Temporary exhibitions offer attractions a chance to refresh their storytelling, boost visitor engagement, and generate renewed interest, but they also open the door to a powerful retail opportunity.
Designing a short-term merchandise range that aligns with an exhibition not only enhances the visitor experience, but it can also deliver a strong return on investment. The key? Fast, focused product development with clear purpose and minimal waste.
At The Souvenir Collection, we work with leading museums and heritage sites to create agile, low-risk merchandise collections that complement exhibitions, whether they last six weeks or six months. Here’s how to get it right.
Start with the Story
Every great exhibition begins with a theme, and your merchandise should reflect it. But that doesn’t mean simply adding a logo to a mug. The most successful collections are:
Narrative-led: Inspired by the exhibition’s visuals, colours, quotes or central artefacts.
Emotionally resonant: Products that spark curiosity or sentiment long after the visit ends.
Designed to stand alone: Items that appeal to both visitors and gift buyers, even outside the context of the exhibition.
Work with your curatorial or marketing team to identify the visual language of the display. Is it bold and contemporary? Vintage and archival? This will influence product choices, typography, and colour palettes.
Pick Products That Sell Quickly and Display Well
For short-term ranges, every inch of shelf space counts. Choose items that:
Turn over quickly (lower price points, small footprint)
Allow for batch branding (same artwork across multiple formats)
Make great gifts (functional or collectable)
Top product picks for exhibition launches include:
Notebooks with custom cover illustrations or historical references
Tote bags with headline artwork or campaign quotes
Pencils and pens featuring exhibit dates or artefact sketches
Drinkware with limited-edition graphics
Keyrings or pin badges using exhibition typography or symbols
All of these can be designed, printed and delivered within days, not weeks, using The Souvenir Collection’s in-house production and finishing.
Low MOQS Mean High Flexibility
One of the biggest challenges for exhibition retailing is risk: what if it doesn’t sell?
With The Souvenir Collection’s low minimum order quantities (as low as 10 units), you can test product ideas without overcommitting. This allows you to:
Trial new product types or artwork styles
Refresh designs midway through a long exhibition
Quickly restock bestselling items without disruption
Short runs and fast reordering are especially useful when you’re managing tight timelines or exhibition-specific budgets.
Design for Display and Cross-Sell
Short-term retail space needs to work hard. We recommend:
Colour coordination across products for strong visual impact
Shelf talkers or signage linking products to exhibit items
Product bundles like “Exhibition Stationery Sets” or “Tea Break Packs”
Our team can help design cohesive merchandising displays that highlight the exclusivity of the exhibition range and encourage multi-item purchases.
Add an Online Extension for Post-Visit Purchases
With support from our sister company Merchr, you can also create a branded online store for your exhibition range, ideal for:
Visitors who didn’t want to carry items on the day
Remote audiences engaging with the exhibition digitally
Extending the shelf life of the product range beyond the gallery walls
This also opens the door for personalisation, adding names, dates or exhibit references to products after the visit.
Plan Smart, Sell Fast, Leave an Impression
An exhibition might be temporary, but the memories and the revenue can last much longer. With fast turnaround, small batch capability, and expert design support, The Souvenir Collection helps attractions bring short-term stories to life through beautiful, meaningful merchandise.
Get in touch today to start planning your next exhibition collection and turn every limited-time event into a retail success.
