Editor’s Letter

I think I discovered an exception to the old adage that it’s better to give than to receive: advice. When it comes to advice, I’ve found that it’s much more beneficial to take it all in (with a grain of salt, of course), and take something beneficial away from it.

After reading through the myriad responses to the first Museums & More “Store Room” question, I feel like I should write a book. The response was so much more than I expected, and every day I looked forward to opening my e-mail and reading “the best business advice you have ever received.”

Some replies had me nodding my head in agreement and some made me laugh out loud, causing the editor I share an office with to wonder what the heck I was doing over there on my computer. Advice addressed a variety of issues that are key to success not just in business, but also in life. I hope you enjoy reading the responses on page 72 and learn as much from them as I did — on a variety of topics:

Relationships
Tom Manley of Americana Souvenirs & Gifts in Gettysburg, Pa., said: “People don’t go to a museum because they have to; they go because they want to. So don’t try to sell anything, but engage people browsing the store in conversation about the museum and its unique collections or history, and the sales will automatically follow.”

Business Smarts
Paige Prewitt from the Lexington History Museum in Lexington, Ky.: “Remember that your store is not a museum. Mark down slow movers and don’t be afraid to get rid of merchandise that isn’t making
you money.”

Leadership
Erin Hadfield of For Every Body in Provo, Utah, shared this advice from Becky Lunceford Anderson, the founder of For Every Body: “Make sure to paint your vision in living color because if you are a leader and your team isn’t following you, all you are doing is taking a walk alone.”

Perspective
Rhonda Brown of the State Historical Society of North Dakota in Bismarck, N.D., said, “It’s your job, not your kidney!”

Perseverance
Jay Goldberg of Bergino New York shared that “Reggie Jackson struck out more times than any player in baseball history. He’s in the Hall of Fame. Keep swinging!”

This issue we’re taking a swing at covering a different angle of specialty selling with the Selling Sports features on the Softball Hall of Fame and the Sports Museum of America. While customer interest is often more athletic than artistic, the business remains the same — you have to know your customers and identify what their affinity to your cause or purpose is. Whether you’re talking softballs or Salvador Dali, appealing to the person and not the pocketbook is the key to success.

Featured on page 16, the Salvador Dali Museum store in St. Petersburg, Fla., reflects the Spanish surrealist Dali’s unique flair through a variety of eclectic products and event-specific merchandise.

We’ve also included a feature on page 42 on the value of educational toys and games in your store — they’re the perfect mix of fun and function and a great way to make education
enjoyable for all.

Those are just a few of the offerings this issue; please continue to contact me with areas of interest that you would like to see covered. Is there a great store that should be featured? An issue you would like us to explore? Let me know!

As for this issue, I will leave you with some final words of wisdom from Daniel Young of Paradoxy Products in Manhattan, N.Y., that could be useful for everyone: Always go to the bathroom before a meeting.” “