Virtual Tourists
- Posted by Steve on August 16th, 2007 filed in Retail, Tourism and travel
A recent comment from “C” on a post from last month regarding a high-quality handicraft store in Sibiu that would also sell on line:
“Without direct foreign tourists coming to the shop it doesn´t work. How many suvenirs from everywhere in this world did you order via internet? Locals have enough, and buying local craft is really “localâ€, since other stuff you already bought at other stations of your tour or you will do so. The pleasure is the local buying. Plus there are more different shaped things where the stuff is crafted.”
I definitely agree that when the tourists are in the location…they are inspired and in the right mindset to buy that which they might normally not buy. This is, of course, the most opportune time for a sale. Many museums know this very well and have a healthy business having you exit right through the museum store for this same reason.
I would add, however, that many museums also do a healthy business in their online stores. I can order items form the Norton Simon store (even if it a little old school when it comes to the ordering process) from my hometown. The Art Institute of Chicago has both a “brick and mortar” store as you exit and a website selling around the world.
Take a look at eBay as well, searching “Romanian”. Going through the offerings and bid prices shows international interest in collectibles, handicrafts, and other things.
What this is really about is that it is possible now for people to be virtual tourists - gathering information, seeing pictures (in great detail, in three dimensions, from google maps, and other view points) stimulating the urge to buy something “local”. This could also lead to a fair degree of deception, however, if you are able to buy your “I climbed Mount Everest” t-shirt online versus at the tourist shop at the summit or… beguiling friends with stories and artifacts of your retracing of Marco Polo’s route when you really never left your parents’ house.
What do you think? Are the items listed on eBay a good representation of the likely best sellers? Is there appeal beyond for collectibles beyond visiting tourists?
Picture from Palmasco on Flickr.com.
Written by Steve
August 18th, 2007 at 9:52 am
Hi there.
I agree with the fact that if you are a huge museum, especially when known for its quality, you may visit it online, and order some stuff. This holds true for more big galleries then the her named, but def not for the “high-quality handicraft store in Sibiu”.
Because the further you go away from a spot, the awareness and knowledge disappears. You need to rise some interest. Take France, Spain, US. There are so many distinct districts, all with specific stuff made there. Handmade products from there are so distinct, yet noone is searching for them for no reason. Buying while there, yes.
There is no exchange either. Like philatelists do. Send some stuff, receive some stuff - wich can keep the costs on local levels.
Ebay is no real argument for this topic. First, everybody can put something online. Wich makes the search getting a lot of “results”. Wich is ok as indicator for people willing to sell. Not so for the amount of people willing to buy.
Then, naming ebay as argument when discussing the openeing of an real store is not good. Since a store is real. And you have all costs - people, product, storage, advertising and more. Even low rate like in Romania. Wich you still cannot compare with ebay. Plus, you need no face time in the store. Check mail and deliver. Ok, the argument Sibiu is european cultural capital. Pulling some turists in. But the end is in sight.
And one of the heavy arguments is the taste. Shapes colours materials they differ a lot to what your lifestyle is.
You buy stuff you find or like. Most of that you will never use, exhibit in your home environment. Just put it in boxes as soon you get back from vacations. At least you used/weared it while you where there. But ordering it straight for the box? Don´t think so. Some will do, but not enough for a business. And as a gift, you go secure with wine and flowers.
A known museum is once more different, as it has paintings and a lot of other stuff wich goes under general accepted culture.
Your examples come from the us. Great but normal. How many local craft stuff did you order from let´s say Lithuania, Mongolia or Soweto? Just for fun?
My turn to ask a question. Why is it that Wal Mart did not buy tons of romanian handycraft stuff to sell it across the us? Or thailands elephants or Kuwaits camels wich they carve out of everything? Or Ikea, wich produces worldwide, thus having an huge insight to local crafts?
My answers for the last two questions are: no and no.
For the second, i would add a maybe. If i am collecting some specific stuff then i will care to get it. But again, i would go local to choose carefully what i buy instead of beeing content with what was packaged for me. Also, as stated earlier, beyond the shop programm, there would be a lot more stuff to discover since that offer is not bound to immediat economic calculations or bestsellers.
August 18th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
[...] “C” posted some comments on Thursday’s post where I suggested there is an opportunity beyond local tourists to sell “local” items… [...]