Summer 2024 - 45

DESTINATION: HOUSTON MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE
can be touched. In addition, the energy and chemistry halls
are filled with numerous interactives that are both digital
and physical.
" The planetarium has 8K projectors - it was the first in
the country to have them, " she said. " The planetarium is one
of the first venues we had in the museum, and it's even been
used to train NASA astronauts in star navigation. We also
produce our own films and show rented films - and it's also
a very popular spot for people to get engaged. "
In addition to the main location, HMNS has a satellite
location in SugarLand and the George Observatory located
in Brazos Bend State Park, which is open every weekend for
public stargazing.
" Numerous discoveries have been made with our telescope, "
Thomas said.
FROM MINERALS TO MASTODON TEETH
There are numerous discoveries to make when visitors
enter the museums store at the Houston Museum of Natural
Science - everything
from toys,
apparel, home décor,
souvenirs and plush to minerals and fossils. In addition to a
huge selection of branded and souvenir merchandise, Thomas
said they also want people to feel comfortable and trusting of
purchasing high-end minerals and fossils from them.
" We're not your typical museum gift shop, " she said. " We
consider ours to be a museum store, as we have something
for everyone - whether it is a student here
on a field trip picking up some
rock candy for a few dollars
or someone buying a $25,000
mineral for their home. "
Bestsellers include rocks
in truly every price
range - from 50 cents
$50,000.
to
Branded
tees and science kits also
sell well, and since they are
located in Space City, there are
plenty of STEM and space-themed
STEM toys and gadgets.
Thomas explained the HMNS store
works with a variety of local vendors on
custom pieces and jewelry, plus numerous fossil
and mineral partners who own their own mines and
quarries to provide the finest pieces for the museum
store's customers. They even have a Navy diver who works
with them to source all the store's megalodon shark teeth.
The museum store works with a
variety of local vendors, fossil and
mineral partners to offer one-ofa-kind
gems, minerals and even
mammoth teeth.
Items in the museum store serve as an extension of the overall
museum experience, like butterfly souvenirs to reflect the butterfly
center, which surrounds visitors with more than 400 species of
live butterflies.
" We're first and foremost a museum, " she said. " That means
that people go through the store and expect to see unique,
one-of-a-kind products. About 95% of our items cannot be
purchased elsewhere, and for many of the high-end minerals,
fossils and jewelry, those are the only pieces in the world.
" Our president - who is also the curator of our mineral
hall and an expert in minerals - as well as our paleontologist,
Egyptologist, anthropologist and malacologist all help us with
sourcing as well as suggestions on things to carry, " she said.
" I think that's a big reason why our store is so different from
a traditional souvenir shop. "
As for trends or surprising hits, Thomas said they have
mineral-carved birds, which, while much more high-end, have
recently been selling well. The store also collaborated with a
local award-winning chocolatier for custom chocolates she
said they can't keep in stock.
" Last year, we had a full-sized cast of a T. rex skull that was
sold, and we also had a life-sized replica of a terracotta warrior
that someone from South Carolina purchased, " she said. " Our
staff drove it from Houston to South Carolina to deliver it. "
Thomas said that it's also just as fun to hear the kids in the
store oohing and ahhing over small rocks that they want to
purchase to begin their rock collection.
" I think many people are amazed that they can see items in
the store that are so closely inspired by the halls and that they
can actually take them home with them and have the ultimate
memory of their visit, " Thomas said. " In the end, that's what
we want from our visitors - that the store helps spark their
interest in science, too. "
Learn more about our Gift Shop®
page 10.
GIFTSHOPMAG.COM 45
Plus contributors on
http://www.GIFTSHOPMAG.COM

Summer 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Summer 2024

TOC 1
TOC 2
Contributors
From the Editor
Showcases
Trend Report
Museums & More
Special Customization Report: Town Pride
Product Spotlights
Garden & Outdoor Living Lookbook
Retailer Profile: Luster
On-Trend Wearables
Merrymaking
Finishing Strong
Championing a Cause
Market Debuts
Spotlight Awards Voices
Retail Operations: A Store By Any Other Name
Event Calendar
Industry & Trade Show News
Ad Index
Meet the Maker: Lara Smith, Lusomé
Summer 2024 - 1
Summer 2024 - 2
Summer 2024 - 3
Summer 2024 - 4
Summer 2024 - 5
Summer 2024 - TOC 1
Summer 2024 - 7
Summer 2024 - TOC 2
Summer 2024 - 9
Summer 2024 - Contributors
Summer 2024 - 11
Summer 2024 - From the Editor
Summer 2024 - 13
Summer 2024 - 14
Summer 2024 - 15
Summer 2024 - Showcases
Summer 2024 - 17
Summer 2024 - 18
Summer 2024 - 19
Summer 2024 - 20
Summer 2024 - 21
Summer 2024 - 22
Summer 2024 - 23
Summer 2024 - 24
Summer 2024 - 25
Summer 2024 - 26
Summer 2024 - 27
Summer 2024 - 28
Summer 2024 - Trend Report
Summer 2024 - 30
Summer 2024 - 31
Summer 2024 - 32
Summer 2024 - 33
Summer 2024 - 34
Summer 2024 - 35
Summer 2024 - 36
Summer 2024 - 37
Summer 2024 - 38
Summer 2024 - 39
Summer 2024 - 40
Summer 2024 - Museums & More
Summer 2024 - 42
Summer 2024 - 43
Summer 2024 - 44
Summer 2024 - 45
Summer 2024 - 46
Summer 2024 - 47
Summer 2024 - 48
Summer 2024 - 49
Summer 2024 - 50
Summer 2024 - Special Customization Report: Town Pride
Summer 2024 - A2
Summer 2024 - A3
Summer 2024 - A4
Summer 2024 - A5
Summer 2024 - A6
Summer 2024 - A7
Summer 2024 - A8
Summer 2024 - Product Spotlights
Summer 2024 - 52
Summer 2024 - Garden & Outdoor Living Lookbook
Summer 2024 - 54
Summer 2024 - 55
Summer 2024 - 56
Summer 2024 - 57
Summer 2024 - 58
Summer 2024 - Retailer Profile: Luster
Summer 2024 - 60
Summer 2024 - 61
Summer 2024 - 62
Summer 2024 - 63
Summer 2024 - 64
Summer 2024 - 65
Summer 2024 - On-Trend Wearables
Summer 2024 - 67
Summer 2024 - 68
Summer 2024 - 69
Summer 2024 - 70
Summer 2024 - 71
Summer 2024 - 72
Summer 2024 - 73
Summer 2024 - Merrymaking
Summer 2024 - 75
Summer 2024 - 76
Summer 2024 - 77
Summer 2024 - 78
Summer 2024 - 79
Summer 2024 - 80
Summer 2024 - 81
Summer 2024 - Finishing Strong
Summer 2024 - 83
Summer 2024 - 84
Summer 2024 - 85
Summer 2024 - 86
Summer 2024 - 87
Summer 2024 - Championing a Cause
Summer 2024 - 89
Summer 2024 - 90
Summer 2024 - 91
Summer 2024 - 92
Summer 2024 - 93
Summer 2024 - Market Debuts
Summer 2024 - 95
Summer 2024 - 96
Summer 2024 - 97
Summer 2024 - 98
Summer 2024 - 99
Summer 2024 - Spotlight Awards Voices
Summer 2024 - 101
Summer 2024 - 102
Summer 2024 - 103
Summer 2024 - 104
Summer 2024 - 105
Summer 2024 - Retail Operations: A Store By Any Other Name
Summer 2024 - 107
Summer 2024 - 108
Summer 2024 - 109
Summer 2024 - Event Calendar
Summer 2024 - 111
Summer 2024 - Industry & Trade Show News
Summer 2024 - 113
Summer 2024 - Ad Index
Summer 2024 - 115
Summer 2024 - Meet the Maker: Lara Smith, Lusomé
Summer 2024 - 117
Summer 2024 - 118
Summer 2024 - 119
Summer 2024 - 120
Summer 2024 - 121
Summer 2024 - 122
Summer 2024 - 123
Summer 2024 - 124
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