Exeter's RAMM could get a gift shop

Been to Exeter, visited the Museum...... got the t-shirt?

Visitors to Exeter's Royal Albert Memorial Museum might soon be able to boast just that as the City Council, who run the award-winning attraction are looking at the possibility of installing a gift shop inside.

The Museum in Queen Street hasn't had a shop for years - RAMM had one before the refurbishment but since reopening, browsing and buying opportunities have been limited to items such as guide books, badges, pencils soft toys and postcards sold from wheeled stands in the garden entrance reception area.

However, according to Cllr Rosie Denham, Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, Museum staff are constantly asked if there is a proper shop.

"So many of our visitors ask whether we have a shop because they want to take away a souvenir from their visit. Previous experience has shown that many museum shops don't make sufficient money to be able to justify keeping them open but we believe we have found a model that could bring in sufficient funds to help pay for the facility. It's something we just can't ignore!"

Members of the City Council's Executive will be asked to back a report calling for £68,000 to help set up a shop with a wider range of products, at a meeting on 17 March. If given the go-ahead, the shop is expected to pay back its initial set-up costs within 21 months of operation.