I was introduced to The Curatorium by a good friend who had Matt Bird, its owner, as a professor at RISD. Matt was one of the very first to stock Egg Pants. When I was recently in Providence, I thought I’d stop in and ask him a few questions. During our conversation I learned a TON. Check out the interview below for great tips about wholesaling and approaching stores.



The Curatorium
197 Wickenden St.
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 453-4080
www.thecuratorium.com

When did you open the store, and how did it start?

I was working as a wholesaler and manufacturer, when RISD approached me about a project they were developing, RISD Works. It was going to be a retail store which sold artwork and designs by RISD alumni. I worked on developing a business plan, designing the fixtures, pretty much everything to get the store up and running. I was there about 5 years.

After leaving RISD Works, I was freelancing and teaching part time.
I saw a “FOR RENT” sign go up on Wickenden St., in a location that I knew would be great for a gift shop. So I jumped right in, and used everything I’d learned from my previous experience to get this store going. We’ve been here about 2 years. Although, 1 out of 5 people who comes in here still asks, “Is this store new?”



What do you look for in new products?

My filter is things that are well done. An object has to justify its existence. I shy away from pure novelty items. Novelty is great, but there have to be other supporting characteristics.

What’s your favorite object in the store right now, and why?

I love the Moose Head by Cardboard Safari. (Pictured above, $52) It comes flat-packed and you assemble it yourself. It’s a great piece for a very reasonable price. I used to have a carved wood moose head in the shop, which was goregeous, and made somebody very happy. But that piece was $400, while this one is a lot more accessible.

Who is your typical customer?

I don’t have one. This store has become known as a place to find a gift for any type of person.



Have you noticed any recent trends in terms of what people are buying?

People are buying low-cost items, but with the desire to make it seem like it’s worth more. Customers really go for idea-driven designs, which are outside of value. And objects which are unusual, which they don’t see everywhere. It’s also a lot about presentation. People are overwhelmed with options. I see my job as curating for them, going through everything and filtering out only the best stuff.

How do you do your buying?

Mostly at trade shows. I put on my “buying” hat for a week and look at everything all in one place. It’s much easier than looking through catalogues and websites. However, I also find some weird stuff online, and sometimes deal with independent designers like you. I have a pile of great stuff I’ve found that I don’t know how to locate...



Do you have any advice for designers trying to wholesale a new product they have developed? What are the Do’s and Don’ts of approaching you?

Oh, I have a lot to say on that. During my time at RISD Works I saw lots of submissions from artists who just didn’t know how to present themselves.

1)Do your homework! Call and ask for the preferred way to submit. And then follow instructions, otherwise you automatically cross yourself off the list.

2) Honor other people’s schedules. Don’t send incomplete information. Tell me what it costs. Give me every tool I need, because if something’s missing, I’m not going to take the time to track you down and get it from you.

3) Don’t harrass.

4) Don’t say, “My product is perfect for your store.” I’ll be the judge of that, and now I don’t even want to consider it.

5) Make sure that your design is saleable. Think about shelf appeal, liability, whether floor samples will get destroyed or stolen. And again, do your homework - don’t present me with something which already exists in a million forms.

6) Provide a loose floor sample. It makes it a LOT easier for the retailer.

You mentioned shelf appeal. What is helpful for you in that department?

The customer is going to ask, “What is it? What does it do? How much is it?” Packaging needs to answer those questions, and not be confusing. Packaging also needs to consider whether people need to touch this object. I’ll often take the object out of its packaging for the display. Some companies provide displays, but I don’t usually use them because they don’t fit the store. DIsplays should make your product easier to sell, rather than being a billboard for your company’s logo.