Store being revamped at Remington Museum

OGDENSBURG — In an effort to make the shop at the Frederic Remington Art Museum more accessible to the elderly and to bring it in tune with the mission of the museum, store manager Ray C. Barney is revamping the roughly 20- by 15-foot space.

"We're making it more open and roomy and to be able to see the products," he said. "When we get into the busy season, people with wheelchairs are struggling to get through, and we get a lot of elderly people."

The first thing to go will be the museum's clothing line, Mr. Barney said. The line, which includes jackets, ties, T-shirts and sweat shirts, likely will be reduced to putting out one style of T-shirt a year, Mr. Barney said.

Clearing out the clothes, which have sold poorly, will make room for products geared toward the museum's mission of education and art, Mr. Barney said. He suggested the museum will begin offering more antiques, replicas of American Indian artifacts and rare books related to Mr. Remington.

Director Edward A. LaVarnway said the museum is still researching what products to carry.

"Museum shops have an obligation to carry merchandise that connects with its mission," Mr. LaVarnway said. "We're always looking for ways to freshen up our merchandise."

Mr. LaVarnway said that after a disappointing 2008, sales have increased and the shop is once again hitting its revenue targets. He said the biggest sellers continue to be the reproductions of sculptures and paintings.

Mr. Barney said new and popular items like barbecue sauces and the children's activity book have helped sales.

He said the book, which came out in late 2009, has been a hit with museums and schools as far away as Ohio.

"There are always risks in retail, but we try different things. If it doesn't work, then it's on its way out," he said.