So we'd like to rethink what a museum store is and could be which includes where it is within a museum, what it sells, what else does it do beyond just selling objects, and what the design should be. I'd love to hear of any models you all have seen that are a departure from the traditional museum store. 

Many thanks,

Janet