Ross,
It has been my experience that most museum shops are managed by the museum
and not run by independent contractors. Conversely, most museums outsource
food services as they are seen as conveniences, and not mission-oriented.
However, this arrangement is in relation to on-site gift shops, not off-site
facilities. The only museum I know of which has done a similar enterprise
is the Museum of Transport in St. Louis, MO. They opened a satellite store
in a local shopping mall to generate additional awareness of the museum and
hopefully additional income. Jim Wharton is the Director there and you
should contact him as to the logistics/success of the experiment. Their web
sites is: http://www.thetrainmuseum.org/welcome.htm
Lori Allen,
Grad Student, UMSL
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On
Behalf Of Ross Weeks
Sent: Monday, January 14, 2002 1:20 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Affiliated Business Enterprises
I have a question and ask for feedback. Thanks in advance for your
professional advice.
We have an opportunity to establish a related business off-site, a "country
store," in a building we will not own, but lease. Whether the business will
be profitable remains to be seen, but our board is committed to making an
effort to attract enough patronage to make it viable. To do so, the store
will need to experiment with types of merchandise ,etc.
We are located in a rural area that currently has no interesting gift shops,
except for the museum's in-house one.
Our museum is non-profit and has a minimal staff. We are independently
audited and accountable to a variety of local and state agencies. Our
in-house shop reflects in part our educational mission and exhibition
content.
Most professionals we have contacted believe we should contract with a
for-profit business to operate this store in return for a share of profits,
if any. In that way, we will not need to add bookkeeping and sales staff,
and the proposed shop could carry merchandise based entirely on market
considerations, not the museum's mission.
Question: What experience has anyone had with trying to operate a startup
business enterprise under the umbrella of a non-profit organization? Is it
true that most of the profitable museum shops, restaurants, etc. are leased
to semi-independent corporations that pay taxes just like Wal-Mart, with
profits going to benefit the museum?
Reply offlist if you'd like to [log in to unmask]
Thanks
Ross Weeks Jr.
Historic Crab Orchard Museum & Pioneer Park
Tazewell, VA - in Virginia's Blue Ridge Highlands
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