by Dan Ayers-Price, Director of Retail Operations for the Key West Art & Historical Society

Holiday season events on a tropical island can be a bit daunting to pull off when it is 80 degrees outside and our membership base expects all new and different experiences each year. I do believe, however, that we have found a superb event that brings together the community, visitors, and our museum membership and still manages to feel season appropriate.

For many years now, I have started my store prep several months in advance by plotting strategy on new merchandise, items that I want to feature on sale, and those things that are best sold seasonally. Typically, our actual building holiday décor goes up in early November and I do try to be mindful about not overdoing the store décor. Generally, I prefer the museum entry and lobby to be the star with more discreet decorations carried over into the store so that the décor doesn’t overshadow the shopping or get in the way of traffic flow. I always arrange for new market products to arrive in full by mid-November.

Even before things start rolling in, I try to generate excitement about the holiday season by talking about upcoming new products and doing a “show & tell” of new arrivals at our monthly Member breakfasts. Most members are fascinated with the entire curating process and are always curious to know the “behind the scenes” of my world. Working closely with our Membership Director, all of this culminates in our most anticipated event of the year – the Holiday Bazaar, which includes a private museum shopping experience—an exclusive evening of elegance, merriment, and cheer. And hopefully a lot of spending!

For this event, the Museum of Art & History, located in the island’s original Federal building, is ablaze with a laser light show synced to holiday tunes, featuring everything from a craft fair to food trucks, Santa, and local choirs.

Last year, we hosted the private, members-only party a night or two before the main Bazaar to accommodate the preferred and requested schedule of our members. Inspired by the glamorous “Gold Key” holiday party of a famous, but now defunct, local department store, we’ve brought back that special touch of nostalgia and charm, but with a twist. Upon arrival, our members can dip into a large bowl filled with keys and pull one out to try on a series of six different doorknob locks that are on display. That key might, or might not, unlock one of the locks, and if unlocked, they will find the prize of additional savings, a free gift, a membership renewal discount, event tickets, or whatever we want to add to the mix. When members step through our doors and get that key in hand, they’re not just attending a shopping event, they feel like they are a completely interactive participant in something much larger. Who knew a little piece of brass could cause such excitement!

Of course, it never hurts to start the evening with a toast. We’ll be serving complimentary champagne and a curated selection of hors d’oeuvres to set the festive mood. The entire museum will be open for browsing but most guests will mingle with fellow members on the main level, shop in small groups, and enjoy the ambiance of our beautifully decorated lobby.
The members know that this is THE night to shop and save. We offer a significant (up to 30%) discount on all museum store items—perfect for checking off their gift list or treating themselves to something special.

We’re always looking for ways to make your experience better, and this year we’re adding three exciting new features:

• Membership Renewal Station: Close to renewal time? Can’t remember status? Brought a non-member friend with them? We promote it as a way to stay connected with the community that our members love. Being able to renew their membership on the spot also earns them an extra little thank-you for their continued support in the form of merchandise from our Membership Department.
• Complimentary Wrapping Station: No need to worry about presentation—we’ve got it covered! Our elves (Okay, it’s Amy; she’s the best wrapper of all of us!) wrap gifts in a festive style while guests continue to shop or sip champagne.
• Local Delivery Available: Shopping big or gifting large? We’re now offering local delivery so guests can leave the museum with their hands free, which is important on an island filled with cyclists and scooter riders. And champagne drinkers.

Over the years, the Holiday Bazaar has grown into more than a shopping event; it’s a celebration of our members, a moment of appreciation, and a chance to support the museum in a meaningful (and festive) way. Whether selecting gifts for loved ones or simply enjoying the atmosphere, this evening is designed with them in mind. Hopefully, there are ideas within this event that you can tweak to fit your holiday season and have as much fun with it as we do.

Dan Ayers-Price is the Director of Retail Operations for the Key West Art & Historical Society. The Society is the umbrella organization, membership based, and under that umbrella operates four very distinct historic properties all on the island of Key West.