Vennersys, the integrated ticketing, retail and visitor management company, has been chosen to implement ticketing and booking efficiencies for Food Museum, the largest independent museum in Suffolk, UK.
With 17 historic buildings set in 75 acres of beautiful countryside, the former Museum of East Anglian Life in Stowmarket cares for approximately 40,000 objects, connecting people with the stories of how their food is sourced, and the impact of their choices on the environment, health, and wellbeing.
Managing guest flow
The Food Museum frequently holds weddings and neighbourhood events including beer festivals, Primadonna festivals, bonfire nights, and Apple Day as one of the largest venues in the county. The Food Museum had to find a new system because of the elimination of their old till systems and events like bonfire nights that can draw up to 5,000 guests each time.
With such a big turnout in one night, it was crucial to have a quick check-in procedure and simple access to memberships and donations.
They now have a brand-new integrated till and admissions system, a thorough CRM solution, a reporting system, and substantial customer care from a support team thanks to Vennersys’ assistance. The ability to buy memberships and event tickets in advance online allows for a quicker admission procedure. Additionally, visitors can complete purchases and Gift Aid payments online, which the museum team can utilise to develop forecasts and reports to guide their marketing strategies.
Reaping the rewards
These attributes benefited the museum with its most recent rebranding initiatives and allowed them to carry out its growth ambitions.
The museum saw a large influx of visitors once the rebranding went live in April 2022 and received overwhelmingly positive feedback. The museum’s attendance has already reached pre-pandemic levels and is anticipated to rise even higher.
“Vennersys has helped find solutions for us so we can be confident that when we run the events again,” says Food Museum visitor services and marketing Manager Chloe Brett.
“Before, if someone took a booking for an event in the shop, they would have to call through to the office and quickly ask us to take it off the website, which was far from ideal. Now everything works together and does what we need it to do.
“We are now able to pull lots of different data for reports and break data down, allowing us to do far more targeted marketing. Our director can get access to everything she needs in one place and doesn’t have to ask around for all the information when she needs it.”
Elsewhere in the UK, Vennersys brought its VenposCloud system to Jack in the Box, a popular indoor play area in Beverley, East Yorkshire.
