Business Partner Assists with Gift Shops
Michelle Percy, Director at Silverlink Property Developments
The gift shops at two of Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ venues have received a recent boost with the help of Business Partner Michelle Percy.
Michelle Percy, Director at Silverlink Property Developments, stood as a business representative on an extensive peer review of our organisation, an initiative piloted in 2008 by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in three locations across the country.
The review identified a number of opportunities for our retail operations. Following the review, Michelle was keen to remain involved and has played a central role in helping to develop our shops, by facilitating links between Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums and the Merchandise Director at Fenwick department store in Newcastle.
As a result, we have received an in-depth analysis of the merchandise range in the Laing Art Gallery gift shop and subsequent support from other members of Fenwick’s buying team in evaluating the content of Discovery Museum’s shop.
In recent years, Michelle has taken a hands-on approach to supporting Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, finding that involvement of this kind can be hugely valuable to both organisations as well as offering development opportunities for the individuals concerned. Michelle says:
“The new environment that we find ourselves in presents both challenges and opportunities and it is not enough to just deliver a business plan to the letter and expect it to reap rewards on its own.
"Businesses must be different, diverse and chameleon-like. Our partnership with Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums allows us to access the cultural wealth of our region, which delivers significant value, not only internally, but also externally.
“Last year Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums’ world class venues attracted over two million visitors, many of whom came from outside of Tyne & Wear but who stay, spend money and become ambassadors for us. As a result, the benefits for our business continue and we look forward to maintaining and strengthening our relationship with Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums.”
Michelle will also be acting as a business advisor during the review of the Connecting through Culture scheme, which will take place over the next few months.
There is an array of opportunities for Business Partners to become more involved with our work, both large and small. For further information or to discuss specific opportunities, please contact Stef Anderson, Development Officer, at stef.anderson@twmuseums.org.uk or call (0191) 277 2173.