museums&MORE Fall 2019

Peer Perspective: The Conservancy

Pam W. Smith | Retail Manager

The Bald Head Island Conservancy, located in North Carolina, has been a destination for Carolinians and its visitors for 35 years. Likewise, the shop, which has been around as long as the conservancy’s doors have been open, people flock to find great products. Retail Manager, Pam W. Smith, has been with the company for five years and strives to keep the shop a go-to for visitors.

For what specific programs or exhibits is BHIC known? We are nationally recognized for our Sea Turtle Protection Program as well as additional Barrier Island Conservation and education programs and studies.

What kind of products do you carry that reflect those exhibits/spotlights?We carry many educational products that support our mission including  books, science kits, turtle figurines and of course lots of fun plush, puzzles and figurines. We carry many products like 4Ocean bracelets and Puravida that also support marine conservation programs.

What can you tell me about the fun activities going on at the conservancy? We have lots of fun activities going on right now like educational camps for kids, art classes, citizen science and of course our sea turtle walks and excavations!

Where do you typically source the gift items you carry? We typically source our gifts from gift shows like AmericasMart and the Smoky Mountain Gift Show in Tennessee.

What kind of educational toys and gift items do you carry? We carry a lot of fun names like Plus Plus building bricks, Mad Matter, Crazy Aarons, fun playsets and plush from Wild Republic. Sealife Plush from Aurora and Squishimals. Green Toys ferry boat and water plane, Hape bamboo toys.

For gifts, we source sea turtle pottery from a local potter, we have the little dishes and Raku pottery, marble turtles from SS Handicraft and wood turtles from American Gift. We carry a wide array of home decor from Mud Pie and Creative Co-op to name a few. We try to carry eco friendly products and have a nice line of glass straws handmade by a local artisan as well as telescoping metal straws from True North.

What are some of your best-sellers? Our bestsellers are name dropped items from Cape Shore, glass and metal straws, 4Ocean bracelets and jewelry from Dune and Puravida. Apparel from Simply Southern as well as our own designed tees from Gear and Ouray, etc.