For my airport client I did a bit of research on how a group of museums here could collaborate to have a joint museum shop at the airport. This is the same as an outsourcing operation in that an experienced airport retail concessionaire (for example, Hudson Group or CA One Services) would manage and staff the store and either purchase product directly from the museum at wholesale-if branded-or directly buy products that meet with the museums' approval (for example, they might be the same products that the museums' on-site shops stock). The museums would have their own distinctive areas/shelves within the shop and the concessionaire would keep a percentage of sales to cover the operating expenses and an agreed-upon profit percentage. The concessionaire would also act as advisor because what sells in an airport-based shop is vastly different from what sells at an on-site shop (for example, museum publications tend to do poorly at their airport retail outlets). My role stopped at this point and someone else took it over, but I learned a lot in the process and am willing to share. Julia Muney Moore Public Art Administrator Blackburn Architects, Indianapolis, IN (317) 875-5500 x219 ________________________________ From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of [log in to unmask] Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2007 6:38 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [MUSEUM-L] Outsourcing Museum shops Dear Darrell, There's a great White Paper from MSA (Museum Store Association) on this issue. It's titled Outsourcing Retail Operations in Cultural Institutions: Weighing the Pros and Cons. I found it very informative and enlightening--a "MUST READ" for anyone involved in museum store operations. Why has outsourcing increased in recent years? What are the benefits/drawbacks from outsourcing retail operation? What does your instution need in order to have a successful museum store, and how will that success be measured? You will find these questions addressed in the MSA white paper. I think you might try to obtain a copy by calling the MSA at 303-504-9223. Or use this MSA order form (although I don't know why you would want ten copies!) http://www.museumdistrict.com/pubs/forms/MSAorderform.pdf I have been studying this issue, myself, for over five years, and have had some epiphanies. I would be happy to enlighten you by email: [log in to unmask] Best of luck, Kat Mulkey +++++++++++++++ On Tue, 31 Jul 2007 18:11:51 -0500, "Darrell Beauchamp" <[log in to unmask]> <mailto:[log in to unmask]> said: > Anyone want to weigh in on Pros/Cons of outsourcing museum gift > shops? We are building a new museum (opening 2009) and need to plan > for how we are going to do our museum gift shop. If you outsource, > whom do you use? If you don't, pros/cons, etc. > > Darrell Beauchamp > > ------------------------------------------------ > Darrell Beauchamp, Ed.D. > Executive Director > National Western Art Foundation > The Briscoe Western Art Museum > P.O. Box 90009 > San Antonio, TX 78209 > > 210-832-3206 > 210-260-6869 NEW Cell # > [log in to unmask] > www.briscoemuseum.org > > > > > ========================================================= > Important Subscriber Information: > > The Museum-L FAQ file is located at > www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed > information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail > message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should > read "help" (without the quotes). > > If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to > [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read > "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes). ========================================================= Important Subscriber Information: The Museum-L FAQ file is located at http://www.finalchapter.com/museum-l-faq/ . You may obtain detailed information about the listserv commands by sending a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "help" (without the quotes). If you decide to leave Museum-L, please send a one line e-mail message to [log in to unmask] . The body of the message should read "Signoff Museum-L" (without the quotes).