Dark tourism shops: selling “dark” and “difficult” products

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to analyse the position of the museum shop within dark tourism sites. In doing so, it argues that the shop has the potential to act as a further meaning‐making vehicle by reconfirming the museum mission within its merchandise selection. The analysis of the particular position occupied by the museum shop as a for‐profit institution within a not‐for‐profit institution will reveal the friction that exists between the competing aims of the museum shop to ideologically, as well as economically, support dark tourism.Design/methodology/approachThe author analysed institutional literature and merchandise selection at three case studies, to explore the relationship between dark tourism sites and their respective shops.FindingsThe retail operations of dark tourism sites are highly complex and fraught with potential issues relating to taste and decency. Museums situated at actual sites of death are particularly constrained in regards to the type of merchandise they are able to stock. However, it is not just the locational identity of the museums which dictates the type of shop they are able to operate but their particular subject matter and the way this subject is approached in the gallery space.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper is limited by a small survey size. Further research could include interviews with museum shop professionals and other museum professionals to see how different areas of the museum see the role and value of museum shops at dark tourism sites.Originality/valueThis is an under‐researched area. There has been a growing amount of research in to the meaning‐making potential of museum shops; however, little attention has been given to dark tourism sites and how dark content impacts upon the nature of the shop.