[BCMA] Advice sought for improving Museum gift shop

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

Hi all

I agree with all of the points raised below and just wanted to let everyone know that at the Craft Council of British Columbia we have a Standards of Quality jury system which assesses the craftsmanship of handmade work. Once work passes this jury - the work then goes through a procurement jury to assure salability. Our Online Submission System allows prospective buyers – currently gift shops, Crafthouse GI and Crafthouse YVR – to view approved work online and then select the work they want to stock. Our artists work both in wholesale for bigger companies like Hudson News Group at YVR and consignment for smaller organizations. We have found that Colin’s last point is one that smaller communities have a hard time dealing with and our process makes dealing with very entrepreneurial artists just that little bit easier. 

 

For us this is a service for our members not something we make money on so participation is essentially free. If this is a service anyone would like more info let me know and we can chat offline. 

Cheers

Raine 

raine mckay

executive director

craft council of bc

 

1386 cartwright street

granville island,  vancouver, bc v6h 3r8

604.687.6511

 <http://www.craftcouncilbc.ca/> www.craftcouncilbc.ca 

 

 

 

From: Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv. [mailto:bcma at lists.vvv.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, October 15, 2013 8:54 PM
To: bcma at lists.vvv.com
Subject: Re: [BCMA] Advice sought for improving Museum gift shop

 

Consider items related to your museum's mandate. If you become the sole source or one of a few sources on local history etc. then that can help draw visitors to you. Ask your visitors what they want. For example many tourists, especially from Europe would like to buy authentic NW Coast native art. Vancouver Museum (by whatever name they are using this year) and Royal BC Museum have both been very successful with this. Local history books - watch out that you do not tie up too much money in stock.  If publishing a local history book consider print on demand rather than thousands of copies.

 

Do look at local shops and what they are stocking. Consider partnerships with them rather than going into subsidized competition against them. 

 

Local craftspeople want sales venues. Perhaps you could sell on commission so that you provide space but do not have to tie up money in stock. A trick is to maintain quality and good relations with artists. How to say no to junk or things that do not sell - perhaps have a group of artists adjudicate but beware of cliques forming.

 

Colin

Sent from my iPhone

 

Colin MacGregor Stevens, CD

Richmond,

British Columbia,

CANADA

 

 


On Oct 12, 2013, at 5:10 PM, "Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv." <bcma at lists.vvv.com> wrote:




The Whistler Museum is looking to upgrade and expand its gift shop and we are hoping to gain some advice from someone who is involved in the running of a successful gift shop in a small to mid-sized museum. 

 

The Museum has a small gift shop at the moment, but the take-up is not as strong as we would like it to be. All offers of advice would be most gratefully received!

 

If you think you can help please contact me off-list with your phone number.

 

Many thanks,

 

Sarah Drewery

curator at whistlermuseum.org

 

-- 

 

Sarah Drewery
Executive Director
Whistler Museum and Archives Society 
4333 Main St. Whistler B.C. V0N 1B4
Museum: (604) 932-2019  Fax: (604) 932-2077
www.whistlermuseum.org
Direct: (604) 902-5190

 

Please note my days of work are Saturday-Wednesday

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