Museum stores booming
20 August 2009 09:50
A surge in visitor numbers at museums and country estates has resulted in booming sales at their stores, with the National Trust hailing its best ever year for gift sales.
Retail sales at the Natural History Museum are running at 21% ahead in the current financial year, with the National Trust reporting that its commercial arm will have its "biggest ever year".
Speaking to The Guardian, Stuart Richards head of commercial operations at the Trust said: "We are seeing record numbers of visitors and record retail sales. We didn't know what 2009 would hold for us and have been absolutely delighted. It looks set to be our biggest year ever for visitors and commercial revenue".
He added: "People are looking for something a bit different and that is often quite hard to find as it is independents that have suffered most".
Although the majority of the Trust's income still comes from its 3.5 million members, its 220 shops generate sales of around £35 to £36 million a year.
A new website, CultureLabel, has been recently launched which offers products from over 60 institutions including the Tate, V&A and British Museum. Founder Peter Tullin, said that the website is a response to the "post-consumer" need to connect with the products we buy.
"Increasingly consumers want product with soul. Commercial brands invest millions to try to give their products a 'story' but for cultural products the story is part of their DNA".
'Cultural' retail sales are estimated to have increased by more than 10% over the last two years, with the market now worth around £100 million.
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