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Our courses and workshops include: Although much training is available on curatorial subjects there is little specialist training available on museum and heritage shop management. But such training can help dramatically to improve professional standards and generate additional profit.
Courses are generally designed for groups of up to 15 participants and our fee structure is based on a daily rate, making courses with larger delegate numbers particularly good value. The courses are usually aimed at the museum and heritage sectors but all of them can be tailored to suit other visitor attractions. The course duration is normally one or two days but some subjects can be addressed in half day sessions. We will be pleased to make a no-fee visit to meet potential clients and discuss specific requirements. Popular courses include:
This course offers a practical introduction to the key aspects of operating a successful retail outlet in a museum or heritage site. There is particular emphasis on buying and product development and other areas explored include the relationship with suppliers, stock control, visual merchandising and selling skills. Financial management is also discussed and the importance of key performance indicators explained. Duration: One or two day course 
 Visual Merchandising and Display The workshop concentrates on the essential and often underrated skills involved in effective merchandise presentation. Shop layout, sequencing and product placement are considered and there is particular focus on the fundamental techniques for successful merchandising and display. Analysis and discussion of real life examples are followed through with practical display work with museum and heritage shop merchandise. Duration: One day course
Managing for Profit This course focuses on the financial aspects of retail management and emphasis is placed on key performance indicators, the profit and loss account and the importance of financial planning. Guidance is given on setting the selling price, mark-up and margin and the advantages and disadvantages of electronic and manual stock control systems. The course stresses the importance, not just of measuring performance, but in managing it and taking corrective action where results are at variance with plan. The day includes discussion and group exercises on typical scenarios and the subject is unravelled in an entertaining and straightforward way. Duration: One day course
Superlative Customer Service “Superlative Customer Service” takes a fresh approach to a much discussed subject. The emphasis is on the attitude and approach made to customers by staff and the critical effect it has both on retail performance and the image of the museum or attraction as a whole. We look at the welcome and approach, techniques for successful selling and complaint handling and how to make superlative service an integral part of the shopping experience. A great deal is talked about customer service but the usual pitfall is for companies to over promise and under deliver. Superlative Customer Service is designed to help ensure that your employees over deliver! Duration: One day course
Buying and Negotiating Skills All too often retail managers are expected to buy in products with little or no formal training and Retail Thinking’s buying workshop is designed to address this. The workshop stresses the importance of having a clear policy and planned approach to merchandise selection and deals with product sourcing, the buyer-supplier relationship, negotiating and how to set the most effective selling price. The development of exclusive and site related merchandise is explored in detail and legal issues relating to product purchasing are also discussed. Duration: One or two day course
Superlative Selling Skills This workshop focuses on pro-active selling and looks at the way in which potential customers should be handled from the moment they enter the premises to successfully concluding the sale. The various stages of the selling process are explored and the important link with effective visual merchandising and high retail standards is also discussed. Duration: Half day or one day course.
Other Courses and Workshops We are able to deliver a number of other retailing courses and shorter modules all geared to the management of shops at museums, heritage sites and visitor attractions. Please contact Peter Holloway on 01244 342211 to discuss your training needs.
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How to run a Heritage/Museum Shop
Retail
Thinking offers training on all aspects of setting up and operating
a shop at a museum, heritage site or visitor attraction. Some training
is carried out on a one-to-one basis as an integral part of consultancy
assignments but we also offer a series of courses and workshops tailored specifically to clients' needs.