Saturday 7 February 2009
Friday 23 January 2009
UK Gifts and Souvenirs
Instead of the commonly seen Union Jack tourist souvenirs the museum offers a different kind of 'useful souvenirs',such as teapots, tea towels, strainers and beer bottles. They have two ranges of such souvenirs, one which is more kitchen centered clothed with the strap line 'cooking in the navy' to fit into the museum shop, and a second which is more about the English weather featuring t-shirts, pins and mugs with clouds, rain drops and suns on it. The second range is less expensive.
Eco Friends
The shop has a range of eco friendly products consisting of recycled "I used to be.." products as well as science kits with build it yourself dynamo lights, wind power and fruit batteries. On the website they have a link to an educational websites covering green energy, clean water, recycling and eco shopping guides.
It feels a bit like they stock those products because they need to show that they care. The products are not specific to the sea, ships, time or stars.
Statement Trend
is what I mean by the block colour, single word statement products. aimed at older teens and young adults. Apart from mugs, pins and t-shirts it includes products such as beach themed key rings and white sailor hats.
Relevance to illustrating the importance of sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people:
Non? I feel these products are there to offer a product choice the consumer group of older teens/young adults who may not want something with the museum logo on it. Trend led & commercial
Inexpensive Toys
There is an island full of little inexpensive toys between £0.50 - £6. They seem like quite a random collection, but all have a pirate or viking type theme. Here you will also find the pens and rulers with 'The International Maritime Museum' printed on them.
Relevance of illustrating the importance of sea, ships, time and stars and their relationship with people:
Not much, it feels like the products are there for commercial reasons and to provide an inexpensive alternative of buying a child "a treat".
"Daddy, can I please have something?"
Executive Gifts
refers to the more expensive gift type objects available for purchase in the shop. They include items such as specially built sundials, Casio marine watches, binoculars and fancy books.
Relevance to illustrating the importance of sea, ships, time and stars and their relationship with people:
Most of the books are very informative, the topics often concerning the collections and exhibitions in the museum. The sundials are fully usable so they could be a way of understanding and illustrating the historical importance of the sun in navigation.
Collectible Souvenirs
By collectible souvenirs I mean objects such as silver spoons in plastic boxes with the locations emblem at the top of the handle, or porcelain thimbles and trinket boxes.
Relevance to illustrating the importance of the sea, ships, time and the stars and their relationship with people:
Hmmm...
Adventure
The adventure section seems rather male consumer centered with on the go, outdoors adventure, practical products.
Relevance to illustrating the importance of sea, ships, time and stars and their relationship with people:
The collection has some navigational tools such as compasses and outdoors clothing in marine blue colours...
Stars/Space/Science
The star/space/science product category is divided into three age groups, adults, teens and children. Each group has its own emphasis, the children's part is for example full of educational toys about the solar system, the teen part has more clothing and objects such as note books, whereas the adult section stocks more books, dvds and bags but also clothing.
Relevance to illustrating the importance of sea, ships, time and stars and their relationship with people:
Some products in this category are very relevant to illustrating the importance of stars and their relationship with people such as the science kits explaining the solar system and dvds informing about space research and various theories.
Wednesday 21 January 2009
Division of shop space
- Stars/Space/Science (3 age groups)
- 'Active'
- Lord Nelson merchandise
- Watches
- Souvenirs with historical references
- Young adult trend
- Ecofriendly (Children & Adult)
- Mixed 'pick n mix' toys (low price)
- Pirate theme (3 age groups)
- Executive gifts (expensive books, time pieces)
- UK souvenirs & gifts ( 2 groups)
- Traditional souvenirs (spoons, thimbles)
- Postcards
The Museum Shop & Products
The buyer of the products in the shop seem to have divided the museum visitors up into stereotypical consumer groups as well as age groups & then bought products accordingly. There is also evidence of trend led product choices such as the pirate theme for the younger museum visitors.
There are some museum specific merchandise such as mugs, plates, bags, pens, cards & thimbles etc., however most of which are of the 'surface branding' type i.e. standard mugs printed with a motif or photo from the museum, or a customised standard pen with the museum logo.
The Museum Shop
The museum shop is located on the ground floor, just to the right as you walk through the entrance. It has three windows, two of which are facing the front of the building. One window displayed pirate themed products and the other space related items.
To enter the museum you will have to pass the shops wide main door, in fact the shop is the first 'display' of objects you encounter.
(A leader of a school group with Chinese students had a rather tough time keeping his students from the shop until AFTER the museum visit, he eventually got help from the security guard to round them all up again so they could enter the museum together.)
The Maritime Museum Collection
The Maritime Museum has a truly diverse visitor group. The museum is very good at attracting all nationalities, genders & age groups, from toddlers right up to pensioners. A large percent of its visitors are student groups and tourists.
Level 2 - Second floor
- The bridge - hands on interactive gallery
- Ocean's Discovery -the world and it's oceans
- New Visions - temporary exhibition
- Ship of War
- All Hands - Interactive gallery for children
- Your Ocean - the ocean and it's part in mankind's survival
- Caird Library - Research Facilities, books and periodicals
- E-library -online collections and resources
- Stained glass from the Baltic Exchange
- Atlantic Worlds
- Nelson's Navy
- Art at Sea
- Upper Deck Collection
Level G - Ground Floor
- Explorers
- Passengers
- Mess Deck - Activity room for schools
- Quarter Deck - Activity teaching room
- Lecture Theatre
- Temporary Exhibition - beside the seaside
- Rank & Style
- Maritime London - the port of London as Britain's gateway to the world
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