ABSTRACT
The identity of the museum store is reflected in the careful selection and presentation of its merchandise. When museum store managers focus on the mission of the museum and interpreting its collections and programs, the goal of the store is accomplished. A merchandise plan is a robust tool that will inform the decisions you make in several areas of developing a new store. Finding sources and purchasing merchandise is focused and time consuming, but it is also a creative and interesting aspect of the job. Proprietary merchandise in our store establishes a strong link between customers and our institution, but these product lines must be well planned. There are some key aspects of buying for a cultural institutions that both offer rich marketing support and define ethical business practices: Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rulings for nonprofits, American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and Museum store association (MSA) codes of ethics, and environmental and social impact and responsibility practices.
