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Opening a museum

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Thought I would create an account and join in this "banter" since I have few mins to kill - and no i don't want to meet up and meet up and share and co-promote! - I am of the position this is a troll thread but if not then the idea as it stands is a non starter for reasons that i will explain :)

 

1) Having been to many specialist museums in britain and europe and further afield I will say that a rolling pin museum is too specialist and niche to attract an audience of the size that you expect - 200 visitors a day average over the year isn't going to happen. In your current location you may get 20 IF you are lucky..

2) that brings me on to location. Who is the demographic of tourists that visit Thorpe Hesley? What is there? Almost nobody would go to Thorpe Hesly or wherever to specifically vsiit a rolling pin museul so there must be some other stuff that people will go to anyway and may *incidentally* decide to checks your out because "it kinda looks quirky" and a nice way to spend half an hour.

3) Have you done proper reasearch? Go on tripadvisor there is a list of most museums in towns and cities throughout the world... my advice phone up some of the more quirky specialist ones and have a chat with them if you are really serious about doing this. Some questions that spring to mind - are they self funding, do they rely on grants, how about visitor numbers? then check what else there is for tourists to do in that city. (hint even non specilist museums almost none pay for themselves and rely on the generosity of their owner or grants or other methods of funding) it is a hobby not a business.

4) back to location - i have been to a herring museum on the north coast of iceland (really!) - which without wanting to sound insulting is about the same sort of location as thorpe hesley in terms of visitor numbers :) they opened the museum specially on the day for us to go in and look around. it had been put together at considerable (i assume government) cost , typical numbers of visitors to that place you could count on one hand and that is in august.

5) i could go on but my few minutes are up now.. good luck, with proper business plan you will see this will be a bit of a non starter. all the best, it is your money you'll be losing :)

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Thought I would create an account and join in this "banter" since I have few mins to kill - and no i don't want to meet up and meet up and share and co-promote! - I am of the position this is a troll thread but if not then the idea as it stands is a non starter for reasons that i will explain :)

 

1) Having been to many specialist museums in britain and europe and further afield I will say that a rolling pin museum is too specialist and niche to attract an audience of the size that you expect - 200 visitors a day average over the year isn't going to happen. In your current location you may get 20 IF you are lucky..

2) that brings me on to location. Who is the demographic of tourists that visit Thorpe Hesley? What is there? Almost nobody would go to Thorpe Hesly or wherever to specifically vsiit a rolling pin museul so there must be some other stuff that people will go to anyway and may *incidentally* decide to checks your out because "it kinda looks quirky" and a nice way to spend half an hour.

3) Have you done proper reasearch? Go on tripadvisor there is a list of most museums in towns and cities throughout the world... my advice phone up some of the more quirky specialist ones and have a chat with them if you are really serious about doing this. Some questions that spring to mind - are they self funding, do they rely on grants, how about visitor numbers? then check what else there is for tourists to do in that city. (hint even non specilist museums almost none pay for themselves and rely on the generosity of their owner or grants or other methods of funding) it is a hobby not a business.

4) back to location - i have been to a herring museum on the north coast of iceland (really!) - which without wanting to sound insulting is about the same sort of location as thorpe hesley in terms of visitor numbers :) they opened the museum specially on the day for us to go in and look around. it had been put together at considerable (i assume government) cost , typical numbers of visitors to that place you could count on one hand and that is in august.

5) i could go on but my few minutes are up now.. good luck, with proper business plan you will see this will be a bit of a non starter. all the best, it is your money you'll be losing :)

 

 

Thank you for the reply I will respond to your points

 

1 and 2 disagree re the numbers and location. I intend to link up with schools from local authorities in sheffield rotherham and barnsley. Thorpe Hesley borders the three authorities so ....perfect. In addition close to motorway so I can put some of those brown signs up. Close to Elsecar heritage centre for passing trade as well as grange golf course on Wortley rd so I imagine a fair few golfers will pop in.

 

3 yes spent 2 weeks in Devon and Cornwall including a lot of time at barometer world. This is mentioned in previous posts if thread has been read.

 

4 government funding would be great but it is increasingly competitive and hard to get. I see this as a project to build. If I build they will come and in turn success will attract opportunities to demonstrate value in funding applications.

 

5 proper business plan in place. I have alluded to the numbers so many seemed blinkered to through prejudice. It is my money to lose or invest. It is. My passion and I will be rolling out my plans next year! Pardon the pun

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Have thought about renting a space at a Wentworth or Elscar both have history of attracting footfall for niche markets . Both new and historic shops seem to get a good amount of exposure . My concern is rolling pins by there very nature take up a large amount of space and require special fixtures to display . Can i ask how many you have in your collection to display ? ( Could i suggest a create your own rolling pin as a way of generating income)

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Come on now..."Right then kids, where would you like to go today? The Yorkshire wildlife park or rolling pin world?... erm no brainier really. Come on this I'd ridiculously silly, isn't it?

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Come on now..."Right then kids, where would you like to go today? The Yorkshire wildlife park or rolling pin world?... erm no brainier really. Come on this I'd ridiculously silly, isn't it?

 

You will not be thinking that when the coaches start rolling in :hihi::hihi:

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Come on now..."Right then kids, where would you like to go today? The Yorkshire wildlife park or rolling pin world?... erm no brainier really. Come on this I'd ridiculously silly, isn't it?

 

It is my belief that baking is hugely interesting to children look at GBBO success on TV.

Children don't get to bake in schools as much nowadays.

 

It is my beilef children will be mesmerise by the phenominal range if effects that can be achieved through kitchen hand utensils.

 

 

 

Also why does it have to be wildlife park or my museum. Why not both at different points in the year. I don't imagine the wildlife park does well on rainy days like today

 

---------- Post added 16-10-2016 at 11:29 ----------

 

Have thought about renting a space at a Wentworth or Elscar both have history of attracting footfall for niche markets . Both new and historic shops seem to get a good amount of exposure . My concern is rolling pins by there very nature take up a large amount of space and require special fixtures to display . Can i ask how many you have in your collection to display ? ( Could i suggest a create your own rolling pin as a way of generating income)

 

Rolling pins do take up some room I agree particular as I want people to be able to view the full intricate circumference of a pinnie.

I have a number of wooden, plastic, metal and composite material pins.

 

Would you like a breakdown by category or just total?

 

---------- Post added 16-10-2016 at 11:30 ----------

 

You will not be thinking that when the coaches start rolling in :hihi::hihi:

 

 

do you have any constructive points on footfall and advertising as I requested?

Edited by Gmeow

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It is my belief that baking is hugely interesting to children look at GBBO success on TV.

Children don't get to bake in schools as much nowadays.

 

It is my beilef children will be mesmerise by the phenominal range if effects that can be achieved through kitchen hand utensils.

 

 

 

Also why does it have to be wildlife park or my museum. Why not both at different points in the year. I don't imagine the wildlife park does well on rainy days like today

 

---------- Post added 16-10-2016 at 11:29 ----------

 

 

Rolling pins do take up some room I agree particular as I want people to be able to view the full intricate circumference of a pinnie.

I have a number of wooden, plastic, metal and composite material pins.

 

Would you like a breakdown by category or just total?

 

---------- Post added 16-10-2016 at 11:30 ----------

 

 

 

do you have any constructive points on footfall and advertising as I requested?

 

:hihi: Yes get the council to put some direction signs up and some near the M1 to help the flow of traffic,:hihi::hihi::loopy:

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:hihi: Yes get the council to put some direction signs up and some near the M1 to help the flow of traffic,:hihi::hihi::loopy:

 

Well with Thorpe Hesley ...m1 j35 35a and 36 are good

 

So perhaps brown signs at different junctions from different directions e.g j36 from North, 35 and 36 from South

 

I have thought a lot before deciding on Thorpe hesley

 

Do you have anything else to offer?

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I've kept back from commenting on this thread before now because I still think its a wind up

But all I can say Gmeow is expect to lose every penny that you put into this venture and more if leases on property is involved.

You may get good media coverage when you open...but more on the lines of "here's a woman who'se put her life savings into opening a rolling pin museum in Thorpe Hesley"

(Forgive me if you are male)

I really cant imagine you will get enough paying guests a day to cover your expenses

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It is my belief that baking is hugely interesting to children look at GBBO success on TV.

Children don't get to bake in schools as much nowadays.

 

It is my beilef children will be mesmerise by the phenominal range if effects that can be achieved through kitchen hand utensils.

 

 

 

Also why does it have to be wildlife park or my museum. Why not both at different points in the year. I don't imagine the wildlife park does well on rainy days like today

 

---------- Post added 16-10-2016 at 11:29 ----------

 

 

Rolling pins do take up some room I agree particular as I want people to be able to view the full intricate circumference of a pinnie.

I have a number of wooden, plastic, metal and composite material pins.

 

Would you like a breakdown by category or just total?

 

---------- Post added 16-10-2016 at 11:30 ----------

 

 

 

do you have any constructive points on footfall and advertising as I requested?

 

Yes home economics in primary schools is not high up on the governments list when it comes to the national curriculum.

Also as a parent I can teach my children the cookery and budgeting lessons I was taught from my parents and grandparents. Which leads me on to the fact that when I take them out I want value for money not a waste of money.

And as for the weather, we are in Britain... it rains and we can look back and say remember the time it threw it down at the wild life park but hey we had so much fun and spent some time learning about the wildlife. If we want to learn about pieces of wood i.e. Rolling pins we go to the woods and pick up sticks and guess what... we have fun.

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Yes home economics in primary schools is not high up on the governments list when it comes to the national curriculum.

Also as a parent I can teach my children the cookery and budgeting lessons I was taught from my parents and grandparents. Which leads me on to the fact that when I take them out I want value for money not a waste of money.

And as for the weather, we are in Britain... it rains and we can look back and say remember the time it threw it down at the wild life park but hey we had so much fun and spent some time learning about the wildlife. If we want to learn about pieces of wood i.e. Rolling pins we go to the woods and pick up sticks and guess what... we have fun.

You have no fore sight and for the sake of investing a few thousand pounds you will be sorry ./ Oh the faint hearted dont miss your chance tight wad :hihi:

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Great meeting tonight with 7 attendees. 1 from the forum has supported through advice and promotional materials.

 

One very interesting idea that has been developed is to try and link up with local golf clubs in the area to develop nearest the pin events and develop a link up. An event with a wooden spoon for last place and an engraved pin as a prize. The view to co promote two pin based businesses. Museum visitors can get golf discounts. Golfers can be signposted to the museum and get possible discounts.

 

Potentially a school trip trip....twin pins ....1/2 day golf taster 1/2 day museum. Adding 2 dynamic activities to the school curriculum.

 

Pardon the pun.....but we are on a roll!

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