Museum Shops Association of Australia & New Zealand

The only professional organisation dedicated to cultural retail management in Australasia


by Leave a comment

COVID-19 and MSAANZ Programming

The Museum Shops Association of Australia & New Zealand have regretfully made the decision today to postpone the upcoming MSAANZ NZ Cultural Retail Forum scheduled for May 2020, and our Regional Outreach forum scheduled for Brisbane 2020 until further notice.

At present government recommendations are changing almost daily, and as such we have yet to make a decision on the timing of MSAANZ20 conference scheduled for Melbourne in July. We will update all member, delegates and suppliers of any developments as soon as practical.

Our annual MSAANZ Retail Recognition awards will still take place, and details of these will be circulated shortly, with an alternate recognition system implemented should the conference and awards dinner not be able to go ahead.

The MSAANZ Executive are following all official advice and preventive measures, and are continuing to meet via the virtual meeting software ZOOM that we invested in last financial year. We are also looking at the possibilities of additional regional sessions in lieu of our conference should this not be able to proceed this year.

We encourage our members to take all sensible precautions and measures to protect yourselves, visitors, and vulnerable whanau from COVID-19. Many museums and zoos have escalated cleaning and sanitising regimes, and put up new notices about hand washing, sneezing/coughing into  a tissue or your elbow, and staying/going home if feeling at all unwell. Social distancing is now accepted as good practice – it is not rude to avoid shaking hands, hongi and hugs.

If you have symptoms of the Coronovirus, call

New Zealand – Covid-19 Healthline on 0800 358 5453 (+64 9 358 5453 for international SIMs) or

Australian – Coronovirus Health Information line 1800 020 080

Kotahitanga, the Maori value of togetherness is an important value in these challenging times. As cultural retail professionals we need to support each other and keep our nations working. If you need support or advice on how to navigate retail difficulties through these times then please do reach out to colleagues via the members directories, by emailing us at mail@msaanz.org or by contacting your closest Executive member .

Nga mihi nui kia koe

The MSAANZ Executive


by Leave a comment

2019 Retail Recognition Award Entries

Entries are now open for the annual MSAANZ Retail Recognition Awards to coincide with our annual conference in Sydney in September.

These awards will celebrate the best of cultural commerce throughout Australia & New Zealand, with categories ranging from Best New Bespoke Product or Range, to a Peoples Choice Award.

Award winners will be announced during the #MSAANZ19 Conference Dinner on the evening of the 19th of September 2019, with entries open to ALL MSAANZ Member Cultural Institutions. Judging of the awards will involve a banded system of entry – separating venues turning over less than one million dollars per year and those over one million dollars.

For more information and to enter go to https://msaanz.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Retail-Recognition-Awards-Entry-Form.pdf


by Leave a comment

Situations Vacant: Online Shop Administrator, Sydney

Online Shop Administrator – Art Gallery of New South Wales

Sydney, Australia

Full Time Permanant

  • Sydney CBD – The Domain
  • Clerk Grade 1/2
  • Total Remuneration Package up to $78,065
  • Salary range ($64,779 to $70,424)

Established in 1871, the Art Gallery of New South Wales is located in Sydney’s The Domain adjacent to the Royal Botanic Garden and near the Central Business District, the Gallery acknowledges the original custodians of this land – the Gadigal people of the Eora nation. The Gallery attracts around 1.4 million visitors annually and runs Australia’s largest education program with over 90,000 student and teacher visits per year.

With the recent approval of our expansion project, the Gallery is poised to deliver a new state-of-the-art building, located next to our existing and much-loved building. Providing us with close to double the current exhibition space, the expanded Gallery will enable us to share more art with more people and provide more family, learning and educational programming for all our audiences.

To help us achieve our ambition, we are seeking diverse, collaborative, supportive and brilliant individuals to work alongside our existing talent and build on our rich history to create an even more inspiring Gallery for the future.

For more information about the Gallery and our future, please visit our website www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au

Our commitment to diversity

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and flexible workforce and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from diverse cultures and people with a disability.

About the Role 

Oversee the Gallery Shops’ online presence by generating content, promotions and campaigns. Responsible for online stock management, ensuring the timely fulfilment of all online sales. Fulfilling all social media requirements.

 For more information about the role please view the role description and information for applicants or call the nominated contact person listed in the advertisement.
 

What technical / soft skills you require

  1. Substantial experience in a book shop or a cultural institution retail outlet
  2. Knowledge of visual arts
  3. Proven management of a retail Instagram account as well as experience in writing social media posts e.g. Instagram and blog posts.
  4. Proven experience in product staging for online and social media usage, including Photoshop experience.
  5. Proven use of third-party e-commerce platform e.g. Shopify

Targeted questions

  1. Please provide work samples of the following: an Instagram account that you have managed, a blog post you have written and product staging for an online and social media. Please provide as attachments to your application.
  2. Please give an example of your experience in balancing your workload with particular attention to meeting deadlines. (300 words)

Part of the assessment process may include additional online capability testing, skills testing or work samples in accordance with the new Government Sector Employment Act 2013, therefore you may be contacted to participate.

The successful applicant will be required to undertake a National Police Records Check, refer to link; https://npcoapr.police.nsw.gov.au/aspx/dataentry/Introduction.aspx
 
Enquiries

If you require further details about this role, please contact Rebecca Allport, Retail Manager on +61 2 9225 1660 or rebecca.allport@ag.nsw.gov.au  

Applications must be lodged electronically via the iworkfor.nsw.gov.au website. Applications submitted via email will not be accepted.Closing date for applications: 6 August 2019 11:59pm






by Leave a comment

Situations Vacant: Retail Assistants, Auckland

Auckland Art Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand

Casual

He angitūtanga: The opportunity

The Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki is New Zealand’s largest visual arts experience. We are looking for dynamic and outgoing Retail Assistants to join our Gallery Shop.
 
These are casual positions, so you will need to be available to work on an ‘as required’ basis including weekend days.

He kōrero mōu: About you

With your previous retail experience, you will have the ability to approach customers first, educate customers on our unique range of products and promotions, as well as a range of other duties including cash handling, visual merchandising and assisting with stock deliveries.
 
A background in the arts (education and/or work experience) is beneficial, however, not essential. What’s vital is that you bring your passion for customer service and your love of sharing your enthusiasm and knowledge of retail products with others.

Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou: What we offer

This is an incredibly unique environment and a chance to combine your love of the arts with your experience and passion for retail and customer service.

Applications close Sunday 16th June at 11.59 pm

Auckland Council is an equal opportunity employer (EOE) and we are committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity and inclusion. If you have any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of application to assist you through the recruitment process.

APPLY NOW


by 1 Comment

Situations Vacant: Senior Retail Lead, Auckland

Tāmaki Paenga Hira: Tui tui hono tangata, whenua me te moana.

Auckland War Memorial Museum: Connecting through sharing stories of people, lands and seas.

Auckland Museum is a much-loved culture and heritage organisation at the heart of Auckland’s identity, committed to outstanding management of its world-class collections and the permanent and volunteer staff who tell the Museum’s stories.

We encourage candidates to share their talents at this unique workplace, which embraces diversity and both acknowledges and nurtures our bicultural capabilities, as demonstrated in our Teu le Vā and He Korahi Māori strategies.

We seek a highly motivated Senior Retail Lead to join the Museum Store at an exciting time of redevelopment and renewal. The role is as varied as the working environment and will require enthusiasm, warmth and flexibility. You will be working closely with the Retail Operations Manager to help deliver outstanding customer service and in-store experience for our diverse customer base, by managing the day-to-day operations of our store and leading our sales team with future growth and development in mind. If you are someone who believes people are at the core of creating ongoing success, then we want to hear from you!

To be successful in this role, you will:

  • Have a passion for New Zealand, Māori and Pacific arts, crafts, culture and history
  • Be a people person and have the ability to engage with a diverse customer, supplier and team base
  • Have at least 4 years experience in retail and sales team supervision with a proven sales and team development history
  • Be computer literate with sound knowledge of POS and Back Office systems and have the ability to further knowledge in these areas.
  • Have an eye for design and understand the principles of visual merchandising
  • Be energetic with a positive attitude and desire for everything that goes into intensifying Auckland War Memorial Museum’s reputation for excellence
  • Be a problem solver and possess a continuous improvement approach to your job with a high attention to detail
  • Have exceptional communication skills and the ability to think creatively in your approach to building a cohesive and productive sales team.

Closing Date: Friday 19th April 2019

You must be eligible to work in NZ to apply for this position.

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to be part of a fabulous New Zealand organisation committed to telling our national and Auckland stories and reflecting our unique place in the South Pacific.

He Oranga Tangata ka ao   Enriching lives: Inspiring discoveries

APPLY NOW


by Leave a comment

Situations Vacant: Shop Manager, Hobart

Permanant, Full Time

Mona has a shop. It’s pretty great. Sells all your standard museum shop stuff: t-shirts, syringe pens, postcards, millionaire memoirs, fat mugs, urns for your dearly departed, provocative soaps. Okay, maybe it’s a little more than most.

So, given that we’re currently on the lookout for a Shop Manager, they’ll need to bring a little more than most to the role. If you want the job you’ll need to be highly creative, highly competent, and quite good at talking to people who’ve been offended by soap.

You’ll also lead all aspects of retail strategy and operations, including product development and curation, merchandising and customer service. You’ll report on sales, maintain inventory and budgets and coordinate the daily activities of your team on the floor. You’ll be supported by Mona’s Co-CEO’s and Director of Marketing and Communications as you develop the retail offering to be as unique and adventurous as any Mona visitor experience.

The Gig:

  • Curate a retail presence and product range that enhances the visitor experience, ensuring alignment with Mona’s values, tone and personality.
  • Effectively manage and report on sales performance and identify opportunities to optimise commercial outcomes.
  • Take the lead on all store operations, including visual merchandising, stock control, budget management, recruitment and staff development.
  • Manage new product development, curation and production in collaboration with key organisational stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with Marketing to develop e-commerce operations and the online shop product range.
  • Develop a product knowledge base related to Mona’s collection and pursuits.
  • Leverage the creative talents of shop employees to create an in-store environment that resonates with the Mona visitor experience.

The You:

  • Considerable experience in the retail sector, with management experience in a shop environment being ideal.
  • Prior experience in managing teams and recruiting new talent.
  • Commercial acumen with the ability to produce detailed reporting and analysis.
  • A commitment to producing outstanding customer service that complements the broader environment.
  • Exceptional communication skills, capable of engaging with customers from diverse backgrounds.
  • Project management and production experience, particularly in an arts background, is preferred.

Does this sound like you? Then we’d love to get to know you. Please submit your application (specifically addressing why you’re a great fit for this role) at https://mona.net.au/connect/employment 

Applications close Monday the 11th of February at 9.00am.


by Leave a comment

2019 NZ Cultural Retail Forum

Cultural Retail Forum

Join us in Auckland for the annual MSAANZ Cultural Retail Forum for New Zealand on Wednesday the 6th of March, at Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki.

This specialist event brings together retail managers, marketers and buyers from across the cultural sector to learn and network, and provides knowledge and tips on how cultural institutions can run their stores more effectively.

We are proud to announce Matthew Oliver, Retail Operations Manager from the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA) in Sydney Australia as our keynote speaker, alongside a line up of recognised industry specialists.

Lunch, light refreshments and closing drinks will be provided.

Full programme details will be released shortly. To register please download the form below. 

NZ CULTURAL RETAIL FORUM 2019 REGISTRATION FORM


by Leave a comment

Congratulations Wellington Zoo!

Congratulations Wellington Zoo who have just been named the winner of the inaugural World Associations of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) Environmental Sustainability Award! This global award was received at the WAZA conference dinner in Bangkok on Thursday night.

CEO Karen Fifield says “This award belongs to everyone who has supported us making Wellington Zoo one of the most sustainable in the world and a true leader in this area. The judges said that not only do we walk the talk but we engage with others to lead the way and support their journeys for sustainability.

At Wellington Zoo we are guided by our kaupapa: Me tiaki, kia ora! We must look after our environment, so all things will flourish. This world-first accolade from WAZA truly recognises this Wellington Zoo spirit!”

Congratulations to Glen Reddiex, Karen Fifield and the rest of the Wellington Zoo team. We’re proud to be working alongside you and grateful for the environmental leadership you provide.


by Leave a comment

Situations Vacant: Merchandise Coordinator, Wellington

Merchandise Coordinator

Permanent Full-Time

This is an opportunity to join a motivated, high-performing team at Wellington’s group of dynamic and award-winning visitor attractions.

Museums Wellington is looking for a Merchandise Coordinator to grow Museums Wellington’s retail operations and online presence in line with our values and strategic direction. Museums Wellington consists of four brands – Wellington Museum, Nairn Street Cottage, Space Place and Cable Car Museum.

The Merchandise Coordinator is a commercially focused procurement and promotions role, and is an integral part of the Commercial Team. The Commercial Team provides leadership to drive revenues supporting Museums Wellington across commercial activities including retail, venue hire, food and beverage, admissions and tours.

We’re looking for a candidate who has:

  • A minimum of two years in a retail role.
  • Strong Visual Merchandising skills.
  • Experience in the management of budgets
  • Strong administrative skills, including Excel and POS systems.
  • Experience with e-commerce systems and database management.
  • Energy, creativity, and resourcefulness.
  • Effective written and oral communication skills

Museums Wellington is a part of Wellington Museums Trust (trading as Experience Wellington), a registered charity established by Wellington City Council as a Council Controlled Organisation (CCO) to manage and develop its culture and arts visitor experiences.

To apply for this role and to view a full position description, please go to our website http://experiencewellington.org.nz/merchandise-coordinator-museums-wellington/

If you have any questions please email karrynb@experiencewellington.org.nz

Applications close at 5.00 pm on Wednesday, 5th September 2018.

Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.

 


by Leave a comment

Get Ready For Museum Store Sunday 2018!

Time to Get Ready for Museum Store Sunday 2018!

It’s time to get ready for Museum Store Sunday (MSS), taking place internationally on Sunday, November 25, 2018 with participation by more than 700 Museum Stores representing ten countries, and three continents to date. Museum Store Sunday offers directly to the general consumer, a special shopping experience in one-of-a kind stores, showcasing broad assortments of highly curated, unique, mission-specific gifts during the holiday season and beyond. Learn more about Museum Store Sunday and its recent ICON HONORS award in this special video featuring MSA’s 1st Vice-President, Susan Tudor. So, with all the momentum building again about Museum Store Sunday, how can you get ready for November 25, 2018?

Holiday gift picks for press needs

First, we need to know your special gifts that you will be featuring at your store during Museum Store Sunday. Do you have something exclusive or unique to your store? We are compiling a “Holiday Gift Guide” from MSS store participants to help promote Museum Store Sunday on November 25th to the local, national and international press.

We are looking for 5-7 product selections, from different categories, at all price points ($50 up to $1000). For example, does your store have a Gift for Mom under $100? Products from MSA vendor members would be especially appreciated. We are requesting product name, description, and price. Please send us images and information via a dropbox link or WeTransfer link by Friday, August 17 to marisa@helloprgroup.com

MSS EVENTS AND PROMOTIONS

Second, have you determined your Museum Store Sunday events and promotions? Successful events from last year included a multi-museum visit trolley, passport contest, Bookmobile, and artist performance.  Other activity ideas are MSA vendor member trunk shows, book signings, product releases, and live music or food and drinks to make MSS the special day it deserves.

Special day-only discounts on store purchases to members and the general public will also drive traffic and revenue. The recommended “event wide” discount promotion for all participants to embrace is “25% OFF on the 25th”.  Stay tuned for further information about how to submit your planned MSS event online.

INTERNAL INSTITUTION OUTREACH

Lastly, reach out now to institution colleagues in your Marketing/PR, Membership, Visitor Services, Education, Curatorial, or Café departments to let them know about Museum Store Sunday and how they can support you and participate. More visitors to your institution will result in higher attendance, memberships, engagement, and learning. It’s a “win-win” day of celebrating museums for all.  A handy resource guide about Museum Store Sunday is available for your internal use to promote MSS to your institution colleagues.

Stay tuned for more exciting MSS tips and information in the coming weeks. SIGN UP HERE to participate in Museum Store Sunday 2018 and start your planning now!