What are the names, emails, and phone numbers for the buyers or
managers of all Zoo Gift Shops in North America where the zoos have
primates and/or monkey exhibits?

---

Request for Question Clarification by rainbow-ga on 15 Oct 2002 00:57 PDT

Hi headmonk,
What I found is a site with the listings of all zoos in the US.
Clicking on each one will give you contact information for each zoo.
It doesn't tell whether they have primates and/or giftshops, but most
have a web site. I could give you the complete list of the zoos by
state with contact information if you decide this would be sufficient.
Let me know what you decide, so I can get right on it.
Regards,
rainbow

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Clarification of Question by headmonk-ga on 15 Oct 2002 08:17 PDT

The critical element is the name of the buyer or manager of zoo gift
shop. To have any chance of a successful solicitation one needs that
personal element.

---

Request for Question Clarification by knowledge_seeker-ga on 15 Oct 2002 09:06 PDT

Hi there headmonk!

Ok, I've been researching your question for the last hour or so and
have found that most large zoos, aquariums, and museums do not operate
their own gift shops. Instead they contract other companies to do that
for them. The buyer is not necessarily a manager on-site (at the zoo)
but may be an employee of the contracted company, often located at a
headquarters. I other words, one buyer would be ordering for a variety
of zoos.

I have begun a list of some of the companies that provide such
services. If I can make it fairly comprehensive, is this list
something that you would accept as an answer?

Let me know --

-K~

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Clarification of Question by headmonk-ga on 15 Oct 2002 10:31 PDT

K - Yes, a list of such contacts at the companies that manage the zoo
shops would be sufficient - obviously the more the merrier.  I would
hope that it would include the zoos covered by such companies.

Hi again headmonk,

Alright, I’ve done it! 

The first list below constitutes all of the companies that I could
find that operate gift shops for zoos.

Below that I’ve listed a number of individual gift shop managers and
buyers that I found during my travels online. Finding them one-by-one
that way would be an endless process, but I figured I’d give you a
list to start with.

I also found that there are many companies that specialize in
supplying merchandise to zoo gift shops. I’m assuming you have product
you are trying to market. Another approach would be to market to the
merchandise suppliers. I’ve given you info on a few merchandisers and
a link to a directory of more. Not knowing exactly what your product
is, I wasn’t specific in the kind of merchandise I focused on.

And finally, there are some links at the bottom to other informational
sites I thought might interest you.  The American Zoo & Aquarium
Association is a valuable resource for finding zoos, addresses,
contact people, and other businesses that cater to zoos. I’ve given
you a link to their main site, to their zoo list, and to an article
that seems pertinent to your project.

================================
ZOO CONCESSION MANAGERS
================================

Gerry Ward and Associates

Gerry Ward and Associates
6 Trowbridge Drive
Ridgefield, CT 06804
(203) 797-8818
gwainc@aol.com

Operates gift shops, food concessions and catering at
aquariums/zoos/botanical gardens; offers high percentage of revenues
and significant investment; relieves client of operational
responsibilities and inventory investment; a history of retaining
staff.

* no website but I emailed them for a list of zoos they service. Will
add a clarification to this question if and when they reply.


--------------------------------

Event Network
1010 Turquoise Street
Suite 325
San Diego, CA 92109

“As a turnkey retail solution, we take 100% responsibility for a
partner’s entire retail operation – including purchasing and inventory
management, store personnel, and ongoing store maintenance and
improvements.  Current operations include permanent stores at leading
zoos, aquariums and museums, as well as high-profile traveling exhibit
stores (the traveling exhibits are typically hosted by science,
natural history and art museums).”

Event Network operates permanent stores on behalf of :

John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
Indianapolis Zoo & White River Gardens


EVENT NETWORK
http://www.emerch.com/company_information.htm


-------------------------------

Service Systems Associates, Inc. 
Pavilion at City Park, 2001 Steele St
Denver, CO 80205-5737
(303) 322-3031
FAX: (303) 322-7959
E-Mail: tbrant9278@aol.com

Service Systems Associates is a full-service visitor service operator
that specializes in Zoos and Aquariums. We operate gift shops,
concessions, full-service catering, rides and janitorial. We deliver
higher per capita revenues, design and build facilities, invest
capital dollars and participate in advertising and promotions. SSA is
the leader in the industry, serving over 14 million visitors annually.


ZOOS SERVICED

Denver Zoo
Los Angeles Zoo
Colorado's Ocean Journey
Albuquerque Bio Park
Detroit Zoo
Philadelphia Zoo
San Francisco Zoo
Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium
Oklahoma City Zoo
Honolulu Zoo
Louisville Zoo
Sacramento Zoo
Cheyenne Mountain Zoo
El Paso Zoo
Reid Park Zoo


Also, see their newsletters for announcements regarding placement of
Gift Shop Managers. For example –

“Kim Black is now the Retail Manager at Colorado's Ocean Journey,
replacing Leann Adams-Bobitt. ...The new Gift Shop Manager at COJ is
now Stephanie Miller.”

http://www.kmssa.com/newsletter_content_03_01_06.htm

Other related newsletter announcements –

://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=site:www.kmssa.com+%22gift+shop+manager%22+

SERVICE SYSTEMS ASSOCIATES
http://www.kmssa.com/


--------------------------------------
ARAMARK 

1 Washington Blvd
Detroit, MI 48226-4420
(313) 567-9107
FAX: (313) 567-5501
E-Mail: tazar-paul@aramark.com

ARAMARK hosts millions of families at tourism based facilities
annually, providing public cafes, restaurants, premium dining, retail
merchandise, event planning, lodging, and other hospitality services
at zoos, aquariums, museums, science centers, national and state
parks, forests, resorts and convention centers.


Retail services provided to: 

Riverbanks Zoo : http://www.riverbanks.org/
Roger Williams Park Zoo : http://www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org/
Woodland Park Zoo : http://www.zoo.org/


ARAMARK
http://www.aramark.com/

------------------------------------------

Partners By Design 
4223 Glencoe Ave
Marina Del Ray, CA 90292
(310) 822-3434
FAX: (310) 305-3656
E-Mail: pbd1350@aol.com

President: James Snyder; Vice President: Denise Brenneman; Vice
President: Julie Westfall; Associate: Naomi San Vicente; Associate:
Deborah Randall

Partners By Design is a store planning and design firm experienced in
zoo retail interior design. We handle all aspects of shop design,
including conceptual design, store planning, merchandising,
merchandise development & resourcing, fixture design, specification
and construction drawing production for the complete shop interior.

*no web site



====================================
GIFT SHOP MANAGERS
====================================


It would be an arduous task to find them all this way, but I found a
few gift shop managers by doing a Google search for :

“Gift shop manager” Zoo

ALL GOOGLE RESULTS FOR:  “Gift shop manager” Zoo
://www.google.com/search?q=%22gift+shop+manager%22+zoo&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&start=0&sa=N

---------------------------
Patricia Fenters
Office Manager/Gift Shop Manager
Potawatomi Zoo
Phone: (219) 235-7620
Fax: (219) 235-9080

---------------------------

Friends of Santa Ana Zoo
1801 E Chestnut Ave
Santa Ana, CA 92701-5001
Phone: (714) 953-8555
Fax: (714) 953-7401
Web site: http://www.santaanazoo.org

Gift Shop Manager: Kevin Jackson

------------------------------

Rebecca Moreno.
Gift Shop Manager
Roosevelt Park Zoo, Minot, ND

http://www.aza.org/Publications/2000/01/04.htm
----------------------------

Amber Adams
Gift shop manager
Safari Trading Company at the Chaffee Zoo
http://www.chaffeezoo.org/shop/

-----------------------------

Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
Gift shop manager  - (412) 365-6010

*no name given

http://zoo.pgh.pa.us/generalInfo_visitorServices_giftShops.asp

-------------------------
Norman’s Little River Zoo
Kristina Witter
Gift Shop Manager-Administrative Assistant

http://www.littleriverzoo.com/staff.htm

------------------------

Jackson Zoo
Kathy Byrd – Gift Shop Manager
http://www.jacksonzoo.com/ZooStaff.html

-------------------------

The Topeka Zoo – Friends of the Zoo
Holly Cook, Gift Shop Manager 
hollyc@fotz.org

http://www.fotz.org/staffboard.html

----------------------------
Minnesota Zoo
Mary Bonnabeau – Gift Shop Manager

http://news.mpr.org/features/200110/03_mccalluml_strikeday3/zoo.shtml

----------------------------
Midway Zoo - Florida
Wendy Doenges, gift shop manager

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/archive/business/97/971214bus2.html

-----------------------------

Search for : “Gift shop buyer” zoo:

GOOGLE SEARCH RESULTS For: “Gift shop buyer” zoo:
://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&q=%22gift+shop+buyer%22+zoo

-----------------------------

Seneca Park Zoo

Mary Margaret Ford Retail Operations Manager Gift Shop/Food Service
Manager, Gift Shop Buyer, Facility Rentals (Booking RC, Tent, Deck)
336-7204

http://www.senecazoo.org/about/organization.htm

----------------------------

The Brevard zoo 
8225 N. Wickham Road
Melbourne, Florida

Sandi Sevigny , Gift Shop Buyer
 
http://www.brevardzoo.org/staff/



==================================
ZOO MERCHANDISE SUPPLIERS
==================================

Rhode Island Novelty
19 Industrial Lane
Johnston, RI 02919
 (800) 435-3456
fbejbl@rinovelty.com
http://www.rinovelty.com

Gift shop merchandiser, specializing in animal and aquatic toys,
plush, inflates, stationery items and novelties of all kinds


----------------------------------

CHARLES PRODUCTS INC

12290 Wilkins Ave
Rockville, MD 20852-1834
(800) 242-7537
(301) 881-1966
FAX: (301) 468-6340
E-Mail: frank@charlesproducts.com

Nation's leading supplier of custom designed gift and souvenir items
for zoos and aquariums.

http://www.charlesproducts.com/

-------------------------------------------	

Find more merchandise suppliers here:

AZA – COMMERCIAL GIFT SHOP SUPPLIERS
http://www.aza.org/FindCommercialMember/index.cfm



================================
MORE INFORMATION
================================


THE AMERICAN ZOO AND AQUARIUM ASSOCIATION (AZA)
http://www.aza.org/

---------------------------------------------
AZA ZOO LIST
http://www.aza.org/FindZooAquarium/print_All.cfm

-----------------------------------------------


Merchandise Operations: Colleagues and Collaborators, Not Competitors

“The realistic plush animals now sitting on our shiny shelves are
there for but a short stay. .... Educational tags accompany most of
our products. We are proud of the merchandise we develop and sell and
the revenues we produce. Zoo and aquarium business has developed into
a force to be reckoned with. The buying power represented by just a
handful of us roaming the aisles at a gift shop is awesome. Vendors
now spend a considerable portion of their revenues on product and
development, and some of them are tremendous financial supporters of
our institutions”

AZA - PUBLICATION
http://www.aza.org/Publications/1998/06/03.htm

-----------------------------------------


So that should give you a good start in reaching gift shop managers
and/or buyers for zoos. Oh, and by the way, I think we can assume for
the larger zoos that wod-ga is correct, they will all have monkeys or
primates of some sort.

If anything I’ve said isn’t clear, please feel free to ask for
clarification.

--K~

search terms:

AAZPA 
Zoological association
"gift shop buyer" zoo
"gift shop manager" zoo
zoo concessions manager
zoo store management

Most zoos will have some kind of monkey or other. It's a human thing..
they like to see their cousins :) As for gift shops, that's another
thing. But most Zoos also have gift shops.