Special Surf Expo Section

sea turtles, are Rice’s best-selling nautical home décor item.

Authentic Models’ nautical clocks are also a big hit for Rice. These timepieces have a nautical compass on the back, feature brass housing, and include crystals to enlarge the detail of the clock’s face and compass design.

Trivelli said customers appreciate anything that is not found in large chain stores, or handmade items. A popular line is wind chimes from Bottle Benders, a family-run company in Georgia that makes chimes out of recycled glass bottles.

Custom-designed, nautical-themed items from Bow & Hummingbird, a woman-owned company in Germany, also sell well. In particular, the company’s smaller affordable items, such as glassware and notepaper, are sought after.

For Cowee, a top seller is the Chesapeake Bay Tidbit Tray by Galleyware. The small tray features a colorful, hand-drawn graphic of the Chesapeake Bay with town names and images. It’s the perfect keepsake or small gift.

Ceramic coasters with artistic images such as crabs, lighthouses, and herons by Barlow Designs make great mementos, Cowee said. They can be bought as one or several, mixing multiple designs. Visitors collect them to remember their visit.

Boosting Sales

There are many ways that maritime museum shops can increase sales of nautical home décor items, such as how they’re displayed. Rice places items that fit into the same general category together, such as one shelf with glass items and another shelf with wooden items. “This strategy works well because it allows guests to find what they’re looking for in one place, rather than having to hunt for it,” she said.

Although she tries to avoid clutter, Trivelli has found that larger groupings of like-items move well. “Customers want to select their exact item, even if there are several identical pieces right in front of them,” she said.

Michelle L. Porter , buyer at the Connecticut River Museum in Essex, Conn., uses outside elements such as driftwood, pinecones, shells, and so forth to complete themed displays.

Placement is also key. “We place items with a higher price point or those that are more unique within sight of the door, so guests notice them right away,” Rice said. “This works well because it creates a focal point [and] gets them the attention they deserve.”

And don’t forget about the benefits of using signs. Rice uses them to denote handmade pieces and work from local artisans. “This helps showcase unique items and lets guests know that they are purchasing something made here in Savannah,” she said.

Staff can also interact with guests to help boost sales. “Items always sell better when staff have used them and are enthusiastic about products,” Trivelli said. The museum shop carries a line of handmade soaps from San Pedro Soapworks, a local, woman- owned company, which are a staff favorite and make the shop smell lovely.

The gift shop at the Maine Maritime Museum uses small “Recommended by” signs placed throughout the

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