[BCMA] Fw: Gift shop items - what sells these days?

[Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv]

Hi,

Brenda from the Canadian Museum of Flight here. We have a smallish gift shop and a very narrow focus for the items we carry (aviation only) but I'll share what I have 🙂. I try to keep to the Canadian suppliers and distributors.

Toys: good quality die cast or wood toys from toddler to teen (and beyond). I watch the kids at events and airshows to see what they are interested in. I also find that items involving STEM or 'making' are very popular with parents and grandparents who don't want just another toy in the house.

T-shirts (adult, women, youth, toddler), caps, canvas shoulder bags. Pins, key chains, playing cards.

We also have a section to sell donations that are not accessed into our collection. We do let the donor know that there is a possibility that their item will be sold and let them decide whether to continue with the donation. It's historical thrifting.

This year we are hoping to introduce some higher end merchandise into the mix while keeping prices reasonable but profitable - still figuring it out.

Here are my suppliers that do more than airplane stuff:

Puce Creek Hobby - Mark Levin

  *
Has a wide collection of train pins and toys, also books

242 Applewood Crescent - Unit 6
Concord, Ontario  L4K 4E5
Phone: 905 761-1919
Canada Toll Free:  1-855-2774229
Email:  info at pucecreek.com

Toyland Company

  *
So many well priced toys - minimum $250 order

17670 65A Ave #101
Surrey, BC V3S 5N4
📞 1-800-668-6388 (Toll Free)
📞 1-604-876-5432
Customerservice at toylandcompany.ca

Red Canoe Brands

  *
Canadiana in high quality clothing, bags and caps

2989 Dundas St. W
Toronto, ON M6P 1Z4
Phone: 1 (866) 448-1271 est
Email: info at redcanoebrands.com
Fax: 416 205 9277
Customer Service
Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm est.

Pathfinders Design & Technology

  *
STEM - Build cool catapults and other fun stuff

925 Clapham Drive
Victoria BC
V9C 4G5
ph. 250 478 2677
Enquiries/Orders to:
derekwulff at pathfindersdesignandtechnology.com<mailto:derekwulff at pathfindersdesignandtechnology.com>

Autruche - I get my Metal Earth models here

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 ·BC mainland- Sharon Newby snewby at shaw.ca
·BC Island- Tom Lietaer tlietaer at shaw.ca

Address: C.P. 11 - Succ. Bureau-Chef, Varennes (QC) Canada J3X 1P9
Phone: 1 (877) 354-2020
Email: info at autruche.ca

I haven't ordered from Soft Stuff Creations yet, but I have seen their stuff(ies) and they are very good quality.
19353 22nd Ave,
Unit 105 Surrey, BC
V3Z 3S6
Phone: 778-291-1841
Phone: 888-228-5001
Fax: 778-294-2009
https://softstuffcreations.com/

Have a fabulous day!

Brenda
________________________________
From: Jeff Chenatte <jeffc at canadianmuseumofflight.ca>
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2026 11:07 AM
To: Brenda Radstaak <info at canadianflight.org>; Info (Brenda) <info at canadianmuseumofflight.ca>
Subject: Fw: Gift shop items - what sells these days?

Brick Army Canada

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Building  brick kits. Seriously, just check them out.

https://brickarmy.ca/collections/trains-by-various-manufacturers
Craig at brickarmy.ca
#(604) 229-0185


________________________________
From: Listserv <listserv-bounces at lists.museum.bc.ca> on behalf of Moderated BCMA subscriber listserv <listserv at lists.museum.bc.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2026 12:58 PM
To: Listserv <listserv at lists.museum.bc.ca>
Subject: [BCMA] Gift shop items - what sells these days?

Hello everyone!

I would like to accumulate a list of items that other non-profit museums (or other GLAM establishments) sell in their gift shop that they find popular. We at the POMO Museum are looking to expand our gift shop items, and as I am conducting some research, I would like to know what you all notice at your establishments (if you don't mind sharing).

You can email me back at marketing at pomo.museum, My name is Mattea.

Thank you everyone!
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