Discovering the Magic of MSA in Las Vegas

January 30, 2017

By Allison Ebner

It happens to everyone: You’re looking at something on paper and everything makes sense. Then, when you finally get to see it in action, you’re met with an overwhelming sense of clarity. You didn’t even know something was missing, and yet, everything you’ve been working on makes even more sense in practice.

That’s what happened to me last weekend at the Western Chapter meeting and Las Vegas Market.

When I started working at Museum Store Association’s Headquarters in October, I dove right in. It has been four months of nearly complete immersion in all things MSA, but it was just last week that I realized the critical aspect that makes MSA so unique: the relationships that come from it.

I knew from the Board of Directors and from moderating ShopTalk that MSA is a close-knit group always willing to help one another—but in Vegas, I experienced it firsthand.

In my four months with MSA, I’ve had the opportunity to connect with many members (and prospective members) via emails, phone calls and conference calls.  In Vegas, I had the great fortune to meet several of those individuals face to face. (I was genuinely excited to look down at someone’s badge and see a familiar name to put with a new face.)

I also had the opportunity to foster conversations and connections with members who I had not yet had the occasion to interact with. To hear about their institutions and companies. To get their feedback on MSA. To see their passion for what they do.

And we had plenty of opportunity to engage with and learn from one another.

The Western Chapter Meeting included chapter business, educational sessions, vendor member displays, product show-and-tells, and receptions at nearby museums. The MSA networking breakfast wrapped up the meeting—and kicked off Las Vegas Market, where there was also the docent tour led by MSA member Patricia Sampson and an MSA cocktail reception.

In a world where technology advances so quickly—where everything can be done digitally or remotely—it was invaluable to connect with these individuals who I had only spoken with through email or telephone in the same room.

Much like museum retail itself, for MSA, there is incredible value in the personal connection.

That’s not to say connections can only be fostered in person. That’s partially why ShopTalk is such an asset. It functions as an online room that all MSA members can enter. It exemplifies what MSA is: a group of individuals who are so incredibly passionate about the museum retail industry that they do all they can to support it—asking questions and sharing insight to better museum stores on a widespread level and a store-to-store basis.

But if at all possible, I would encourage you to leave the digital sphere for a moment and join your peers in person (whether it be at a chapter meeting, a networking reception, a regional trade show, MSA Forward 2017 or all of the above).

The in-person experience was invaluable to me—I can only imagine the impact it must have on someone from within the industry. The impact it will have on you.

With that said, there are a few specific people to recognize for making this happen:

• Thank you to Carrie Santell, Teishia Mathews and Mike Silverman, the Western Chapter president, vice president and secretary, for hosting a great meeting—and inviting MSA’s Executive Director, Jason Harbonic, and I out for it.
• Thank you to MSA’s President Stuart Hata for turning us into honorary museum store buyers as he toured us around the Market showrooms, and Vendor Member Advisor Paul Stewart-Stand for keeping us attuned to the vendor perspective.
• Another very special thank you to International Market Centers (the company behind Las Vegas Market), especially Sarah Jones and Angelia Singleton, for all of their support in bringing MSA to Las Vegas Market.
• And, perhaps most importantly, thanks to every single MSA member for your passion for, support of, and involvement in the industry and the association. The word “inspiring” is an understatement.

I can’t wait to meet more of you (and reconnect with those of you I’ve now had the wonderful opportunity to meet) at the MSA/NY NOW Networking Reception—and, of course, at MSA Forward 2017, our annual Conference & Expo, which comes to Pittsburgh, PA, from April 21 to 24.

Will I see you there? I hope your answer is yes!

Allison Ebner is the Associate Director, Marketing and Communications, for Museum Store Association.