Museum Store Association

06/17/2026

Do museum stores understand visitors better than exhibitions do?

This thought-provoking article from Thai PBS explores how museum stores often reflect what truly captures visitor interest—turning inspiration into connection, engagement, and lasting memories.

What role does your museum shop play in helping visitors connect with your mission?

Museum Store Sunday

I have often suspected that museum gift shops understand contemporary audiences far better than the exhibitions themselves.

06/10/2026

It's summer market season! MSA hosts member networking opportunities, and just last night, members gathered at a cool little venue after doing business at the AmericasMart Atlanta! Thank you, Modgy and Matr Boomie, for supporting MSA in Atlanta. Check out the upcoming markets by visiting the Market Events page here>>>https://museumstoreassociation.org/market-events/

06/03/2026

Thank you, Jonathan, The Postcard Agency, for sharing your experience and your images! We can't wait to work with you again in 2026 on Museum Store Sunday

06/02/2026

Museum stores are having a moment.

A recent article in The Guardian highlights something many of us in the museum retail community have known for years: museum stores are no longer simply the place visitors pass through on their way out—they're becoming destinations in their own right. From exhibition-inspired fashion and home décor to limited-edition collaborations and lifestyle products, museum retail is evolving alongside consumer expectations.

What trends are you seeing in museum retail at your institution?



Museum Store Sunday

Curated edits mean people are treating museums as stand-alone shopping destinations rather than simply exit points

05/25/2026

05/22/2026

Happy Friday! It is almost "a wrap" in Philadelphia at the 2026 MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo. Our 71st year of the MSA annual event and time to share some images of our members, partners, and friends who gather each year to connect, learn, and do business! Thank you to our institution hosts National Museum of American Jewish History, Independence Seaport Museum, Penn Museum, and The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia! Cheers to our courageous members who faced the heat 🥵 to take part in that excursion. We have many more photos and acknowledgments to share!

05/20/2026

🎯It's the first full day at MSA FORWARD 2026 in Philadelphia, where MSA FORWARD creates opportunities to learn directly from peer professionals and organizations, offering valuable insight into what drives success in our unique industry. During a special visit to the National Museum of American Jewish History, members received an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour and Q&A with the team as the museum undergoes a renovation that includes its retail space. Museum Store Sunday

04/30/2026

🎯The Museum Store Association's Annual Conference & Expo - co-located with the American Alliance of Museums - is less than 3 weeks away! Join your peers in the museum and nonprofit retail industry for education, excursions, parties, chapter gatherings, and uniquely curated products from museum store vendors in the Expo Hall, all at the Pennsylvania Convention Center - Philadelphia, PA (Philly), May 19 through to May 22!🥳👏

We're working hard to finalize and deliver another inspiring MSA FORWARD experience for attendees! Enjoy some fun images from last year! If you have not registered for MSA FORWARD Philadelphia, it's not too late! >>> https://s1.goeshow.com/museumstore/forward/2026/index.cfm