MOSI Shop Offers Holiday Gifts

Richard and Karen Whilden walked through the Elements Gift Shop, stopping to look at puzzles and jewelry.

The couple lives in Washington, D.C., and was vacationing in Florida last week. They had planned stops at Crystal River, , the Kennedy Space Center and MOSI—the and IMAX Dome Theatre being the draws.

While Karen Whilden looked at mineral and animal-themed jewelry, Richard Whilden searched for her Christmas gifts.

It’s natural for MOSI visitors to stop by the museum’s nonprofit gift shop before they leave, but general manager Laurie Pinna pointed out that the store is open to shoppers who are looking for one-of-a-kind gifts for kids and adults alike. Gift shop customers don’t have to pay museum admission to simply come in and shop, and the store sees about seven to 10 of these customers each week.

“Our Elements Gift Shop offers a personal shopping experience,” Pinna said.

Items range from unusual to educational. There are science kits, light and motion pieces, objects from nature, books, space and flight toys, stomp rockets, minerals for rock collectors or those who admire gems in their natural state, lamps that are said to clear the air, and more.

“We’ve got lots of unique things,” said gift shop volunteer Maggie Crowson.

Retailers across the country generally see an increase in sales during the holiday season, however, this is the slowest time of the year for the MOSI Elements Gift Shop.

“While everyone is running to the mall, and while people know we’re a great attraction, they forget we’re a great place to shop,” Pinna said.

The state of the economy could also be a factor, she said. The shop is seeing less school group traffic because students have less money to spend on trip souvenirs.

“I think it’s touched everybody in some ways,” Pinna said of the economy. “I think it affects people’s spending decisions. I look for bargains, too. We’re all on a budget.”

Proceeds from the sale of gift shop items go back to the nonprofit museum.

“Your gift shop purchases support educational programming at MOSI,” Pinna said.

And if shoppers mention they read about the Elements Gift Shop on Patch, they’ll receive free parking with a gift shop purchase through Dec. 31, 2011.

Karen Whilden left the gift shop with a bat pin, which Crowson helped her pick out. And Richard Whilden just might have some MOSI surprises for his wife on Christmas morning.