Gift shop / museum store merchandise

hytwr1 · **Joined:** Sat Jul 01, 2006 9:07 am **Posts:** 211

Hello all,

I am curious where others are sourcing merchandise for their museum gift shop /store?

Thanks
Bill

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1799

Well.... it depends on what type of operation you have but most operations carry Charles Products merchandise - they have quite a bit of generic railroad merchandise that can be ordered with low minimums.

For custom clothing it’s best to work with a local company - it’s a good partnership with a local company and it saves you on shipping costs.

diningcartim · **Joined:** Fri Sep 20, 2013 2:34 pm **Posts:** 197

We supply our line (Phoebe Snow Company) of railroad coffees, bake mixes, and similar products to a number of railroad museums and tourist lines. Feel free to PM me if you need more information.

wesp · **Posted:** Sun Jun 26, 2022 8:40 pm

At National Capital Trolley Museum we have used Charles Products for more than 40 years.

Wesley

Alexander D. Mitchell IV · **Posted:** Mon Jun 27, 2022 12:35 am

wesp wrote:

At National Capital Trolley Museum we have used Charles Products for more than 40 years.

Proper question: Quality, customer service, or inertia?

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1799

Alexander D. Mitchell IV wrote:

wesp wrote:

At National Capital Trolley Museum we have used Charles Products for more than 40 years.

Proper question: Quality, customer service, or inertia?

Amazing customer service!

wesp · **Posted:** Mon Jun 27, 2022 10:17 am

Also, Arcadia Press offers an extensive series of history picture books at an affordable retail price vs. larger more extensive and expensive books such as the "...In Color" series. Say what you will about Arcadia from an academic view, the books sell well with our visitors.

Wesley

RXRGiftShop · **Joined:** Fri Jan 26, 2018 12:34 pm **Posts:** 6

Charles Products has already been mentioned and used by many; including us. Some others you might check with:

Born Rail has a variety of things . We order from them often.
Maple Landmark carries wooden items - we carry their 4-tone wooden whistles. All USA made.
Wow Toyz has a small selection of plastic & wooden trains, posters.
Schylling handles several pullback trains, metal toys.
Masterpieces Inc has puzzles and themed wooden train engines. We have good luck with their college themed trains for our area.
Rebel Rail has metal signs and shirts.
Daylight Sales has railroad shirts and can custom you a design.
Signs4fun sell metal signs, they carry several train related signs.

An interesting source we tapped into is our state tourism. We are able to sell many items themed for our state. They are not train related, but out of state visitors like to buy something from the state they are in.

Merchandise has been tough to get in this day and time. Most vendors are out of stock on many of their items. It is good to have multiple sources when you are attempting to replenish your museum / gift shop shelves. Shipping and product prices are soaring as well.

Hope some of these help!

hytwr1 · **Joined:** Sat Jul 01, 2006 9:07 am **Posts:** 211

Thanks for all the feedback.

We buy from Born and some other local outfits. Just wondered what else is out there and how they rate.

Crescent-Zephyr · **Joined:** Wed Jan 20, 2016 1:15 pm **Posts:** 1799

hytwr1 wrote:

Thanks for all the feedback.

We buy from Born and some other local outfits. Just wondered what else is out there and how they rate.

I’d like to echo the recommendation for “maple landmark” - they are 100% made in the USA and many customers really like that and will pay extra for it. They also have some of the best sounding wooden train whistles.