Claire Campbell & Monica McKean

We are a Melbourne-based duo who have worked together in museum retail for over 20 years collectively. Our extensive experience in product development and merchandising has given us an understanding of the complex elements that exist throughout the cultural sector.

Our distinction with Culture Box is providing quality over quantity, offering clients small product runs and keeping manufacturing local and within Australia wherever possible.

We value connecting people to their passion for the arts and culture. When visitors exit through the gift shop we view it as an extension of the visitor experience, carrying a strong intent to support and connect with a space they love and enjoy.

In collaboration with clients, we aim to create unique custom merchandise in support of brands and exhibitions, that will have relevance for years to come.

OUR SERVICES

WE DEVELOP CUSTOM MERCHANDISE FOR KEEPS

Our purpose is to develop unique custom products which speak of design integrity and form a connection to your audience. At Culture Box, we are foremost interested in understanding your brand and purpose to ensure the product speaks in the same way.

We recognise that a purchase at the gift shop is not the final stop. Instead, it is an extension of the visitor experience carrying a strong intent to support and connect with a space loved and enjoyed. We aim to create products which will have relevance for years to come.

WE CREATE PRODUCTS AND MORE

Our website showcases the core product offering, which can be customised to best reflect your branding, key image and concept. In addition to the product itself, we ensure your brand is celebrated in the most prominent way with our range of packaging and labelling options.

Our offering is not limited to our core range. If you have a particular idea in mind, we can work with our committed team of designers and manufacturers to make your idea happen.

WE PROVIDE CONSULTATION SERVICES

We have a team of skilled creatives with a collective background in graphic design, merchandising, product development, art history and practice, sales and logistics. We provide consultation focusing on a custom range which best reflects your brand, as well as supportive product mixes and concepts on how to best execute and deliver.

01 COMMUNICATION

For your audience, we combine research, knowledge, experience and understanding to define the right strategy, identifying new ways to position your brand and communicate to your audience through carefully curated products.

For you, we ensure that key and critical information is shared in a timely fashion. Developing and delivering information in multi modes that demonstrate the needs of different audiences is key alongside employing constructive dialogue to assist in consolidating ideas and ensuring best outcome.

03 PROJECT MANAGEMENT

Our experience in project management implements strategies and content plans to manage the entire process.

We can utilise shared platforms to ensure everyone is on the same page. Our long standing relationships with our manufacturers enable you to focus on the end product. Familiar with project and exhibition schedules, we can help your organisation achieve more by being on brand, on brief and on time.

05 PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Creating products is at the heart of what we do. From concept to execution and everything in between, we work with our dedicated team of designers and manufacturers to make your idea a reality. We offer a sound understanding of museum best practices and experience in copyright laws and image use. We also understand the importance of managing key stakeholders along the way.

02 DESIGN

Our thought driven approach to product design aims to create unique custom merchandise in support of brands and exhibitions that will have relevance for years to come. More than the simple notion of image on product, we draw on skills and experience from a diverse range of creative and production industries to help meet the expectations of your brand and audience.

04 CONSULTATION

We treat every project with energy and passion and will be as involved in the process as required. From simple re-orders to an entire curated range of products, we help to support your vision with well researched ideas. Problem-solving and critical thinking go hand in hand as we apply this to projects alongside familiarity with local and global trends.

06 SUSTAINABILITY

As a Melbourne based small business, we know what talent lies in our neighbourhood. We look first to partner with local manufacturers to produce quality and unique merchandise to help your organisation. We keep manufacturing local wherever possible and offer one of the lowest minimum order quantities in the industry.

BENEFITS OF PRODUCING EXCLUSIVE MERCHANDISE

PROMOTES YOUR INSTITUTION

Your customers quickly learn, if they want the product, they only have one way to get it – through interaction with you, either in-store or online. What better way than to create a tangible connection and reminder of your brand. A practical or aesthetic piece of your brand which they can enjoy everyday.

INCREASES REVENUE

Attached to your product is a powerful thing - exclusivity. More importantly this then translates to sales. In a world filled with remakes and knock-offs, your product exists as unique and exclusive to you which is both enticing and profitable. We’ve seen time and time again, a boost in in-store and online revenue as a result of offering products which proudly promote your organisation.

GREATER MARGINS

If you are the only retailer marketing your brand, you have pricing flexibility relative to a more competitive situation.

CUSTOMER LOYALTY

Once you attract customers you can leverage your exclusivity to develop loyal relationships. Loyalty is the ultimate in retail. A loyal relationship means a customer has an emotional attachment to your business; and makes purpose driven, feel-good purchases.

GREATER BRAND AWARENESS

Providing exclusive retail content with consistent messages will help build your brand's image and reputation, reinforcing it over time. By highlighting these product attributes through social media and public relations means communicating directly to your target market.

STOCK CONTROL

Most suppliers require an overall monetary commitment as well as having to commit to excessive volumes of individual stock items which arrive all at once and need to be managed and stored. Instead you can maintain a better sense of flow as stock comes in and out of your store in manageable quantities.