After being out of commission for four months, the Smithsonian Catalogue and online store are back in business. Starting Aug. 4, customers are now able to place orders from Smithsonian Catalogue and SmithsonianStore.com.
Smithsonian’s direct business was closed four months because of its association with BlueSky Brands, which shut down in March. The Smithsonian was a client of BlueSky’s third-party fulfillment provider AB&C Group, which closed down shortly after the company’s catalogs—which included Paragon Gifts, National Wildlife Direct and Winterthur —were shuttered.
With the demise of AB&C Group, “we couldn’t distribute [catalogs] and our merchandise was in the warehouse,” says Linda St. Thomas, a spokesperson for the Smithsonian Institution. “So we had to find a new contractor,” which is Stark Bros. Fulfillment Services.
Originally created as an insert in Smithsonian magazine in 1974, the Smithsonian Catalogue evolved into a stand-alone title in 1977. The e-commerce Website was launched in 2002.
The catalog and site sell merchandise inspired by Institution’s collection of jewelry, clothing, furniture and household accessories. Revenue from the catalog and Website support the Institution’s exhibitions and public programs.
“We’re relaunching in plenty of time for the holidays,” St. Thomas says. “People are very happy about this, and they’ll be all set for the holiday online ordering season.”