Hold Everything

As I am now "working from home"  I have realized the importance of organizing my desk, not that anyone who saw my desk when I had an office would imagine I had any idea what organized looked like. 

Creative office supplies are some of the best sellers in a museum shop.  People like to be able to express their personality at work and have a little fun, especially now when office perks are quickly diminishing and most people work in cubicle farms.

As I contemplate where to find a pencil holder that doesn't come from IKEA I will share some fun organizers I come across in the past few days.

This felt "Loop" pencil holder comes in various sizes for all your organizing needs.

I love how this lamp doubles as a office supply organizer.  Such a space saver!

This brush organizer is so unexpected and clever.  They also make one for jewelry!

 These pieces and many others help make our work lives a little bit lighter and bring some fun and whimsy back into the office and in this day and age I think that is what many of your customers are looking for.

Bowled Over

Here is how you can have fun with a little bit of new design thrown in.  I was on Industreal's website yesterday and saw that they have designed a bowl shaped like a bowler hat, cute play on the theme.  It inspired me to create a little store display focused on Magritte in my head.

Bowler Hat Bowl-Industreal

Magritte:Attempting the Impossible-D.A.P.

The Blunt Umbrella-one of my favorite finds at NYIGF

Just fill the bowl with green apples from a local craft store and you have a fun simple display focused on a favorite artist.

Trends are crucial

 One of the most important strategies I have used in buying for museum stores is one that is used throughout the retail world, keeping on trend.  Yet I am amazed by how many museum stores fail to do just this. 

It will prove lucrative to have a store display that incorporates hot new merchandise and ties it directly to your museums' collections.

For example, I was able to pinpoint that American Indian motifs are going to be very big this fall and winter.  These collections are a major part of many museums across the country.  It is the perfect time to tell this story in your store because the public will soon be inundated with related merchandise on the open market and you can take advantage with the added benefit of actually being able to teach your merchandise as well as sell it.

Here are some examples of what customers will be seeing in stores

 This is a selection of Pendleton Blankets I saw in August at ABC Carpet & Home in NYC. 

 Pendleton Woolen Mills has introduced the new designer Portland Collection that is fresh and decidedly modern.  They have even produced some exclusive pieces for Anthropologie.

Here is an example of a product I sourced at the NY Gift Fair to capitalize on this trend

This is an iPhone case from Zero Gravity in LA.  These guys make wallets, iPhone Cases and iPad cases with a variety of images appealing to the young urban market.  They have several different American Indian styles that retail for $25.


I read just about every design, home and fashion magazine I can get my hands on and I bookmark close to 75 blogs and trend sites that I go through regularly.  I have discovered that sourcing merchandise based on these trends in a timely manner will give your store a fresh boost and that will be reflected in sales.  So much of fashion, home decor, and design comes from art and culture, take advantage!