MUSEUM SHOPS | July 2025

As we close out another fiscal year, we’re proud to share key accomplishments from the museum shops—both in-person and online. While overall sales remained consistent with last year’s strong performance, we saw exciting growth in our web store, which experienced a 30% increase in sales year over year. This continued digital momentum reflects our commitment to meeting visitors wherever they are and expanding access to our unique merchandise beyond museum walls. Our returning customer rate grew by an impressive 9% from last year, and those customers spent about 15% more than they did last year. 

We also hosted a series of successful trunk shows this year featuring beloved local artists Marie Romero Cash, Scott Lyons, and Delbert Buck. These special events not only boosted sales but also fostered direct connections between artists and our community—something we deeply value. We look forward to hosting more trunk shows in this next fiscal year, including Peter Ray James and Zuri Clothing, both taking place in July. 

Great exhibitions also draw visitors to the museums and encourage visitors to shop! In November, Wevaing Meanings opened to a warm reception, accompanied by beautiful crafts from all across Africa. This exhibit has been so successful for the shop at the Museum of International Folk Art, with wire baskets sold almost daily. Makowa opened earlier in June, which has given MIAC a boost in sales. Most recently, Timeless Mucha opened only a few weeks ago, and already we’ve seen a huge increase in traffic and sales at the Vladem Contemporary Shop. We look forward to new exhibits coming in FY2026. 

This year’s success reflects the creativity and hard work of our retail team. We continue to look for new opportunities to grow MNMF Shops and build on the momentum of the previous year. We are grateful for the continued support of the shops, which helps us to fulfill our goals and expand the impact of the museum experience.