Cultural Enterprises Awards 2020
Finalists
Best Product
Organisations with annual turnover over £1m
Help for Heroes Trading Ltd
Designed in a creative workshop by members of one of the charity’s support groups, the Flowers of Friendship scarf has been created with true spirit, with sound commercial performance too.
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
Recreated from an original recipe, this authentic product has been well researched and implemented with ethical purpose and attention to detail in design, production and process, resulting in great sales.
The Deep
Making clever use of humour to highlight a serious subject, the iconic Jaws poster is easily recognisable – a great way to communicate an important message, which has worked especially well on social media.
Best Product
Organisations with annual turnover under £1m
The Gurkha Museum Trust
Based on a real tiger cub found orphaned in the jungle by Gurkha soldiers, this gorgeous toy has a lovely story and does a great job of highlighting the work of the Gurkhas. Who wouldn’t want to take her home?
Brunel’s SS Great Britain
This limited edition, hand-cut peep show is a replica of one in the collection. Beautifully crafted with intricate detail it offers a view into another world, appealing to both older and younger audiences.
Kettle’s Yard
Demonstrating great use of the archives to produce an appealing gift, this hand-poured candle was created using plants found in the Kettle’s Yard garden, based on a recipe from the founder of Kettle’s Yard.
Best Range
Organisations with annual turnover over £1m
This is an inspired partnership, very well executed – a beloved range of books that lends itself to teaching children about our heritage, resulting in a really strong revenue stream.
The National Trust for Scotland
A visually appealing range in a style inspired by the site’s current state, a clever way to promote conservation work from a different angle and drive interest in the property. Great sales achieved too.
Help for Heroes Trading Ltd
A great clothing range created for a worthy cause with new skills being learnt in the process including team working and confidence building, in addition to the commercial benefits. Great sentiment.
Best Range
Organisations with annual turnover under £1m
M Shed
A creative exhibition range offering the opportunity to work with artists not traditionally associated with museums, broadening M Shed’s appeal and attracting new visitors. A brave, creative and successful campaign.
Brunel’s SS Great Britain
A very attractive range with great thought behind the packaging and ingredients, using archival letters to bring relevance to the collection. An inspiring way to tell the stories and perfect gifts.
The John Rylands Library
Using strong and engaging messaging, the Peterloo Range taps into an emotive event to create a range of merchandise that appeals to a local audience and encourages discussion and learning.
Best Licensed Product
National Gallery Company Ltd
A fabulous gift for art lovers, these creative bouquets are thoughtfully put together based on well-known works of art. A great partnership with a nice twist to add something special.
Historic Royal Palaces
A fitting partnership to create a great collectors’ offer, with global appeal and multiple price points making it accessible to all, as demonstrated by the huge sales income.
A lovely design with relevant attention to detail in the cut-away top that is uniquely styled to the image represented. A top seller with Dartington, with further partnership plans in the offing.
Buyer’s Choice Award
A new award showcasing the best new products from our Associate Members
Ravensden plc
These 100% recycled post-consumer polyester soft toys represent a commendable step forward in a sector that sells a lot of soft toys.
Pavilion Books
A lovely way to engage audiences to get out and connect with art and nature with health and wellbeing benefits.
Best Years Ltd
A lovely range of products that combines commercially attractive gifts with ethical sourcing and production.
Best Guide Book
M Shed
A well thought-out user journey with clever use of pull out sections.
The Deep
Great sales and a fun design, including a section written by children.
A smart guide book with an appealing cover and accessible price.
A clean design with good photography and engaging stories.
Best Exhibition Catalogue
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Beautiful, eye-catching catalogue with very strong sales.
National Gallery Company
Nice cover and design. Attractively priced with great sales.
Ashmolean Museum
A beautiful book which has led to a huge donation to the Museum.
National Galleries of Scotland
Great front cover and nice clean design inside with good sales figures.
Best General Publication
Bodleian Library Publishing
Lovely idea and nice design.
Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Great design and mainly sold outside the venue, demonstrating great reach.
The British Library
Great sales, good design and a fascinating topic.
Gainsborough’s House
Fantastic first time self-publication.
Best Shop
Organisations with annual turnover over £1m
The National Trust for Scotland
A stunning, well designed shop with distinctive merchandising and lovely ranges, telling the story of a unique conservation project. Has shown a significant uplift in sales since refitting.
Science Museum
A bright, well designed shop appealing to kids with a defined area for adults too, combining toy shop, science classroom and art shop. Good merchandising and strong margins.
Shakespeare’s Globe
Strong, modern designs all clearly telling the Shakespeare story, making innovative use of props in merchandising. Eighty per cent exclusive product ranges, designed in house by the retail team.
Best Shop
Organisations with annual turnover under £1m
Ditchling Museum of Art & Craft
A charming rustic shop housed in an old cart lodge and featuring arts and crafts ranges appropriate for the site and collections. Well merchandised in a space shared with admissions and a café.
Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery
A small but well laid out shop with well defined ranges that reflect the building and collections. Annual target almost achieved in the first five months despite a limited budget and no Retail Manager in post.
Northumberland National Park Authority
Attractive ranges sourced from the North East and
supporting the local economy. Products include giftware with local interest appealing to walkers, tourists and local shoppers.
Creative Commerce Award
Celebrating innovation in sustainable income generation
The Fruitmarket Gallery
A great creative way of ensuring commercial success and reaching new audiences while the Gallery was closed for refurbishment.
The British Library
A successful new revenue stream, utilising the existing collection and delivering substantial brand exposure in multiple new markets.
Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust
A brilliant partnership with local students, creating products for young people, designed by young people.
Green Award
Recognising successful initiatives in reducing environmental impact
Horniman Museum & Gardens
A positive dual-aspect approach minimising the café’s own environmental impact and encouraging customers to do the same. This project shows that the Horniman is ‘walking the walk’ as well as ‘talking the talk’.
Telegraph Museum Porthcurno
Planet PK puts green values at the heart of the organisation’s business plans, a truly holistic approach that looks at everything from biodiversity and sustainability to reducing the impact of high footfall.
Shakespeare Globe Trading Ltd
A fantastic rounded approach to sustainability backed up by a huge amount of research and now influencing the wider organisation to look at more sustainable ways of bringing in utilities.
Outstanding Contribution to Cultural Enterprises
A new award recognising a personal contribution to our sector, by someone who has gone the extra mile to achieve success that has benefited their organisation
Amy McKeating
Retail & Systems Officer
Leeds Museums & Galleries
Amy has been instrumental to substantial changes at Leeds Museums & Galleries. Driving profitability with her encyclopaedic knowledge of the retail systems, she has helped to boost sales as well as staff morale.
Karen O’Connor
Director of Commercial Enterprises
National Museums Liverpool
Karen instils her passion and creativity in her team, with some substantial products landing successfully in 2019. She is a hardworking, highly respected leader who continues to drive her organisation forward.
Shuna Williams
Commercial Officer
Cadw
Managing over 400 events per year, Shuna has achieved all targets and increased income by 10% over the last five years, as well as brilliantly managing the balance between commerciality and conservation.