Vendor Membership
We’re All Members
MSA believes that everyone who supports this organization should benefit from their association with it. A membership package for vendors, consultants and other commercial supporters is now available that offers members-only website access and new opportunities to connect with the MSA nonprofit retail community through chapter membership, networking receptions, board participation and visibility at regional trade shows.
MSA is focused on creating increased visibility for vendor members on our website with the goal of making vendor membership even more valuable. There’s an MSA vendors page that will be updated with photos and content, we’ll be posting Museum Store magazine Buyer’s Guide product photos on the site and social media, inviting vendors to contribute to the MSA blog, and creating new opportunities for vendors at events.
Annual vendor membership is $350. Through your membership, you become a trusted business source for nonprofit retail professionals across the globe while MSA promotes you to this distinct community.
If you have more than one individual interested in MSA vendor membership at your company, we also offer a separate price for additional vendor members, $165/additional person.
Aspects of the Application:
MSA’s vendor member application is a quick, online form that will require the applicant’s contact information, a series of short-answer questions, as well as two letters of reference from nonprofit cultural retail stores.
What qualifies as a letter of reference?
The applicant’s references must come from nonprofit cultural retail stores who are current or recent customers (within the last 36 months) that have purchased products from the company for sale in their nonprofit cultural retail store(s). Such references need only confirm that the institution has purchased products from the applicant for sale in their nonprofit cultural retail stores and that the institution recommends the vendor for membership in MSA; no additional sales data or testimonials are required. References can be in the following form:
- A letter written on institution letterhead and signed by the buyer contact.
- An email sent directly from the institution to MSA headquarters staff confirming purchase of the applicant’s product.
- Alternatively, applicants can provide MSA headquarters staff with the details of the references (institution name, buyer name, and buyer phone and/or email) and staff will contact the buyer to confirm the reference. Please email info@museumstoreassociation.org to provide reference contact information.
What if applicants are unable to provide such references?
In the absence of references, applicants may be approved for membership if their product line(s) are determined by the MSA Membership Committee* to be relevant for the nonprofit retail environment.
*The Membership Committee consists of institution and vendors; vendors on the committee will have an opportunity to provide input but will not have a formal vote.
Questions?
(202) 367-1106
Email MSA
We’ve updated our application process! Please make sure to review the Aspects of the Application section prior to starting your application.
To join as an additional vendor member, please complete this application.
To qualify for an additional vendor membership, your company must be a member in good standing.
MSA’s Trusted Business Partners
MSA vendors support the association in many ways. Their participation in MSA enables museum store buyers to connect and do business with trusted business partners. MSA vendors come in all shapes and sizes, from family-owned businesses to artisans, custom product developers, store operations providers, suppliers and consultants. As varied as MSA vendors are, they all have one thing in common: They love museum stores. MSA provides both museum store buyers and vendors a platform to connect in this distinctive industry–buyers don’t have to look far, and vendors have access to this unique target audience.
MSA Vendor Products
Jewelry
Accessories
Souvenirs
Books
Games and toys
Custom Products
Apparel
Reproductions
Paper Products
Food and candy
Multimedia
And much more!
Connect with MSA Vendors
ShopTalk (members only)
Networking events
MSA Member Directory (members only)
Museum Store magazine (members only)
Referrals from museum store friends