MoMA Renovates Store to Improve Customer Experience

MoMA Design Store, www.momastore.org

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City has been attracting visitors since it opened in 1929. The museum's evolving collection includes almost 200,000 pieces from the around the world. To support the museum’s mission of making good design accessible to the public, the MoMA Design Store was opened.

“We offer a broad selection of curator-approved design items, including personal and desk accessories, jewelry, kitchenware, tabletop items, technology items, as well as a selection of furniture and lighting,” explains Thomas Randon, general manager of the store. “We champion design, from humble masterpieces to transformative technologies, all of which elevates everyday life.”

To better reflect the MoMA brand, the Design Store is getting a facelift. Officials say the store will undergo a complete renovation to add new elements, yet keep the integrity of the structure.

Randon says he hopes to see many benefits from the renovation, but there are two that sum it up:

1. Improve the experience. In today’s fast-paced retail world, a memorable experience is something customers appreciate, and Randon says the MoMA Design Store renovation will reflect that.

“We aim for the customer experience at MoMA Design Store to be unique, to make the discovery of good design exciting, engaging and as easy as possible for everyone,” says Randon.

The store will feature a custom jewelry counter made from glass and bead-blasted steel so shoppers get a better view of the collection and, therefore, a more personalized shopping experience.

2. Increase revenue. Randon explains that the Design Store will be renovated to allow for more natural light, better traffic flow and distinct product displays. This combination will hopefully result in more sales.

The products will be showcased in a new, custom-designed merchandising display system, giving the Design Store complete flexibility to showcase product from the different tabletop, kitchen, lighting, technology and personal accessories collections. Randon describes the displays as, “beautiful, flexible and modular.”

“Our goal is to refine the experience and present our products in the best light possible," adds Randon. "We want to make it easier to shop our varied assortment and discover unique and innovative products.”

And once shoppers find a piece they want to purchase, a new iPad-based point-of-sale system will quickly and efficiently check them out.

MoMA Design Store, www.momastore.org

The store’s renovation is scheduled to be finished in the fall of this year.

”MoMA Design Store is a leading destination for design that's innovative, beautiful and practical," says Randon. "Our newly designed store will better reflect our brand.”