Museum Store Summer 2011

2011

Holiday Gifts Buyer’s Guide and

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reading revolution

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SOUVENIRS • JEWELRY • WEARABLE FIBER • MIXED MEDIA • OUTDOORS • CERAMICS • GLASS • HOME FURNISHINGS • WOOD • METAL • POLYMER CLAY • FASHION ACCESSORIES • JUDAICA • ECO-FRIENDLY • JEWELRY • WEARABLE FIBER • MIXED MEDIA • OUTDOORS • CERAMICS • GLASS • HOME FURNISHINGS • WOOD • METAL • POLYMER CLAY • FASHION ACCESSORIES • JUDAICA • GIFTS UNDER $50 • JEWELRY • WEARABLE FIBER • MIXED MEDIA • OUTDOORS • CERAMICS • GLASS • HOME FURNISHINGS • WOOD • METAL • POLYMER CLAY • FASHION ACCESSORIES • JUDAICA • BOTANICAL • JEWELRY • WEARABLE FIBER • MIXED MEDIA • OUTDOORS • CERAMICS • GLASS • HOME FURNISHINGS • WOOD • METAL • POLYMER CLAY • FASHION ACCESSORIES • JUDAICA • PATRIOTIC • JEWELRY • WEARABLE FIBER • MIXED MEDIA • OUTDOORS • CERAMICS • GLASS • ECO-FRIENDLY • HOME FURNISHINGS • WOOD • METAL • POLYMER CLAY • FASHION ACCESSORIES • JUDAICA • GIFTS UNDER $50 • JEWELRY • WEARABLE FIBER• GIFTS UNDER $50 • MIXED MEDIA • OUTDOORS • CERAMICS • GLASS • HOME FURNISHINGS • WOOD • METAL • POLYMER CLAY • FASHION ACCESSORIES • JUDAICA • HISTORICAL • JEWELRY • WEARABLE FIBER • SOUVENIRS •MIXED MEDIA • OUTDOORS • CERAMICS • GLASS • HOME FURNISHINGS • WOOD • METAL • POLYMER CLAY • FASHION ACCESSORIES • JUDAICA • ANIMAL THEMES • JEWELRY • WEARABLE FIBER • MIXED

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Summer 2011

Museum Store helps cultural commerce professionals operate more effectively, find sources of museum-quality products and contribute to the missions of their institutions.

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Volume 39

16

ExEcutivE DirEctor

Beverly J. BArS ook

COMMUNICAtIONS StAff sEnior managEr for communications

STepHAnIe peT erS

27

communications EDitor

kATHy CISAr communications anD officE assistant

SyBIl FAUrer

ADMINIStRAtIVE StAff

30

DatabasE aDministrator

ADr IAnA HerAlD sEnior managEr for mEmbErship anD programs

BrIDgeT DUMMeTT ClAIre leMASTer confErEncE & Expo sErvicEs coorDinator

JennIFer AnD erSon officE aDministrator

Issue 2

Features

MSA StAff

mEmbEr & EDucation sErvicEs coorDinator

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2011 Holiday Gifts and Buyer’s Guide For holiday sales that sparkle, follow these tips when planning your merchandise assortment. By AprIl MIller MyMSA User’s Guide learn how to get started with the new MyMSA online community designed exclusively for MSA members and affiliates!

Off-Site Sales Taking the merchandise and the mission into the community. By MArge D. HAnSen 2010–2011 MSA Annual Report read MSA’s financials and a summary of the Association’s achievements, plus get a snapshot of our members and affiliates.

TerrI ponD er

Departments

SKIES AMERICA PUBlISHING COMPANy art DirEctor

JACqU elyn M errIll

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President’s Message Join the dialogue—your input is vital.

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Executive Director’s Message Make a connection.

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Merchandise Planning When to merchandise holiday products.

EDitor

MATT W IllIAMS aDvErtising

MAry peTIllo proDuction managEr

CInDy pIke circuLation

Allen nelSon HOW tO CONtACt US E-maiL: speters@museumstoreassociation.org please provide your full name, location and institution or company name. maiL: Museum Store Association 4100 e Mississippi Ave, Ste 800 Denver, Co 80246-3055 www.MuseumStoreAssociation.org phone: (303) 504-9223 Fax: (303) 504-9585

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By AnDreW AnDonIADIS

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By TrACI rylAnDS

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Customer Relations Sharing your passion with visitors will draw them in. By kATHy CISAr

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Strategic Management growing sales through local partnerships. By STepHAnIe peTerS

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2011 MSA Buyer’s Choice Award Winners

36 43 44

New Vendor Showcase

aDvErtising: Mary petillo, phone: (503) 726-4984 Museum Store magazine (ISSn 1040-6999) is published quarterly by the Museum Store Association. postmaster: Send address changes to Museum Store Association 4100 e Mississippi Ave, Ste 800 Denver, Co 80246-3055

© 2011 Museum Store Association Inc. All rights reserved. except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review, no part of this magazine may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from MSA. opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Museum Store Association. printed in the USA. MSA and Museum Store Association are registered in the U.S. patent and Trademark office.

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Cover Image: istockphoto.com/© IlonaBudzbon

Strategic Management Is your museum store ready to sell e-books?

Advertiser Index Product News SUMMER 2011 | MUSEUM STORE

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| president’s message |

Join the Dialogue your input is vital.

| by Valerie troyansky

“I’m a big believer in respect for heritage, but I’m also a believer in the need to innovate and the need to balance that respect for heritage with a need to be relevant.”

—Bob Iger, Disney CEO

i

n his May 18 post on the Retail Contrarian blog, Doug Fleener expands on Iger’s comments by saying, “Heritage vs. innovations vs. relevance. This is something that almost all retailers will face at one time or another. If we’re not careful, the past can become an impediment to today’s and tomorrow’s success. The world changes, our customers change, and our competition changes. At the same time a company’s heritage is its foundation and more often than not has been a guiding light through these changes.”

As I think about the 2011 MSA Conference & Expo, I am struck by Iger’s words and how relevant Fleener’s comments are to the world of cultural commerce and the role of the Museum Store Association in this industry. There’s comfort in the rhythm of the seasons, the rhythms of our association, even the rhythms of our annual conference and the sessions we offer.

We depend on these patterns to ground us, to offer us a chance to look back and review, to look ahead and learn, and to network and share.

If there is one common thread running through every facet of our activities, it is that ours is a changing industry in a changing world, where the same old practices and assumptions aren’t good enough anymore. Old tempos are out of tune and, while we have a commitment to remember and use what has been successful from the past, we must adapt to new practices, respond to new internal and external forces, and make new choices.

In 2010, the board updated the MSA strategic plan and outlined a series of assumptions about the future. It is our core document—our road map—which sets the agenda for goals and objectives in the coming years.

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At the 2011 MSA Forum we engaged in conversation about these assumptions. Our vendor affiliates joined us in the discussion and provided added insight during a separate Vendor Forum. Our goal was to evaluate MSA’s assumptions about the future.

These assumptions break down into several distinct categories: • Demographic Factors • Social, Cultural and Consumer Assumptions • Legislative and Regulatory Assumptions • Economic Assumptions • Industry Assumptions • Technological Factors These assumptions incorporate both internal factors (at our institutions and in our stores) and external/environmental factors (in our industry and in our world). Some assumptions we can control; most we do not.

A long-range plan is not static. Based on new or changing assumptions, some goals and initiatives are achieved, some are set aside, others are amended and new goals are added to the list.

Some are short-term priorities and others are meant to be accomplished over a longer term.

That is why your input is so vital. Thank you to all who participated in the discussions.

In the coming weeks your feedback will be analyzed by the board and we will let you know how it affects the board’s plans and priorities for the short and long term.

What the Association plans for the future cannot be accomplished without you. To adapt Iger’s words: Let us remember our heritage, evaluate innovations and maintain our relevance as an association. So, stay connected, learn from us and with us, communicate on MyMSA and make your cultural commerce businesses the best they can be.

the core purpose of MsA is to advance the success of cultural commerce and of the professionals engaged in it. An international association, MsA is governed by a seven-member board of directors.

board of directors President

v alerie troyan sk y the metroPolitan museum of art new york, ny

first vice President

elizab eth (be th) rick e r new mexico museum of natural history and science albuquerque, nm

second vice President

stac ey stachow wadsworth atheneum museum of art hartford, ct

secretary

c hac ho he rm an san diego museum of art san diego, ca

treasurer

c and ace alle n museum of new mexico foundation shoPs santa fe, nm

directors at large

stuart hata de young and legion of honor/ fine arts museums of san francisco san francisco, ca -and-

b arb ar a le n hardt crystal bridges museum of american art bentonville, ar

Valerie Troyansky valerie.troyansky@metmuseum.org

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011 has brought an exciting member benefit to MSA members and affiliates. MyMSA is an online community where everyone can participate in a variety of conversations.

Now you can join the groups you want or that are the most important to you. You can start your own group. You can get messages directly into your e-mail or you can simply go online in MyMSA and follow the conversation there. The mission of MyMSA is simple: to connect you with your peers, with information and with opportunities to make building your business easier.

all things related to our annual event are discussed? There are also niche groups like City Stores and MSA Vendors. There are groups where specific issues can be discussed, such as user groups for POS systems. You can even create your own group. Are you only interested in talking with other library stores? You can create a group for that if you like.

Resource Center: A wealth of knowledge is waiting for you! Educational videos, resources for marketing your business and links to information are just some of the things you’ll discover in the Resource

The mission of MyMSA is simple: to connect you with your peers, with information and with opportunities to make building your business easier.

So what’s so great about an online community? It is simply the best way to maintain a connection to your peers and to get quick answers to your business questions and the most current information available from MSA. An association is a community of people with common interests and the online community allows every individual an opportunity to talk to the group. It comes with your MSA membership and is there for you 24/7.

If you haven’t taken a look at this online community yet, you’re missing out.

ShopTalk is consistently rated as a top member benefit and, with hundreds of messages being sent each month, it continues to be a major part of this community. Here’s a quick overview: Groups: All MSA members and affiliates are automatically included in the ShopTalk group and members are sorted into their regional chapter group. But, did you know there’s a Conference & Expo group where 6

Center. You can help grow these resources by uploading files, links and testimonials to help your peers. You can even rate library items.

My Page: This is the place to personalize your MyMSA experience. Add your photo and change it whenever you like, include a bio or update it with new experience or interests at any time you like. View the groups to which you belong, see your news feed and recent messages you’ve sent. You can also include your website and Twitter feed, which is a great way to market your company or institution or yourself!

Not sure where to start? See page 27 in this issue for a helpful user’s guide, or give us a call at (303) 504-9223 and we will be happy to help you get started!

Beverly J. Barsook bbarsook@museumstoreassociation.org

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merchandise planning

Getting Festive

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et’s start with the definitions of two words that will be used in this article. “Merchandising” is the placement of products in the store from which customers make their selections.

The vast majority of store space and fixtures are dedicated to merchandising. “Displays” are vignettes that incorporate multiple products with a common theme that capture the visitor’s attention, tell a story, visually suggest incremental add-on purchases and encourage the visitor to linger.

Perhaps the only major holiday products that can be displayed year-round are Christmas ornaments. If you have created proprietary ornaments for years or part of the mission or exhibits in your museum focuses on ornaments and Christmas or other related topics, year-round displays may be appropriate and this can be a steady stream of revenue with a major spike in the fourth quarter.

The year-end holiday season (although some are based on the lunar calendar and move around a bit) typically includes Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ashura and New Year’s. Easing in the merchandising of holiday products and gradually moving from less prominent to highly prominent locations can be a good way to proceed because it’s effective, some customers are looking for it, and it’s a way to lessen the issue about being too soon. The sequencing can be: By mid-October. Merchandise limited products in a less prominent location. The products can include those that are a bit more standard and those, if initial sales are encouraging, that you may be able to re-order before the heart of the season.

After Halloween. Whether you sell Halloween-related products or not, expand

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| by andrew andoniadis

the breadth of year-end holiday products and improve the location. Consider, however, keeping some of your product “powder dry” for just a bit longer so you can make a spectacular debut of products in conjunction with, perhaps, a members’ open house, and when the majority of consumers start to focus on the holidays.

Second weekend of November. Plan a members’ open house and other activities with the marketing focus on both selling products and implanting the thought that your store is a place to buy holiday products when the real buying starts after Thanksgiving. For these events, all products, including some you may have reserved for the members’ event, should now be in a prominent location and the first wave of displays in place.

istockphoto.com / © terry J Alcorn

When to Merchandise hoLiday Products.

should reflect the timing of those holidays that are based on the lunar calendar and typically are celebrated before Christmas.

• To the extent you can with your product selection, keep an eye on national promotions and third-party media events like a Martha Stewart special on television and piggyback on these marketing expenditures by raising the visibility of related products.

Perhaps the only major holiday products that can be displayed year-round are Christmas ornaments...and this can be a steady stream of revenue with a major spike in the fourth quarter.

Just before Thanksgiving. With the proper balance of products focused on the museum’s mission and current exhibits always given serious consideration, it’s time for the full-blown merchandising and display of holiday products.

Mid-December. As you move closer to Christmas, change the focus of your merchandising and displays to products that may not have sold as well as you would have liked and less expensive and stocking-stuffer products.

And remember to be flexible: • The ebb and flow of product displays

• If a popular exhibit is drawing crowds during the fourth quarter you should adjust your merchandising and display schedule to take advantage of the increased foot-traffic.

Andrew Andoniadis is the principal in Andoniadis Retail Services, a consulting firm that has specialized in revenue-generating strategies for museum stores for 19 years.

He can be reached at (503) 629-9279, Andrew@MuseumStoreConsult.com or www.MuseumStoreConsult.com.

Andoniadis Retail Services is a Champion Level Sponsor of the 2009 MSA Retail Industry Report.

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strategic management

Reading Revolution

O

nce considered a technological flash in the pan, e-readers and e-books are now a force to be reckoned with. According to a study by the Association of American Publishers, e-book sales in February 2011 were $90.3 million. That’s a 202.3 percent jump from the same time last year.

Museum store managers are wondering if selling e-books in their stores is a viable option.

University of Alaska Museum of the North’s Dan David admits he is thinking about it.

“The University of Alaska Press recently released some of their books in Kindle format,” he says. “I thought this might be an opportunity for us to sell more of their titles through electronic means.”

Still, Davis is debating if his store would be a good fit for e-books. “The demographic of our visitors tends to be age 50 and up,” he says. “We’re not in a big rush to do this because most of them still want to purchase a physical book they can take with them.”

Before plunging into the world of e-books, museum store managers should ask themselves a few practical questions.

Do your customers want e-books?

Several of the American Booksellers Association’s (ABA) member stores with IndieCommerce websites sell Google e-books through a partnership launched in December 2010. ABA Technical Director Matt Supko recommends that before any store manager decides to sell e-books, they should find out if it’s something their visitors actually want.

“Survey your customers,” he says. “Ask them if they are reading e-books. If so, how often? Would you buy them from us?”

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| By traci rylands

Supko thinks some of the best candidates for selling e-books would be museum stores with a strong connection to the community, and a solid base of visitors that frequently attend events, exhibitions, etc.

Another factor is how great a percentage books play in a store’s sales. “If books are a big part of your income and you are watching it slip away to digital sales, take a close look at e-books,” Supko says. “How much do you see your future business being hurt by e-books?”

Do you have the technological savvy?

Selling e-books via a store’s website does not have to be a complicated or expensive process, Supko points out. But once established, store managers must be knowledgeable about how different e-readers work and the potential questions customers might ask. For example, Kindle users can only download e-books from Amazon.com, unlike other e-readers like the Nook.

“A store manager should know how to use each device or have someone on hand at all times who does,” he adds. “If you are selling e-books and someone asks you a question, it’s important to be ready with answers. Not only is it an opportunity to keep a customer, but to sell them more content over time.”

Supko encourages store managers to keep different e-readers on hand so they can guide customers through the e-book purchase process. The first step is for managers and staff to try it themselves. “Check out how it works on a Nook, try it on a smartphone,”

he says. “Buy an e-book yourself. It’s a small investment that really pays off.”

While the cost of setting up e-book purchases may be relatively small, the investment of time spent training staff and maintaining the store website regularly is what store managers should consider.

“You have to go into it with a certain level of commitment,” Supko says, “It’s not that hard to make it pay for itself. But e-books are an investment of time, effort and a learning curve. It’s not a matter of thinking you’ll just add e-books to your store and that’s all you have to do.”

istockphoto.com / © Enrico Boscariol

Is YOur MuseuM stOre reaDY tO sell e-BOOks?

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are you missing a valuable opportunity?

Earlier this year, San Francisco State University’s campus bookstore did a soft roll-out of its e-book option through the ABA portal on their website. While General Books Manager Ken White says he does not see e-books becoming the largest segment

customers the materials they need for classes or for their own reading pleasure, in any format that they want.”

White agrees that the students that make up the bulk of his customer base tend to be technologically savvy and want to try new things. “They are much less dedicated to books as physical objects. Currently, the

“It’s not that hard to make it pay for itself. But e-books are an investment of time, effort and a learning curve.”

–Matt Supko, Amercian Booksellers Association

of their sales, he did not want to ignore the potential they have in the future.

“The decision was a no-brainer,” he says.

“We want to be able to deliver to our

three devices they’re downloading e-books to the most are laptops, smartphones and iPads™.”

White plans on making a bigger splash

with e-books in the fall when many new students arrive. “We’re going to take a hard look at the required reading for fall classes,” he says. “We plan on having barcodes they can scan with their smartphones that will direct them to our web page where they can buy an e-book version of it.”

While some customers may never feel comfortable moving away from purchasing a physical book, economic pressure may change their minds, White says.

“I still hear a lot of people say they prefer a real book. However, when a textbook costs $35 and the e-book version is $12.99, that’s going to become a very real issue.”

Traci Rylands lives in Atlanta, GA, and recently wrote about welcoming school groups into the museum store in the winter 2010 issue of Museum Store magazine.

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customer realations

Magnetic Shopping Destinations sharing your Passion with visitors draws them in.

P

assion is what creates magnetism,” says Miriam Works of Works Consulting, Seattle, WA. “You need to share it with your visitors.”

Works was addressing a room of 2011 MSA Conference attendees in Rosemont, IL, on April 30, as she presented her top customer service tips in the session, “Create a Magnetic Shopping Destination.”

“MSA members clearly have a passion for what they are doing,” Works continues. “Does that passion shine through in your interaction with every visitor, every staff member, every volunteer? If we let our light shine, it speaks for itself.”

When brainstorming for ideas, one area that shouldn’t be overlooked is the forprofit world. Works recommends taking a few customer service tips from five-star hotels and specialty retailers, in addition to your museum retail peers. “We need to pay attention to the for-profit world as well as to the nonprofit realm,” she explains.

© artist group photography

“

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| by kathy cisar

“Sometimes we get ideas on how to draw in visitors and turn them into happy participants from the most unexpected places!”

Another area of focus should start by asking the question, “What makes my museum store different?”

“Product development, for one,” answers Works. “Offering products relating to the experience at the institution, providing ‘connected product,’ using provenance cards—these are all great ideas. Don’t compete with the big box stores—differentiate!”

Works also would like to encourage more museum stores to create a tagline just for the store. She believes that a store’s mission should be separate, in a sense, from the organization’s mission and that this also can set the store apart in the community.

“Remember that if your mission statement is not inspiring or intriguing you can’t expect your visitors to remember it, to want to return to your shop or to become members of your organization,” she says. “It is our job to inspire people!”

According to Works, there are many examples of wonderful taglines. Some of her favorites include: • Get the Real Goods at Native Goods—Arizona State Museum • Absolutely Vital—Toronto Public Library • Celebrate the Extraordinary—The Museum of Flight • Keeping the Story Going—Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience

“Retail is theater. Everything you do to draw attention to your store, no matter what the medium, should be equal parts entertainment and education.”

—Miriam Works, Works Consulting, Seattle, WA Signage in your store and sidebars on your website are powerful reminders to the public about why you exist. Works recommends helping customers visualize the programs/education your store supports with great images. “Showing people is always more interesting than products, and images are always more interesting than descriptions,” she says. “Give visitors a reason to care. Showcase your purpose with a photo of kids at the museum. Paint a picture with your photos.”

Works sometimes thinks that the museum world tends to shy away from giving customers a tangible reason to buy a product, and she advises against that. “Give

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them easy-to-read prices—don’t make them ask!—and connect products to their real wants and needs,” Works says. “Make your signage fun and friendly; even with rules, don’t be negative.”

“Naturally, your store environment makes a difference,” Works continues.

“Make sure your product selection fits local tastes, that your store is spotless at all times and be sure inventory turns over frequently.”

Moving or re-displaying existing merchandise will make even regular customers think it is new. Works advises that you do a complete store reset at least four times per year. “It’s not new, but it will seem new to your customers,” she says.

“Retail is theater. Everything you do to draw attention to your store, no matter what the medium, should be equal parts entertainment and education,” explains Works. “The current bar for retail has been set and it now encompasses an interactive shopping experience. Try something new!”

Works offers some final words of advice: “We all know that ‘being there’ for our visitors, staff and volunteers is extremely challenging. Sometimes the hardest part is making it look easy. We must impart to all around us a sense of calm and mindfulness.

Even when we are trying not to break a sweat!”

6 Elements to Achieving a Magnetic Shopping Destination •

Differentiation

•

Compelling Offerings

•

Welcoming Environment

•

Multi-Directional Communication

•

Heartfelt Service

•

Operational Excellence

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strategic management

Working Together growing sAles through locAl pArtnerships.

A

Knowledge and passion about your products combined with the local aspect appeals to consumers. Selling an experience is what differentiates local, independent stores from the large chain stores. “It’s the difference between selling nails and selling what you can do with those nails,” says Anderson, currently serving as president of ABA’s board of directors.

According to Teicher, there has been a recent movement in America about “localism” and stores in “shop local” communities are flourishing. “In the midst of the economic downturn, independent businesses have shown great resilience,” says Teicher. “Shoppers are telling independents that the fact they are locally owned matters a great deal to them.”

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Anderson jumped at the chance to form an organized group in her community that focused on independents.

The Naperville, IL, Indiebound group gets together once a month to share issues and best practices and discuss ways to extend their brand into the community.

The businesses utilize ABA’s Indiebound

“In the midst of the economic downturn, independent businesses have shown great resilience. Shoppers are telling independents that the fact they are locally owned matters a great deal to them.”

–Oren Teicher, chief executive officer, American Booksellers Association

istockphoto.com / © René mansi

s a retail professional in a cultural setting, you already know that you offer a unique experience to your customers. But, how can you connect with other independent businesses in your community to grow your sales? Oren Teicher, chief executive officer at the American Booksellers Association (ABA), and Becky Anderson, co-owner at Anderson’s Bookshops in Naperville, IL, offered their advice at the 2011 MSA Retail Conference & Expo in Rosemont, IL, during their session “Linked by Passion: Growing Sales Through Local Partnerships.”

| By stephanie peters

So, how do we create a market to grow our businesses? According to Teicher and Anderson, you connect with other independent businesses in your community to collectively deliver the “local” message.

In 2008, ABA launched Indiebound to bring together booksellers, readers, indie retailers and local business alliances, and

materials to display signage letting the customer know they will get a unique experience by shopping in their store.

Their “Here’s What You Just Did” flier gives customers 10 reasons why shopping local and independent is so important, including keeping dollars in the community, making the store a destination and creating local jobs.

When asked if she thought of other businesses that offer the same or similar products in the group as competition, Anderson replied, “Supporting one another, great collaboration and capturing each other’s strengths, versus looking at them as competition, has made our community closer.” In addition, they are getting more attention from their city and county governments since forming the group. States Anderson, “They are more aware of indie businesses now.”

Other ways the Naperville Indiebound group promotes their local, independent community is by sponsoring holiday parades, coordinating indie fairs, participating

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in charity events where businesses set up tables and donate baskets as a group, sponsoring movies at local theaters, and supporting local schools and a community blood drive.

In addition, they cross-promote each other’s businesses in their own stores.

The growth of “buy local” or “local first” campaigns has been seen in cities and towns throughout the United States over the past few years, and they are making a difference for local businesses and their communities. According to a 2009 survey by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, independent businesses who were active in “buy local” campaigns reported stronger sales than those communities without such an initiative.

“Money spent in local businesses has a greater impact on the community than that spent in large retail stores,” says Teicher. “Connecting with other independent businesses and accenting the uniqueness in your community provides an opportunity to grow sales. It’s what we can do together that makes a difference.”

Resources for Finding (or Starting) a Campaign in Your Area •

BALLE Business Alliance for local living

Mindjewel

Brainstring ’R’

Planets

Mirrorkal You and Mona Lisa

Brainstring Advanced

Mirrorkal Escher

Recent Toys USA, Inc. - brandi@recenttoys.com F. 866-571-2604 - P. 512-879-7256

economies www.livingeconomies.org •

AMIBA American independent Business Alliance www.amiba.net

For more information on organizations that support local, independent businesses, google Main street Associations, Buy local and local First for your city or town.

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2011

Holiday Gifts Buyer’s Guide and

by April Miller

P

ositive sales are expected for the coming holiday season. “As things are looking up (a bit), people will be ready to treat themselves and their loved ones more,” says Elaine Sheth, Esprit Creations’ owner and designer. While she thinks shoppers will most likely be drawn to items that stand out and are conversation pieces, those that have practical value offer an added plus for one to make the purchase.

“I think everyone is tired of living with financial uncertainty and conservatism,” adds Carol Storms of BeadArt from the Heart, “so we will see some spending.”

Paul Metzger of SetaBellissima notes that, “after a brutal recession and gradual recovery, things should pick up significantly for the holidays.”

American-made items priced at $30 or less or higher-priced items that fill a want or need will do well, says Glass Eye Studio’s Greg Slye. “Consumers will buy,” he adds, “if they see that unique item that triggers a memory or makes the perfect gift.”

For sales that sparkle this holiday season, vendors suggest you buy early to avoid last-minute stress and always practice outstanding customer service.

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Sandra Eddy of Creature Cashmere, a former marketer, advises retailers to capture customer contact information year-round including preferences like specific wants for gift giving and the holiday season. “Get in touch with customers when holiday items arrive,” she says. “Plan a special preferred customer evening event so your special customers get the attention they deserve in a relaxed atmosphere, after regular store hours.”

“One of the best ways to spread the word about their store,” suggests Ramona Pariente of Safari Ltd., “is by social networking.

Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are very effective tools to get the word out about your special product offerings and other activities.”

As you plan your holiday product assortment, consider the following items.

[1]

For those who love pieces connected to the Earth and the past, Mata Ortiz to You offers pendants, earrings and more. Each of the company’s oneof-a-kind items combines ancient

history with recycled art. All jewelry is handmade by one Nahuatl Indian in Taxco, Mexico, using .950 silver and broken Mata Ortiz pottery pieces.

[2]

[3]

The Days of Old collection from Safari Ltd. features classic fairytale figures in all their glory, such as King Alfred, Queen Sofia, Medea the Witch and Magnus the Wizard (all shown here). Finely sculpted and colorful, the characters are for children age 3 and older. Educational information (in five languages) about each figure is included.

All are phthalate and lead free.

2011

Holiday Gifts Buyer’s Guide and

totebag with magnetic closure, and two-layer 100% silk satin scarf (reverses to black).

[4]

Featuring vibrant red blossoms, the New-York Historical Society’s Tiffany Poppy Collection is inspired

by Louis Comfort Tiffany’s (1848– 1933) leaded glass and bronze Poppy lamp. Included in the collection is: an aluminum-frame umbrella with rubber-coated handle, microfiber

Pine Garden Baskets’ ornaments are made of clay and long leaf pine needles.

Each piece is handmade by Melanie Walter using the Native American craft of pine needle basketry. Using needles indigenous to her North Carolina hometown, she collects, soaks and cleans the needles, each of which can be as long as 15-inches.

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Holiday Gifts Buyer’s Guide

product viewing and contains 24 tags and two yards of coordinating string.

Choose from Birdhouse, Kate Sutton Holiday, Night Song or Collage Ornaments.

and

[5]

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The poinsettia earrings from BeadArt from the Heart are handmade by sewing each of the beads to its neighbors, sometimes requiring up to five or six passes of thread for correct placement. Designed in Santa Fe, NM, each piece is created with Fair Trade practices in small villages in northern Thailand.

[7]

[8]

Galison’s new gift tags are cheerfully illustrated with four complementary designs per set. Each set is packaged in a decorated box with a window for

*(1(5$/œ6Š &KDUFRDO LV DQ H[WUD VPRRWK ULFK LQWHQVH EODFN GUDZLQJ IRUPXOD KDQG FUDIWHG ZLWK RXU IDPLO\ IRUPXOD VLQFH 2LO IUHH DQG EOHQGDEOH *(1(5$/œ6Š ³WKH RULJLQDO´ FKDUFRDO SHQFLOV DUH RIWHQ UHIHUUHG WR DV ³5HG +RWV´ E\ DUWLVWV DFURVV WKH 86$ 0DGH ZLWK JHQXLQH ,QFHQVH &HGDU ZRRG DYDLODEOH LQ GHJUHHV DQG &KDUFRDO :KLWHŠ

The durable, hand-thrown Round Belly mug from Deneen Pottery is microwave, dishwasher, oven and freezer safe. The marble glaze is burgundy with blue/white. The glaze-engraved process (glaze is cut directly into the clay) was invented by the Deneen family. The fourthgeneration, Minnesota-based family business has been producing custom stoneware since 1972.

North Country Wind Bells are handcrafted in the Pemaquid Peninsula on Maine’s rugged coast. Two of their holiday bestsellers are: the Holiday Bell with Peace (shown) and the Wilderness Bell with Red Cardinal. Both are hand-crafted

with more than 60% recycled steel and powder-coated with a durable finish. Custom windcatcher designs are available.

[9]

My Dream Bag from Esprit Creations features enough compartments, pockets and zippers to keep one’s belongings well organized. The 100% cotton flowery print with thick hand-stitched threads comes in six colors: royal blue, turquoise, lime green, brown, purple and red. Each bag is made by women in rural India.

[ 10 ]

The Penny Wooden Doll Kit from Historical Folk Toys includes a replica 19th-century, jointed, penny wooden doll, fabric, lace, snaps, pattern, instructions and history. The doll is approximately 7-inches tall.

Smaller dolls were first produced in Germany around 1810 and later sold in English “cent shops.� Doll also is available separately.

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www.generalpencil.com

MADEE IN TH

USA

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Holiday Gifts Buyer’s Guide

tipping over, it is 4 ½ inches tall. Each American-made piece is hand-crafted by a master potter. Twenty-seven glaze colors are available. Choose from the holiday illustration collection, other stock styles or customize a mug.

and

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Designed by Petra Meiren and handmade in Germany, the Stick Collection from Diane O’Donnel Contemporary Designs is made of steel tubes with a sterling silver finish and layers of clear varnish to avoid oxidizing, and finished with Swarovski crystals. Available in 21- to 52-inch lengths in anodized, gold or silver finish.

Scrabble meets rummy in the Royalty Word game from U.S. Games Systems. The game includes two decks of 53 cards, each with a letter, a color and a point value. Starting with seven cards, players draw cards, add letters to build words and capture opponents’ words—all in one turn.

New to Glass Eye Studio’s Celestial Series line is the Earth paperweight.

Its current Earth design will be retired this December. The pieces are created by artists who use colored glass to form the continents, oceans and sky.

They are then encased in molten crystal glass for a lasting image.

[ 16 ]

All Found Image Press products are hand-crafted in the United States.

Choose from more than 75 calendar titles and 35 postcard booklet titles or select from the company’s extensive archive of vintage images to create a unique line of high-quality note cards, postcards, boxed notes, matted prints and magnets.

[ 17 ]

Fine art reproductions of works by Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and José Guadalupe Posada are offered from John Gibbs Publications. In addition, you also can select from images of Aztec and Mayan deities.

Posters, postcards, pin-badges, bookmarks, rulers, coasters, magnets, key rings and more are available.

[ 18 ]

All of Creature Cashmere’s items— for pets and their owners—are made from 100% recycled cashmere, mostly sweaters. Washed in organic laundry detergent prior to being “upcycled,” the sweaters take on a new life as scarves, headbands, armwarmers, dog sweaters and collars. Headbands and scarves are the company’s bestsellers.

All items are machine-washable.

[ 19 ]

The colored tips of Recent Toys’ Brainstring Advanced are attached to stretchy bands that move around the ball. Players begin with the strings scrambled and then work through the puzzle to get a solid color on every side and remove the knot. Makes a great travel game for players of all skill levels.

Photofabrication Engineering custom ornaments, keepsakes, bookmarks and commemorative memorabilia are designed and produced in Massachusetts. A complimentary stand provides year-round viewing. Low minimums are available. Base material is high-quality, polished brass finished in 24-karat gold, imitation or rhodium, or any number of special finishing options.

New from Sunset Hill Stoneware is the Rise & Shine mug. Designed with extra base weight to prevent it from

[ 20 ] “Nature: Extraordinary Birds” from Questar Entertainment is a set of

six DVDs. “Hummingbirds: Magic in the Air (Disc 1)” is the best-selling DVD in the PBS Nature series. Other videos in the set include: “American Eagle, Raptor Force” and “The Wild Side of Paradise: Hawaii and Cuba.”

[ 21 ]

Artwear LLC’s housewares gift set includes a serving tray, 11-ounce ceramic mug, coaster and trivet. The line can be sold as a set or individually.

Mahogany, black or natural rails can be selected for the serving trays.

Trivets have a heat-resistant, highgloss finish with a corked back.

[ 22 ] EDC

Publishing’s “Pull-Back Busy Car Book” comes with a “pull-back” car and four tracks. Kids can watch as the car whizzes around the tracks in this interactive book with bright and lively illustrations. In the same series is the best-selling “Pull-Back Busy Bug Book” that was introduced last year. “Pull-Back Busy Santa Book” also is available.

[ 23 ] SetaBellissima offers fine, hand-rolled Italian silk scarves in a variety of classic designs and popular sizes.

Each design has been carefully chosen for its timelessness, so they do not go out of style and can be worn in any season. All scarves have brilliant colors and a shimmering texture.

[ 24 ] New

from Village Designs is the Springerlee collection of holiday jewelry. All pieces are designed and handmade in the company’s Daisy, MO, studio. Heavy guage steel wire is coiled then weaved into different shapes, such as trees, balls and snowmen. The wire pendants, earrings and rings in various shapes and colors create wearable art.

April Miller is a Cleveland-based freelance writer and editor. A regular contributor to Museum Store, she last wrote the Home & Garden Buyer’s Guide in the spring 2011 issue.

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Retail Buyer’s Guide Artwear LLC www.digitalartwear.com (954) 916-7351 BeadArt from the Heart LLC www.funbeadwork.com (505) 984-5037 Creature Cashmere www.creaturecashmere.com (310) 459-9986

Do you have PUBLICATIONS that have STOPPED SELLING? Bullpen Book Sales purchases museum publications in the following areas: ART HISTORY PHOTOGRAPHY DECORATIVE ARTS ARCHITECTURE DESIGN

Let’s work together to move out your dead stock and free up storage space.

Ed Ripp

BULLPEN BOOK SALES 2638 - 6th Street NW Albuquerque, NM 87107 505.345.7477 ripp505@gmail.com

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Diane O’Donnel Contemporary Designs www.dianeodonnel.com (716) 863-5200 Deneen Pottery www.deneenpottery.com (888) 646-0238 EDC Publishing www.edcpub.com (800) 475-4522 Esprit Creations www.espritcreations.com (352) 316-6130 Found Image Press www.foundimage.com (800) 927-3722 Galison www.galison.com (800) 670-7441 Glass Eye Studio www.glasseye.com (800) 237-6961

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1LGR +RRN $GB0XV6WRUH T[G /D\RXW $0 3DJH

Historical Folk Toys www.historicalfolktoys.com (800) 871-1984 John Gibbs Publications www.johngibbs.com Mata Ortiz to You www.mataortiztoyou.com (520) 744-0639 New-York Historical Society www.nyhistory.org (212) 485-9215 North Country Wind Bells www.northcountrybells.com (877) 930-5435 Photofabrication Engineering Inc. www.decorativeetching.com (508) 478-2025 Pine Garden Baskets www.pinegardenbaskets.com (910) 799-8363 Questar Entertainment www.questarentertainment.com (312) 397-2157 Recent Toys USA www.recenttoys.com (512) 879-7256 Safari Ltd. www.safariltd.com (800) 554-5414 SetaBellissima LLC (540) 891-4412

Picture Your Bookshelves as Works of Art Nido Hook is an innovative hook that allows you to securely hang art from bookshelves without using nails or damaging fine woodwork.

Sunset Hill Stoneware, LLC www.shstoneware.com (800) 509-4662 U.S. Games Systems, Inc. www.usgamesinc.com (800) 544-2637 Village Designs www.villagedesigns.com (800) 268-3642

nidohook.com 818.986.3727

patent pending

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| 2011 MSA Buyer’s Choice Award Winners |

A

ttendees of the 2011 MSA Expo cast their votes for the Buyer’s Choice contest—congratulations to the following winners in six product categories! education & games chuck close block Puzzle Pomegranate www.pomegranate.com Twelve blocks can be rearranged to form six different self-portraits by painter Chuck Close. Each block is a two-inch cube and the finished puzzle is 6” x 8”.

books & multimedia  “busy bug book” EDC Publishing/Usborne/Kane Miller www.edcpub.com Watch as the bug whizzes around the tracks in this delightful interactive book.

Wind up the bug by pulling it backward, place it on the tracks and watch it wiggle around the garden.

fashion chihuly Pergola umbrella Portland Press Inc. www.portlandpress.net A stunning installation of a pergola ceiling

by Dale Chihuly is reproduced inside this stick umbrella’s canopy, made with Teflon-coated polyester fabric.

custom design  Pablo Picasso’s maquette for Richard J. daley center monument Museum Masterworks Inc. www.museummasterworks.com This striking adaptation of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Picasso’s Maquette for Richard J. Daley Center Monument is made of welded, lasercut, acid-washed metal and is sandpowder coated and hand-painted.

eco-fRiendly  eco crafts ALEX www.alextoys.com Create 20 easy Earth-friendly crafts with recycled stickers, papers and pencils! Just layer and stick to make animals, puppets and jewelry. Picture instructions included.

It’s not just beautiful one-of-a-kind jewelry; it’s a 700 year old story.

Share It 520-744-0639 MataOrtizToYou.com 26

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13845 N. Buckhorn Cholla Drive Marana, AZ 85658

Use code MOtY23 for free ShIpppIng

PaPeR PRoducts  Perfect 3-d lenticular Postcards L.M. Kartenvertrieb & Verlags Gmbh, Germany www.postcard-online.com After producing animated lenticular postcards, L.M. Kartenvertrieb has found a way to create 3-D postcards to perfection. Only the newest technology is used for a real 3-D feeling.

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WELCOME TO THE MyMSA COMMUNITY!

MyMSA is the new online community designed exclusively for MSA members and affiliates.

The mission of MyMSA is simple: to connect you with your peers, with information and with opportunities to make building business easier. Come to MyMSA to: • Interact with 1,500+ cultural commerce professionals.

• Build your network of invaluable contacts in the cultural commerce industry.

• Discover new resources to help you run your business in the Resource Center.

• Join (or create!) a group to facilitate committee work, lead sharing, niche group discussions and more!

• Find out about upcoming national and chapter events where you can continue networking live and in person!

Log in now at my.museumstoreassociation.org and connect to the powerful MSA network in an exciting new dimension.

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GETTING STARTED WITH MyMSA!

1 2 3 4

Open your Internet browser and visit my.museumstoreassociation.org.

Log in to the community by clicking on the “Sign-In” link in the top right-hand corner of the page. Use the same Logon and Password you use to access the MSA website.

Once logged in, you will be prompted to read and accept the terms of use. This will happen only once. You will not be prompted to do this during any future logins unless the terms have been updated.

You are now on the MyMSA community welcome page!

Bookmark my.museumstoreassociation.org now for quick access in the future (you can also access the community from the MSA website).

YOUR PROFILE In the top right-hand corner of the page, you will find your HUB. Click on “Edit Profile.” You can also access this from the “My Page” link.

•

In the “tags” section, include a few one-word topics that interest you. For example, you might list “art museums, dogs, skiing, POS, e-commerce, social media.” By doing this you will be able to find colleagues with common interests.

PEOPLE Your basic information has been pre-loaded into the community, so you will see that some of the fields in your profile are already populated.

In the far left column you will see links for editing each of the sections of your profile. Here are some tasks to get you started: • Add a photo of yourself. (Browse your computer files for a photo of yourself, select the photo you would like and click “Upload.”)

• Add a bio of yourself.

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Click the People tab on the horizontal main menu to explore your network of colleagues. You can view all, or sort by the first letter of their last name.

Using the search bar on the horizontal main menu, you can search for a colleague by entering their name or

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organization. You can also search for people in your own community by entering your city. Another way to search for colleagues in your area is to view the “Community Map.”

GROUPS Click the Groups tab on the horizontal main menu to connect with special interest groups within the MyMSA community.

EXPLORING THE RESOURCE CENTER Click the Resource Center tab on the horizontal main menu to access the Resource Center. A number of documents and links have already been added for your convenience.

Here you can add reviews, testimonials or any type of document you’d like to share with your colleagues.

Try adding your own testimonial—why do you value your MSA membership?

MANAGING YOUR COMMUNITY E-MAIL PREFERENCES Click on the “Email Settings” link in the top right-hand HUB.

Click on the “My Groups’ Messages” link to view the latest e-mails and announcements generated by the MyMSA groups to which you belong.

The “My Groups” link will show you a list of the groups in which you are a member. All MSA members and affiliates are members of the ShopTalk group.

Start a new group! Click on the “Start New Group” link to get started and invite others to participate.

The groups to which you belong will appear on screen. Under each group, look for the options for receiving e-mail. Those options give you the ability to receive individual e-mails, a daily digest or web only to receive no e-mails (you can still read messages from your “My Page”).

You can also manage community e-mail settings from within the e-mail messages you receive. At the bottom of each e-mail you receive are links to help you reply to the sender, view the sender’s profile, post to the entire community, e-mail the moderator, change your delivery settings, and more.

If at any time you need assistance, please call (303) 504-9223 during regular business hours, Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. (MT) or e-mail your questions to mymsa@museumstoreassociation.org.

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operations

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Off-s te Sales

By Marge D. Hansen

Taking the Merchandise and the Mission Into the Community

A

short-term lease opportunity can allow small and larger museum retailers to wiggle their toes in experimental waters to see if off-site selling is for them. And, whether you’re interested in a satellite shop, a temporary or “pop-up” in-line mall store, a kiosk or a customized cart, many of the logistics involved are similar from onsite retailing—but with a twist or two that can make or break a remote selling venture.

Attracting a Wider Audience

C

leveland Metroparks, Cleveland, OH, acknowledged as one of the best park districts in the country, has golf courses, trails, extensive park acreage and the zoo under its umbrella. Heidi Stelmach, who manages the EarthWords Nature Shops, currently oversees three Metroparks stores and is planning for a fourth. Additionally, she has been charged by her executive director with researching the possibility of setting up a retail merchandising unit (RMU) at a shopping mall for the holiday season. “A recent survey showed that we have 98 percent name recognition, so we want to leverage that,” she explains.

Common area merchandising via RMUs (carts and kiosks) is a $12-billion-dollar industry with a proven, 30-year history. But is it a good fit for museum store products?

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As requested, Stelmach did her due diligence. She identified a high-traffic mall on Cleveland’s west side with four bigbox anchor stores. “The 9-foot-by-6-foot pushcart is nicely configured with a slant wall section, additional shelves and storage underneath,” says Stelmach. “Promoting golf is very important to our director, so we plan to offer golf and zoo gift cards. We also will promote our logo items and stock the cart with our best sellers, like sweatshirts, hats, scarves, kids’ clothing, our popular buzzard stuffed toys, as well as educational toys, which will be quite unique for this mall. I have a few different locations in the mall to choose from.”

Case Study: Newport Mansions Satellite Store Planning began: November 1992 Opening: June 1993 Type of operation: Satellite store in a hightraffic, tourist area

Merchandise focus:

Nautical, gifts, books,

high-end souvenirs

Formula for stocking the store: All products displayed; runs daily re-stocking report; daily deliveries from warehouse

Staff: Full-time manager; about eight rotating employees and volunteers Hours:

Summer, 9 a.m. to 8 or 10 p.m. daily, based on foot-traffic and other local events. Winter, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Tuesday. During February school vacation, the store is open daily.

High season: Late spring and June-October Outcome: In the most recent fiscal year, the satellite store surpassed the plan by seven percent and it provides great exposure for the Newport Mansions.

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An Open Mind

S

taffing, covering the longer hours and overseeing multiple locations are definite challenges, agrees Martha Sivertson, manager of volunteers and visitor services and the museum store at the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Beachwood, OH. “I was involved with this at another museum,” she notes. “Staff loyalty in a museum is generally very strong and that’s quite different from hiring for a mall situation. The question of commissions on sales came up for us. We were not willing to do that. Also, funding extra inventory can be an obstacle. But, I am always ready to explore ways to promote our identity in the community and expand sales.”

In the mid 1990s, Sharon Yurkanin, who manages the store at the Allentown Art Museum in Allentown, PA, looked into leasing a mall kiosk. Ultimately she determined the rental and staffing costs were prohibitive and did not move forward with the project. The idea resurfaced when the museum closed for renovations.

“My latest research was not for a kiosk but for a satellite store,” Yurkanin says. “I provided a business plan to point out that rent [the space was to be donated] was not

ISTOCKPHOTO.COM / © TOM HAHN

Off-s te Sales

So far so good, but Stelmach, like other store managers who have considered remote retailing, is anxious about covering extended mall hours and her mostly volunteer staff. “The mall is open until 11 p.m. I know we cannot rely totally on volunteers, and I have established a budget for additional staff. We have other seasonal retail activities that are labor intensive, but make a lot of money. Adding a mall situation into the mix, well, we will give it 110 percent and hope that it offsets the investment of time and energy, but I am concerned about burnout.”

Stelmach is also curious to learn what a mall location might do for them. “Our parks are free. Customers who have small amounts of money often say things like, ‘Why would I pay that much for a t-shirt?’

I am interested to see if we can get better value for our branded products.”

the only expense involved. In addition to inventory, expenses would have included salaries for two people at all times [mall hours], another computer terminal, fixtures, transportation of merchandise, utilities, legal fees [contract], insurance, cleaning, security, signage and advertising. In projecting sales, I couldn’t see how we could possibly achieve the volume necessary to break even. This was in our 2009/2010 fiscal year, a recession year in which we did not show a profit for the on-site store.”

In addition to costs, Yurkanin also brings up these considerations. “A satellite store or a kiosk is likely to be successful for a small handful of museums with a definite brand whose merchandise is exclusive and desirable to a broad demographic within a region, or to tourists, and where high foottraffic exists. If I thought that another site could be successful for us, having done my homework, I would be the one to suggest it and to promote it.”

Pick Your Spot—Carefully

I

n retail and real estate it’s always location, location, location. While mall food courts draw lots of hungry visitors, the area isn’t necessarily conducive to displaying museum-quality merchandise. A high-end, high-traffic seller like an Apple Store, on the other hand, attracts customers who might find a pop-up store, kiosk or cart worth

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Off-s te Sales investigating. A hot spot in a local shopping district can be a good choice, too.

The Preservation Society of Newport County’s Educational Sales Manager, Laura Murphy, was hired 19 years ago to open a satellite store at Bannister’s Wharf in downtown Newport, RI. The original objective was to increase revenue and promote Newport Mansions’ visitation.

Staffing during long hours was not difficult, according to Murphy. “Retaining them was, or having them show up to work,” she clarifies, noting they now expect retail and/ or customer service experience in new hires.

It’s not easy to take risks in an economy that continues to cycle unpredictably.

There’s the rub for many institutions sizing up creative ways to spend wisely.

They’ve learned other lessons. Even though the Newport Mansions are a well-known attraction, people didn’t always associate the off-site store with the venue. Murphy used images of the houses and signage as an identity tool, but had to strike a balance so as not to overwhelm the merchandise.

Getting the product selection right is really critical, emphasizes Murphy. “Selling Victoriana did not suit the downtown image. Now we focus more on nautical/ Newport versus the mansions/gilded age.”

Would they ever go into a shopping mall?

“If we could be near Tiffany’s, it would be great,” Murphy smiles. “It’s important to weigh the pros and cons realistically, and expect to pay top dollar for visibility. It is well worth it.”

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It’s not easy to take risks in an economy that continues to cycle unpredictably. There’s the rub for many institutions sizing up creative ways to spend wisely, spread the word and pump up their retail revenue stream.

“I am most proud of the fact that I operate our museum store on a shoestring budget without sacrificing quality,” says Yurkanin. “Consequently—and I take it as a compliment—board members, directors and influential volunteers have the impression that we are capable of doing things that the big museums do, such as off-site stores.

Every five to 10 years, someone within this sphere thinks that an off-site store would be an excellent idea for us. I have learned to save my research.” She also advises the following: • Do your research among museums with comparable attendance.

• Study museum stores with similar sales volume.

• Make phone calls to your colleagues.

• Use MSA’s ShopTalk.

• Be informed.

As part of the remote retailing discussion, Yurkanin includes a question that helps put the conversation in perspective.

“I always ask the board member or director who makes the suggestion to have an offsite store, ‘If it was your money, is this how you would invest it?’”

Marge D. Hansen is a freelance writer based in Lafayette, CO, who regularly contributes to Museum Store. She recently wrote the “North, South, East, West: Does Anyone Believe Outsourcing is Best?” article in the spring 2011 issue of Museum Store magazine.

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Museum-Ware Martha Sivertson has launched Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage house parties, popular with customers who love the idea of getting together with friends for a private showing of selected merchandise. “The party is always scheduled for a specific time and runs about two hours. Costs are low, basically my time,” explains Sivertson. “And while the income is small, the parties make people aware of us and what we have to offer at the museum.”

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| new vendor showcase |

A

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s a member of MSA, you have access to some of the best product vendors. When you purchase from them, you are supporting your community. The following are some of MSA’s newest affiliates, all of whom are vendors waiting to help you stock merchandise that will coincide with your museum’s mission.

deneen pottery Saint Paul, MN | (888) 646-0238 www.deneenpottery.com When Peter Deneen invented the Glaze Engraved™ process, he had no way of knowing how many hands would someday hold his mugs. Nearly 40 years later, Deneen Pottery is still the premier producer of handmade stoneware customizable with your logo. In Saint Paul, master potters use a clay body invented from scratch to throw each mug by hand. Original art is then cut directly into the clay and filled with Deneen’s signature glazes. The end result is a work of art with an extraordinary level of clarity and detail.

diane o’donnel contemporary designs Buffalo, NY | (716) 863-5200 www.dianeodonnel.com Diane O’Donnel Contemporary Designs specializes in selling contemporary name brands along with finding new designers to introduce to museum shops nationwide. Acting as the agent for Petra Meiren Jewelry, handmade in Germany, this designer has won numerous awards for her collection in PVC and silver, anodized or gold finishes, along with a unique collection of stick and Swarovski crystals and architecturally inspired designs. In addition, O’Donnel represents a numnum of tabletop, accessories and watch collections.

general pencil company Jersey City, NJ | (800) 537-0734 www.GeneralPencil.com General Pencil Company’s hand-crafted quality pencils use traditional methods passed down for six generations with a history that dates back to 1861, when Edward Weissenborn founded the American Lead Pencil Company in Hoboken, NJ. In 1889, he established, with his son Oscar, the pencil exchange in Jersey City, NJ, which was later renamed General Pencil Company. Still family owned and operated, the company’s goal is to create consistent, quality products in a sustainable manner for artists of all levels.

General Pencil’s products continue to be the “American made choice” for aspiring and world renowned artists alike.

nido hook Encino, CA | (818) 986-3727 www.nidohook.com Nido Hook is a small business located in Encino, CA, which creates simple solutions to today’s interior design challenges.

An innovative way to decorate bookshelves with artwork, Nido Hook is a coated metal bracket that slips over the front end of a shelf from which objects can be hung. Nido means “nest” and just like birds that bring twigs and other decorative items to construct their nests, people too, look for creative ways to decorate their personal nests, whether it is a special room in their home or a bookshelf filled with their favorite books and treasured art work.

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2010–2011

MSa annuaL report

LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT

a

s I look back over the year, I am pleased with what we accomplished and excited about where we are headed. Based on the new economic reality we all must adjust to, the board focused its efforts this year on updating the strategic plan to guide MSA and add value to your membership.

Consistent and ongoing communication and engagement of the entire MSA community was at the top of our list of goals. Idea Action Teams were formed to provide input and new perspectives from members and vendors, and their recommendations helped identify ways to improve value for our membership in the areas of communication, member resources and leadership and volunteerism.

Some of our accomplishments for the past year include: • • • • •

Launch of the new MSA website & MyMSA community Development of an educational video series Expansion of communications vehicles through Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn Addition of a quarterly magazine column and e-mail newsletter from the executive director Creation of member and vendor forums at the Conference & Expo

MSA will continue its efforts to open the lines of communication and provide value to its members as we move forward. We have an amazing pool of talented members who are committed to MSA, and we are relying on the commitment and participation of our members for our continued success.

Thank you for your continued support.

Leslie A. Hartman, President 2010–2011

Note: This Annual Report covers activities from May 2010–April 2011 beginning with the 55th MSA Retail Conference & Expo in Austin, TX. Financial Statements include the calendar year Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2010.

The Museum Store Association exists to advance the success of cultural commerce and support retail venues in cultural institutions. Museum stores provide a high impact point of contact with cultural institution patrons. In addition, museum stores provide an important revenue stream for their institutions. Founded in 1955, MSA is a nonprofit, international association governed by a seven-member board of directors. A staff of nine full-time employees operates from the MSA headquarters in Denver, CO.

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the Year in reVieW strategic initiatiVes MSA Knowledge Standards Highlighting the core knowledge, skills and abilities needed to perform the daily job responsibilities of a cultural commerce professional, the MSA Knowledge Standards continue to shape educational programming and professional Espirit Creations development for MSA members.

In 2010, MSA published “Numbers by the Book: A Financial Guide for the Cultural Commerce & Specialty Retail Manager.”

Focusing on the Financial Management Knowledge Standard, the book provides an in-depth look at the unique aspects of managing a specialty retail store’s finances.

Membership/Affiliation

© ARTIST GROUP PHOTOGRAPHY

Membership is one of the foundations of MSA as gaining more members and affiliates creates a stronger association. The total current active membership includes 1,513 organizations engaged in cultural commerce. MSA has been performing a number of targeted efforts to gain new members as well as bring back lapsed members. The focus will be to add more value to the benefits of membership.

Cultural & Heritage Tourism MSA has continued to build on its strategic alliances with the U.S. Cultural & Heritage Tourism Marketing Council (USCHT) and Shop America Alliance (SAA) in order to reach out to, and build bridges with, the tourism and travel community. The 2011 38

edition of The Cultural Traveler features expanded participation, special guest editorial, enhanced online marketing and increased distribution of the attractive, full-color guide to cultural and heritage travel and museum store shopping.

As part of its commitment to providing customized, ongoing tourism education and marketing programming to its members, MSA Executive Director Beverly Barsook moderated a panel on “Buy Authentic America—Bring Home America’s Treasures” at the ONE Travel Conference in Pasadena, CA, in January 2011.

MSA Retail Conference & Expo The 55th MSA Retail Conference & Expo was April 17–19, 2010, in Austin, TX. The 2010 Conference featured educational content from three of the MSA Knowledge Standards: Communications, Financial Management and Operations.

To give attendees the opportunity to learn how real-life implementations of POS systems could improve performance results in their institutions, the Conference included a POS Vendor Case Study Series.

The closing keynote session, “Enjoy the Ride,” was presented

by Steve Gilliland—one of America’s most entertaining speakers.

Through humor and reality-tested techniques, Steve showed attendees how to reignite their passion and challenged everyone to never lose focus with an explosion of enthusiasm.

At the 55th Conference, MSA encouraged the use of social networking on Facebook to share insight, information and photos,

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participate in discussions and network with peers before, during and after the Conference & Expo.

coMMunications anD pubLications Museum Store Magazine & Product News MSA’s flagship quarterly magazine is the only publication specifically focused on museum retailing and cultural commerce topics. Each issue continues to provide MSA members with content covering a broad range of articles focused on the Knowledge Standards.

MSA Website & MyMSA Community In March, 2011, MSA unveiled a new website design, making the site easier to use and providing an improved online experience.

Features of the new site include a searchable database of Museum Store magazine articles, a site search function, profiles of MSA staff and an expanded knowledge center.

Shortly after launching the new website, MSA introduced MyMSA to its members. This online community allows members and affiliates to network through ShopTalk, niche group discussions and regional chapter groups, view the latest MSA news and information, locate another member and access a variety of documents, white papers, articles and links to help run a successful retail store.

Educational Video Series MSA produced an educational video series titled “Retail Prescriptions for Profit” as an added-value benefit for members.

The videos, delivered by retail industry expert Paul Erickson, were released approximately every two weeks and provided real solutions for topics like merchandise planning, open-to-buy, markdowns and inventory turnover, and received nearly 4,000 views.

Social Networking MSA continued to open up the channels of communication and dialogue between members/affiliates on the important issues and topics of the day by adding more than 100 Twitter followers to its growing list of more than 700 Facebook fans and 300 LinkedIn group participants. These sites continue to be important venues for sharing information and connecting cultural commerce professionals with each other.

of MSA’s museum members come from stores with less than $100,000 in gross revenue. suMMer 2011 | MuseuM store

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SchoLarShipS anD aWarDS 2010 Sam Greenberg Scholarship Recipients Donations helped the following members attend the 55th MSA Retail Conference & Expo in Austin, TX: Christine Cameron, Terrace Hill Historic Site and Governor’s Mansion, Des Moines, IA Jackie Clay, Nevada Museum of Art, Reno, NV Jamie Cooper, President Lincoln’s Cottage (A National Trust Site), Washington, DC Sally Glen, Museum of Art Fort Lauderdale/Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL Lori A. Hines, Woodmere Art Museum Inc., Philadelphia, PA Jasmine Elizabeth Leach, Maritime & Classic Boat Museum, Jensen Beach, FL

Raymond McKenzie, San Francisco Museum of Craft & Design, San Francisco, CA Victoria Poling, Northwest Maritime Center & Wooden Boat Foundation, Port Townsend, WA Sarah Wilcox, Virginia Living Museum, Newport News, VA

MSA Merit & Service Awards Two Merit Awards were given out this year to Susan M. DeLand, The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, CA, and Lee W. Werhan, The Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ. Phil Zuckerman of Applewood Books, Carlisle, MA, was present to receive his crystal as the 2010 Service Award winner.

All three have been long-time members of MSA and were acknowledged for their wonderful contributions to the Association.

DonorS anD contributorS The following generous sponsors and in-kind donors helped to support events and activities at the 55th MSA Retail Conference & Expo.

SPONSORS

IN-KIND DONATIONS International Gift Exposition in the Smokies® New York International Gift Fair PartnerShip

Ancestors of Dover Blackbaud Carolyn Forsman Conversational Piece Jewelry

Radiant Systems Renaissance Associates TAM Retail (A Div. of Lode Data Systems Inc.)

Hogeye Inc. Magnetomania SNC PinPeddlers.com

Prodir® Urban Samaritan

SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT The following individuals, institutions and companies donated to the Sam Greenberg Scholarship Fund from June 2009 through May 2010.

INDIVIDUALS Andrew A. Andoniadis Terry Aulisio Augusta Barreda Amy Gene Blechman Kathy Borrus Vera Ellen Bremseth Lynn H. Brower Susan DeLand Meta B. Devine

David A. Duddy Darcy Estes Pinelo Connie Fails Juliette Galant Deborah B. Gibbs Gwen C. Benner Cliff Harrison Leslie A. Hartman Heather A. Heath

Lori A. Hines Ellen M. Holte Chris Jacobs Lara Kahler Cynthia Kennard John M. Lemke Irene M. Light Ava Maxwell Gail Meadows Milliken

Laura Murphy Morgan T. Muth Claudia Polar Elizabeth A. Ricker Gloria Rosenau-Stern Lorelei E. Rowars Lawrence A. Singer Joe Sporcic Stacey Stachow

Ruth Ann Steenburgh Sallie Stutz Christine M. Sweeney Terry Tarnow Carroll J. Tiernan Courtney Tripp Valerie Troyansky Amanda Tseng David Tweet

Joy Wallace Mark R. Weber Lee W. Werhan Sarah Wilcox Kellie Woodward Miriam Works

COMPANIES AND INSTITUTIONS Adobe Graphics and Design Inc. ALEX Ancestors of Dover Ltd. Aspen Light Imaging CurtisLithos.com/ION Corp.

Discovery World Donna Chambers Designs Inc. Driinn Products Inc. Earth Sun Moon Trading Co. 40

Fame Well Development Limited Flash-Pack Cards Inc. Fotofolio/Artpost Historical Folk Toys LLC Hogeye Inc. Ideals Publications International Gift Exposition in the Smokies® and the Souvenir Super Show™

Miami Mumbai LLC Museum Gifts dba Made in Museum U.S.A. Museum Store Products Inc. Naos Graphics National Design LLC Percent Jewelry LLC Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Stelios™

Tamohara Collection The Gatehouse Shop – Sheppard Pratt Health System The New York Historical Society Westminster Inc.

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FinanciaL StateMent MUSEUM STORE ASSOCIATION INC. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION For the years ended Dec. 31,

MUSEUM STORE ASSOCIATION INC. STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

2010

2009

ASSETS

Other Assets Deposits Total Assets Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses Deferred Revenue Total Current Liabilities

NET ASSETS

Unrestricted Net Assets Temporarily Restricted Net Assets Total Net Assets

Total Liabilities and Net Assets

$ 386,999 1,003,687 88,409 1,479,095

$ 416,931 1,209,968 69,004 1,695,903

364,259 (324,117) 40,142

326,863 (310,912) 15,951

8,286 $ 1,527,523

8,286 $ 1,720,140

$ 69,832 699,700 769,532

$ 53,631 764,383 818,014

724,806 33,185 757,991

869,799 32,327 902,126

$ 1,527,523

$ 1,720,140

The MSA board meets quarterly to monitor ongoing Association activities and programs and to discuss and plan the strategic future of the organization.

Leslie A. Hartman Sauder Village Archbold, OH FIRST VICE PRESIDENT

Valerie Troyansky The Metropolitan Museum of Art New York, NY SECOND VICE PRESIDENT

Sallie Stutz Brooklyn Museum Brooklyn, NY SECRETARY

Chacho Herman San Diego Museum of Art San Diego, CA

2009

Revenues Membership dues Exhibitor affiliates Annual meeting Publications Investment income Mailing list Royalties Website Miscellaneous Revenues Net Assets Released From Restrictions Restrictions satisfied by payments Total Unrestricted Revenues and Other Support

$ 286,408 $ 295,104 207,937 211,464 677,543 818,714 210,294 260,996 88,293 238,848 732 16,360 35,306 23,009 3,150 3,300 7,238 8,369 $ 1,516,901 $ 1,876,164 6,913

2,747

$ 1,523,814 $ 1,878,911

EXPENSES

2010–2011 boarD oF DirectorS

PRESIDENT

2010

UNRESTRICTED REVENUES AND OTHER SUPPORT

Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents Marketable securities Prepaid expenses Total Current Assets Furniture and Equipment Office furniture and equipment Less accumulated depreciation Net Furniture and Equipment

LIABILITIES

For the years ended Dec. 31,

TREASURER

Terry Tarnow Dennos Museum Center – Northwestern Michigan College Traverse City, MI DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Joe Sporcic The Preservation Society of Newport County Newport, RI

Accounting and legal Annual meeting Chapter and committee expense Contract services Depreciation Insurance Long-range planning Membership and staff development Office and supplies Payroll and benefits Publications printing and services Rent Taxes–general Telephone Travel Website Sam Greenberg awards/expenses Total Expenses INCREASE/(DECREASE) IN UNRESTRICTED NET ASSETS

43,236 249,748 7,276 12,373 14,304 10,588 23,704 57,967 124,302 741,191 185,264 105,923 1,546 13,292 64,569 6,611 6,913 1,668,807

48,630 312,540 11,714 2,228 7,826 3,276 52 54,726 139,213 759,533 208,625 110,871 2,245 11,390 47,297 1,578 2,747 1,724,491

$ (144,993)

$ 154,420

DIRECTOR AT LARGE

Stacey Stachow Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art Hartford,CT

A special thanks to Janice F. Berling, Gerald R. Ford Museum, Grand Rapids, MI, for her service as First Vice President through September 2010.

KnoWLeDge StanDarDS tasK Force Beverly Barsook, Museum Store Association, Gwen Benner, (formerly of Milwaukee Art Museum), Lauren Chapin Salazar, Hillwood Estate, Museum & Gardens, David A. Duddy, deCordova Museum and Sculpture Park, Mary Hele, Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Laura Murphy, The Preservation Society of Newport County, Sallie Stutz, Brooklyn Museum, Valerie Troyansky, The Metropolitan Museum of Art

2011 MSa StaFF Beverly J. Barsook, Executive Director Bridget Dummett, Senior Manager for Programs and Membership Jennifer Anderson, Conference & Expo Services Coordinator Claire Lemaster, Member & Education Services Coordinator Terri Ponder, Office Administrator Stephanie Peters, Senior Manager for Communications Kathy Cisar, Communications Editor Sybil Faurer, Communications and Office Assistant Adriana Herald, Database Administrator 4100 E. Mississippi Avenue, Ste 800, Denver, CO 80246-3055 Tel: (303) 504-9223 | Fax: (303) 504-9585 www.MuseumStoreAssociation.org suMMer 2011 | MuseuM store

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MeMber recognition

MSA Wishes Two Former Board Members a Happy Retirement! ruth ann steenburgh Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center Virginia Beach, VA Past MSA President Ruth Ann Steenburgh retired from the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center on Feb. 1, 2011, as the director of retail operations. She was hired in 1985 as the manager of the gift shop and admissions for the then underconstruction Virginia Marine Science Museum. Although she had been a store manager for a local chain of department stores for seven years, Ruth Ann had no experience with cultural commerce. As a native of Virginia Beach and looking for a new challenge, she was thrilled to be a part of the groundbreaking crew for the museum.

One of the first things Ruth Ann did was to join the Museum Store Association, then headquartered in Doylestown, PA. Two weeks after accepting her job she headed to Buffalo, NY, to the MSA Conference and quickly knew that it was the best thing she could have ever done.

While at the aquarium, Ruth Ann helped to design four stores and contributed more than $20 million to the City of Virginia Beach and Aquarium operations. Active in MSA throughout her career, Ruth Ann served on the Program Resource Group, two years as a Director at Large on the MSA board and then three more years as 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President, and then as President in 2001–2002. “I saw many changes during that time,” relates Ruth Ann, “but the consistent theme was always that this association is the best thing that anyone involved in the museum industry could ever take part in.”

Ruth Ann’s favorite memory is when she met Sam Greenberg (yes, the Sam Greenberg of scholarship fame). Ruth Ann had just finished her third year at the aquarium and was on a sightseeing trip for the annual MSA Conference. The seat next to her on the bus was empty and a well-dressed older gentleman asked if he could join her. Ruth Ann, never being at a loss for words, started a conversation about point-of-sales systems and asked him what his sales were for the prior year. Not missing a beat he replied, “Oh 15 or 20 million.” After a very pregnant pause, Ruth Ann said, “and just where do you work?” He replied, “The Smithsonian.”

Ruth Ann remembers that the rest of the tour was a wonderful experience, “with lots of fatherly advice for the new kid on the block. Sam always remembered my name after that and I would 42

never forget him. I’ve always tried to follow that same friendliness and helpfulness that Sam showed me.”

Louise Costenbader worked with Ruth Ann for 20 years as her assistant and store manager. “From planning and implementation teams, to supervising a variety of other sections, whenever something needed to be done, Ruth Ann was always willing to jump in and do it,” says Louise. “Her dedication and hard work, her willingness to take on a challenge, have all contributed to the aquarium’s success. Her warmth and personal interest in her staff made us feel like an extended family, and the workplace became a home.”

Ruth Ann says she will always remember the wonderful friends she has made through MSA and plans to keep in touch with as many as she can. She plans to keep her hand in the industry by doing consulting, while she and her husband of 49 years (Chuck) split their time between their homes in Virginia Beach and Florida.

She can be reached at rasmama@verizon.net.

joe sporcic The Preservation Society of Newport County Newport, RI On May 20, 2011, Joe Sporcic retired from The Preservation Society of Newport County as the operations manager of educational sales. He spent 12 years at The Preservation Society, but he remembers his transition from the for-profit world to nonprofit retail like it was yesterday.

“The Preservation Society was my first experience with museum retailing,” recalls Joe. “I had taken an early retirement after 25 years of ‘big box’ retail and was looking for something that would rekindle my passion for retail. The quality and uniqueness of the merchandise along with the staff’s dedication to their mission immediately ‘hooked’ me and I fell in love with the museum world.”

His early enthusiasm for museum retail led Joe to volunteer for the Museum Store Association at several levels. He was a chapter officer from 2005–2008, a Conference volunteer, a member of the Program Resource Group, on the Nominating Committee, co-leader of the Stewardship of Member Resources Idea Action Team, and finally served as a Director at Large on the MSA board of directors.

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Joe’s favorite thing about MSA is the people. “Regardless of the museum, big or small, high volume or low, urban or rural, from the beginning I admired the effort, commitment and professionalism that I found in these people,” says Joe. “They all came with a passion for their museum and were ready and willing to share ideas and help each other in any way possible.”

Laura Murphy, currently the educational sales manager at The Preservation Society, was the one who hired Joe and got him interested in MSA. “In all the 12 years I worked with Joe, I never saw him get flustered,” she relates. “He was unflappable.

Even when we took our staff on a road trip to Mystic Seaport and told the ladies that they could go shopping; Joe tried to round them up and get them on the bus at the end of the day. He kept losing one or two, performing a head count many times to be sure no one was left behind. Afterwards he said to me with a straight face and a calm voice, ‘that was the most difficult task I’ve ever had to do here’!”

Joe’s immediate plans are to relax and enjoy life. His wife (a schoolteacher) retired in June and they look forward to spending more time with their children and grandchildren. Joe adds, “I also plan to spend a lot of time golfing, kayaking, gardening and reading at the beach.”

“I am very proud to have been a member of MSA and to have served the organization over the past 12 years,” Joe says. “I will most surely miss the fun, laughter and the special people that I have come to know through MSA. I hope to visit with many of them as I travel and tour their museums!”

Clay and Pine needle holiday ornaments from Wilmington, NC A greeN CrAft.

Visit www.pinegardenbaskets.com and click on the ‘wholesale’ tab for info on current offerings Free shipping special: Mention “MSA” when placing order Pine Box Baskets.indd 1

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Creature Cashmere One of a kind creations for 2 & 4 legged creatures

- human scarves, headbands; dog sweaters, accessories - made from recycled cashmere and other natural fibers.

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| ad index | Artwear LLC................................................. 5

Mata Ortiz to You ....................................... 26

BeadArt from The Heart LLC .................... 15

Messe Frankfurt ........................................ 47

Bullpen Book Sales ................................... 24

Museum Masterworks .............................. 23

Buyers Market of American Craft............... 2

Nido Hook .................................................. 25

Clear Solutions Inc. .................................. 24

North Country Wind Bells ......................... 15

Creature Cashmere .................................. 43

Photofabrication Engineering ................... 11

Deneen Pottery .......................................... 33

Pine Garden Baskets................................. 43

EDC Publishing .......................................... 33

Product News ............................................. 44

Esprit Creations......................................... 13

Questar Entertainment ............................... 7

Folkmanis Inc. ........................................... 48

Recent Toys ............................................... 15

Thanks to Our Long-Time Members!

Fractiles ....................................................... 6

SetaBellissima........................................... 35

Found Image Press ..................................... 6

Sunset Hill Stoneware............................... 13

MSA would like to recognize its many long-time members for their support of the Association and their dedication to the cultural commerce industry. They are too numerous to record here! Please visit www.MuseumStoreAssociation.org and go to the Our Members section of About MSA to view the full list.

Galison/Mudpuppy ..................................... 34

U.S. Games Systems Inc. ............................ 9

General Pencil Company........................... 21

Village Designs .......................................... 35

Glass Eye Studio/ Global Village Glass Studio ................... 13 Historical Folk Toys LLC ........................... 34 JDS Solutions ............................................ 19 John Gibbs Publications.............................. 9

For detailed contact information about any Museum Store advertiser, please visit www.MuseumStoreAssociation.org and log in to the Member Directory.

Thank you for supporting our advertisers! suMMer 2011 | MuseuM store

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SUMMER 2011

A Novel Design_double_Layout 1 6/9/11 10:32 AM Page 1

The J Paul Getty Museum_Layout 1 6/8/11 10:33 AM Page 1

MSA’s Showcase of Specialty Store Merchandise APPAREL/ACCESSORIES Retail $15–$65

MAGICAL ROLLOVER EYEWEAR CASES They're fun! Open a rollover case and watch as it magically rolls around itself. These cleverly designed cases are intriguing yet practical gift ideas for all ages. As seen at the MSA Expo in Chicago!

A NOVEL DESIGN Phone: (201) 265-4435 Fax: (201) 265-4435 jijinan@aol.com www.anoveldesign.net Retail $12

Wholesale $7.50–$32.50 &Online Catalog

Rinceaux Scarf, Tie & Box Rinceaux silk scarf, silk tie and ceramic box; just a few examples of artful accessories inspired by the collection of The J. Paul Getty Museum.

Wholesale $4.95

THE J. PAUL GETTY MUSEUM Phone: (310) 440-6602 Fax: (310) 440-7749 1 5/20/11 10:09 AM Page 1 New York Historical Society_Layout 1 6/1/11 11:16 AM Page 1 Zazou Scarves_Layout 1 5/23/11 10:26 AM PageLive 1 Your Dream_Layout wholesale@getty.edu & Print Catalog www.gettymuseumstore.org

CUSTOM PRODUCTS

APPAREL/ACCESSORIES Retail $29–$98

Retail $10–$90

Retail Call for quote

Wholesale $14.50–$50

Wholesale $5–$45

Wholesale Call for quote

&Print and Online Catalog

&Print and Online Catalog

&Print Catalog

Tiffany Poppy Collection Inspired by Louis Comfort Tiffany’s leaded glass Poppy lamp, the collection includes an aluminum frame umbrella, microfiber tote bag and silk satin scarf (reverses to black).

Color Ahead Soft, stretchy and saturated with deep color, Zazou’s Flounce & Bounce scarf creates easy volume and endless possibilities.

In hyacinth (shown), parsley and concord grape.

Custom Design Pop-Up Greeting Cards Historic treasure or cutting edge icon—I can design a 3-D greeting card of your museum home. Custom pricing upon request.

NEW-YORK HISTORICAL SOCIETY Phone: (212) 485-9215 Fax: (212) 504-2707 jtan@nyhistory.org www.nyhistory.org

ZAZOU Phone: (800) 274-1868 Fax: (510) 848-6135 info@zazou.com www.zazou.com

LIVE YOUR DREAM DESIGNS Phone: (323) 226-0274 Fax: (323) 226-0274 www.liveyourdreamdesigns.com

CONTENTS 44 AppArel/Accessories 44 custoM products 45 fAir trAde

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45 GAMes & toys 46 hoMe & GArden 46 jewelry

46 recycled 46 reproductions

www.MuseumstoreAssociation.org

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Creative Women_Layout 1 6/6/11 2:28 PM Page Minga_Layout 1 Accents for Today_Layout 1 5/25/11 10:27 AM Page 1 1 6/7/11 3:01 PM Page 1

FAIR TRADE Retail $10+

Retail $125

Retail $5

Wholesale $4+

Wholesale $58

Wholesale $2 ea. (per 48)

&Online Catalog

&Online Catalog

Crafts Reflecting African History and Culture Authentic crafts, folk art, masks, recycled creations, toys, hand-painted greeting cards, advertising signs, jewelry, buttons and more, from Zimbabwe and Nigeria. Also one-of-a-kind!

ACCENTS FOR TODAY INC. Phone: (212)1 517-9438 Fax: (212) Tokoloshe_Layout 6/6/11 2:51 PM517-9438 Page 1 info@accentsfortoday.com www.accentsfortoday.com

&Online Catalog

Maisha Shawl The Maisha scarf, hand-woven in Ethiopia of Ethiopian silk and cotton, is large enough to be a shawl but light enough to work as a scarf. Available in melon or sage.

Tagua Rock Stretch Bracelets Environmentally responsible, Fair Trade tagua nut jewelry and figurines. Hand-crafted by artisans in Ecuador. Many designs to choose from in a variety of colors.

CREATIVE WOMEN MINGA FAIR TRADE IMPORTS Phone: (802) 658-1211 Fax: (802) 658-7880 Phone:Toys_Layout (262) 248-8790 1Fax: (262) 248-6171 Folk 6/7/11 3:01 PM Page 1 Design Master_Layout 1 5/19/11 10:37 AM Page Historical 1 info@creativewomen.net info@mingaimports.com www.creativewomen.net www.mingaimports.com

FAIR TRADE

GAMES & TOYS Retail $19.99–$24.99

Retail $7

Retail N/A

Wholesale $8/pair

Wholesale $3.50

Wholesale $5.50

&Print and Online Catalog

&Print and Online Catalog

&Print and Online Catalog

Hand-Painted Candles Our African artisans design and create this warm art of Africa. Purchase of these candles fosters employment and enriches the lives of all it touches.

Confederate Family Magnetic Dress Up Doll Set Mix and match, hours of fun. Magnetic play board, three dolls, three sheets of period clothing. DesignMasters’ Civil War Collection.

Pocahontas Doll Kit Our newest doll kit! Includes suede cloth fabric and all other materials to make this historical Powhattan doll.

Approximately 10 3/4 inches tall.

TOKOLOSHE LTD

DESIGN MASTER ASSOCIATES INC.

HISTORICAL FOLK TOYS LLC

Inkstone Design_Layout 1 5/24/11 PM PagePrettyUgly_Layout 1 6/6/11 3:18 PM566-8400 Page 1 Phone: (416) 663-8558 Fax: (416)6:42 663-8668 Phone: (800)1 322-7583 Fax: (757)

nimet@tokoloshe.ca www.tokoloshe.ca

Safari_Layout 1 (800) 6/1/11 4:18 Fax: PM(800) Page 1 Phone: 871-1984 871-1899

info@historicalfolktoys.com www.HistoricalFolkToys.com

sales@designmasters.com www.designmasters.com

GAMES & TOYS Retail $12

Retail $15

Retail $7.99

Wholesale $6

Wholesale $7.50

Wholesale $4

&Print and Online Catalog

&Print Catalog

&Print and Online Catalog

Amusements & Attractions Playing Cards From Coney Island to Old Faithful, this deck of cards celebrates both the quirky and the queenly. It’s a vintage roller coaster ride of Americana!

Uglydoll™ Citizens of the Uglyverse! Meet Brad Luck™ Artist-created, award-winning plush stuffed Uglydolls™ are adored by fans of all ages. Like Brad Luck, who catches all the breaks—and the hearts of Uglydolls™ fans everywhere.

Days of Old Collection: Queen Sofia This delicately sculpted Queen Sofia will engage children in hours of imaginative play. Hand-painted, phthalate- and lead-free. Shop online at www.safariltd.com.

INKSTONE DESIGN INC. Phone: (406) 542-0270 Fax: (406) 542-0256 gofish@inkstone.net www.inkstone.net

PRETTY UGLY LLC Phone: (908) 620-0931 Fax: (908) 620-0914 orders@uglydolls.com www.uglydolls.com

SAFARI LTD. Phone: (800) 554-5414 Fax: (800) 766-7841 sales@safariltd.com www.safariltd.com suMMer 2011 | MuseuM store

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GAMES & TOYS

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HOME & GARDEn Retail $20

Retail $32–$152

Retail $22–$24

Wholesale $10

Wholesale $16–$84

Wholesale $10–$13

&Print and Online Catalog

&Print and Online Catalog

&Online Catalog

Surrational ViewMaster Inside this adorned viewer, 15 Soundsuit images from Nick Cave’s surrational series place the viewer in an immersive dreamworld of their own making.

Frog Tile—2011 Collection Hand-crafted gift tiles are created by Ann Arbor artisans in the Arts and Crafts tradition. The frog tile here, in Green Salmon, is 4”x 4”. More colors available or framed in quartersawn oak.

Nido Hook Nido Hook is an innovative hook that securely hangs art from bookshelves without using nails or damaging fine woodwork. Patent pending.

SOUNDSUITSHOP

MOTAWI TILEWORKS

NIDO HOOK

Phone: (708) 447-0608 Phone: (734)1213-0017 x23510:36 Fax: (734) Phone: 986-3727 Fax:AM (818) Page 986-69881 DianeODonnel_Layout 1 5/19/11 10:42 AM PageJelliJewels_Layout 1 5/25/11 AM 213-2569 Page 1 Q3Art_Layout 1 (818) 5/19/11 10:43 bob_faust@soundsuitshop.com www.soundsuitshop.com

rdiesing@motawi.com www.motawi.com

info@nidohook.com www.nidohook.com

JEWELRY Retail $35–$55

Retail $4–$5

Retail $35

Wholesale $16.50–$24.50

Wholesale $1.25–$2

Wholesale $16.50

&Print and Online Catalog

&Print and Online Catalog

&Print and Online Catalog

Petra Meiren PVC Bangles Colorful PVC bangles with a choice of silver, gold or anodized finishes. Matching necklaces and earrings available, designed by Petra Meiren Germany.

Children’s Jewelry A colorful children’s accessory line that includes necklaces, rings, earrings, hair accessories, all nickel-free and made in Spain.

Zeus Brooch Q3 Art makes fashionable, fun and affordable hand-dyed anodized aluminum jewelry, mobiles and clocks. To access website below, enter artist #20169, then enter the password: tra3q.

DIANE O’DONNEL CONTEMPORARY DESIGNS

JELLI JEWELS

Q3 ART INC.

Phone: (716) 863-5200 Fax: 10:43 (716) 568-8458 Phone: (888) 995-3554 Fax:1(954) 846-078210:44 AM Page 1 Phone: (877) 929-4258 Fax: (773) 929-4258 Refashioned_Layout 1 5/19/11 AM Page 1 David Changar_double_Layout 5/19/11 dod@dianeodonnel.com www.dianeodonnel.com

info@jellijewels.com www.jellijewels.com

RECYCLED

REPRODUCTIOnS Retail $5–$20 Wholesale $1.75–$9 &Print and Online Catalog

Recycled Button Jewelry This unique line is handmade in Canada using vintage, overstock and recycled buttons. Large variety of jewelry and accessories available.

REFASHIONED INC. Phone: (514) 426-3481 Fax: (514) 426-1553 info@refashioned.com www.refashioned.com 46

info@q3art.com www.wholesalecrafts.com/visitor

Tiffany Miniature Vases These licensed reproductions are an asset to any museum store with an Arts & Crafts collection. They are not just beautiful; they sell fast, too! If you would like to reproduce your museum’s ceramics, please contact me.

DAVID CHANGAR CERAMIC DESIGNS Phone: (718) 842-6362 Fax: (718) 842-6965 David@DavidChangar.com www.DavidChangar.com Retail $31

Wholesale $14

& Print Catalog

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USA 54635-007 • Messe FFM • Allgemein • Museum Store Association Magazine • 219 x 283 mm/A • ISO-39 CMYK • CD + PDF/Mail • jh: 11.5.11 DU: 14.05.2011

August 26 – 30, 2011 Frankfurt, Germany

Time for business – time for trends Join us at the most important international consumer goods trade show for the home and gift sectors in the second half of the year.

Take advantage of outstanding sales opportunities for the autumn, winter and Christmas seasons and obtain an early preview of the latest product ideas and trends for the coming spring.

For further details and tickets visit: www.tendence.messefrankfurt.com info@usa.messefrankfurt.com Tel. +1.770.984.8016

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An essential ingredient to every toybox, every childhood, every generation.

See more puppets at www.folkmanis.com 0r call 1-800-654-8922 for a free color catalog.

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