[BCMA] Plexiglass Donation Boxes

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.]

I encourage your thoughts about having the Donation box positioned at the Exit.   Our experience at The Grist Mill at Keremeos was that the Provincial Historic Site was open for admissions "By Donation".   However, my government contract to operate the site was dependent on matching continental standards for museum admissions revenue at that time, and that included many places with fixed admission prices.    I often heard people entering, with their wallets already out and ready to pay, say to one another, "Look!  Put your wallet away.  It is by Donation.  That means it is Free."    Actual revenue from the Donation Box was miserable, and I was not allowed by the Province to charge Admissions.

To overcome this, we developed the Visitor Experience in the area before they actually entered the building.   We created new garden beds beside the entry driveway and along the path from the parking lot to the front door.   We planted colourful heritage flowers there, especially ones that took little maintenance but which bloomed easily all summer.   The objective was to boost visitor expectations about the place before they got to the front door and the (required by the Provincial Heritage Branch) Donation Box.

We also installed a second Donation Box in the lobby, but that one right beside the exit door and only visible when exiting the site.   That Exit Box far exceeded the entry one in revenue because the visitor experience on-site proved to be so inspiring.    $20 bills became common there, where Donations before the modifications had been averaging $1.50 on good days.   Several times I even found $50 bills in that box.   When that happened, I chased after the visitors to ask if they had mistaken a Canadian $50 bill for a Canadian $2 bill because then both were almost the same colour, and I thought the foreign visitors might not have noticed the subtle difference.   In both cases, I was assured by the visitors that the donation had been intentional because they were so impressed with the on-site experience.   The first year, Donations jumped over $10,000 from the same number of visitors (within 100 of the same number) as the previous year.   That easily justified the investments in new flower beds!!!   It also helped to justify investing in the on-site experience.   We were able to significantly reduce external Advertising, and also able to employ staff with marvelous presentation skills in every department.   It all paid off in every way, including off-site reputation due to Word-of-Mouth, the biggest money maker!

So, enjoy thoroughly thinking through your visitors existing expectations upon entry.   You may be surprised how much you can do to satisfy both sides of the dollar (Income/Expense).

Cuyler Page
Heritage interpretation Services
Vernon BC
(250) 309-9248

From: bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca [mailto:bcma-bounces at lists.vifa.ca] On Behalf Of Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv.
Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2020 1:07 PM
To: bcma at lists.vifa.ca
Subject: [BCMA] Plexiglass Donation Boxes

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Hi, folks.  I am wondering if anyone has a favourite vendor of good-sized Plexiglass donation boxes?  I am hoping to purchase a large plexi cube with a heavy base that would sit on the floor.  We currently have a small donation box which sits on a shelf at the entrance and I would much rather have a big one by the exit once people have enjoyed our museum.

I'd welcome your thoughts on a vendor or a design which you particularly like.

Many thanks,

Jim Cullen
Executive Director

Revelstoke Railway Museum
719 Track Street West
P.O. Box 3018
Revelstoke, BC
V0E 2S0

Phone: 250-837-6060
Cell: 403-835-1238
Email: director.railway at telus.net<mailto:director.railway at telus.net>
Web: www.railwaymuseum.com<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.railwaymuseum.com&d=DwMFaQ&c=xN2-G3cygOpDxk3Nh3luTA&r=UH6-5sEAb2tBjz3i5ikKwShQ4fumwBd1tRtr55Kn_KI&m=WroZ-IIS4iEC4RKQzdljOw57jhi6_yuqQLmh1lVsTbw&s=wjD5ox-lYcmhR53wK_x34Tq4pJKvOcgrmSCqzeEMWbo&e=>


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