Increase Revenue.
Elevate Visitor Experience.
Strengthen Your Mission.

Visitor Services and Retail Strategy Designed for
Museums and Cultural Institutions

A museum’s front-of-house experience should extend the organization’s mission while strengthening visitor engagement and financial stability. I partner with museums and cultural centers to improve visitor services, streamline operations, and build purposeful, dynamic, revenue-positive retail and on-site experiences.

Get in Touch

“I have spent three decades helping museums create clear operations, confident staff, and mission aligned retail spaces.

I am a proud member of the Chickasaw Nation and enjoy working with Native tribes and Indigenous cultural organizations across the United States and Canada with cultural respect and understanding.”

- Jin Jo Garton

My Approach

I use a customer-first method built around four core pillars of museum visitor services and retail success:

  • Visitor Engagement

  • Mission Alignment

  • Product Relevance

  • Operational Efficiency

Every project begins with understanding your visitors, your goals, and the unique story your institution wants to share.

I collaborate closely with your team to develop a retail strategy that feels authentic, culturally respectful, and financially sustainable. The result is a museum store that enhances the visitor experience, supports your mission, and performs with consistency.

Museum Front-of-House Operations

  • Customer service systems and visitor engagement training

  • Retail staff hiring and training

  • Point-of-Sale and back-of-house setup

  • E-commerce planning and implementation

  • Open-to-Buy budgeting

  • UBIT tax and copyright guidance

Product Selection and Merchandising

  • Professional product sourcing through trade shows and gift markets

  • Ongoing buying aligned with mission, goals, and budget

  • Vendor identification and relationship building

  • Custom product development and licensing

  • Visual merchandising and display strategy

New Store Development & Existing Store Improvement

  • Store layout and fixture design

  • Custom or prefabricated fixture recommendations

  • Lighting plans

  • Visitor audience identification

  • Initial buying plans and inventory build-out

  • Retail branding and policy creation

Testimonials

  • "Jin is one colleague who uniquely stands out. I was immediately impressed with her knowledge of retail management, merchandise planning, and product development which far exceeds that of many of her peers. Jin is a joy to work with because of her amazingly positive attitude and can do spirit!"

    Susan Tudor
    President Of The Board Of Directors, Museum Store Association

  • “Under Jin's direction, the museum store sales increased tenfold. She is a human dynamo of energy and ideas. She does not ruminate about what should be done; she does it. She has won several performance awards at OU, both for her store and for her own accomplishments. She is the ultimate can-do personality.”

    Michael Mares, Ph.D.
    Director Emeritus, Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

  • “Working with Jin Jo has made connecting with Native American people & various Tribal communities much easier. To have her as a cultural connection and person who advocates for museums, artists and Native communities helps simplify conversations that may not have always been a clear path. She knows what museums need, and she knows how to reach out to a vast array of different Tribal affiliations. Our museum opening was a success due to her. I recommend her highly.”

    Kelli Davis
    Manager of Retail and Visitor Services, Agua Caliente Cultural Museum

  • “I cannot even begin to express my gratitude for Jin Jo Museum Consulting and what she has helped us accomplish for our retail store in a very short amount of time! Jin assisted us in obtaining unique products that are flying off of the shelves. Our increased retail revenue is a direct reflection of us working with Jin Jo Museum Consulting. She has been a life-saver for our institution!”

    Nicole Armitage
    Past Director of Operations, Oklahoma Contemporary

  • "Jin Jo did outstanding work for the Peoria Riverfront Museum Store during a period of transition and growth. She helped us strengthen daily operations while also shaping a clear strategic vision for the store and our broader visitor services culture. Her creativity and flexibility allowed us to reimagine the store layout, improve our merchandise approach, and support everything from fixture design to hands on implementation. As a result, the Museum Store increased sales and built a loyal customer base. Jin Jo is a valuable asset to any museum team."

    Kate Schureman
    Past President, Museum Store Associaiton

  • "During the opening of our Latin American exhibit at The Walters Art Museum, Jin Jo and Jinjo Museum Consulting provided invaluable expertise in vendor relations, product selection, and sales strategy. Her guidance elevated our store offerings, ensuring they aligned with the exhibition while creating lasting value for the Museum. Jin Jo is knowledgeable, professional, and a true partner in the museum retail field. Her strong relationships with vendors and sales representatives helped strengthen our retail operations, and her insights continue to benefit the Walters Art Museum."

    Tyree Coleman
    Store Manager and Buyer at The Walters Art Museum

Client Highlights:

I’ve had the privilege of partnering with museums and cultural institutions including:

Let’s talk

I’d love to learn more about your institution and how I can support your visitor experience and retail goals. If you’re interested in exploring a partnership or would like more information, please reach out.