Many people know what George Washington looked like, but Gini Scatoloni can show you how he smelled.
Scatoloni manages the Friends Shop at the New Jersey State Museum. In front of the shop’s windows, sits a display that includes products from Caswell-Massey, a company established in 1752. One fragrance available for purchase is Number Six, a reported favorite of Washington’s.
The shop is expecting a set of presidential soaps to arrive soon. That set will feature scents worn by Washington, John F. Kennedy and Dwight Eisenhower, Scatoloni said.
The Friends Shop is run by the Friends of the New Jersey State Museum, a nonprofit organization that supports the museum’s operations. The shop’s revenue helps fund programs at the museum, said Nicole Jannotte, the organization’s executive director.
Jannotte said the organization tries to keep the Friends Shop stocked with a variety of unique items. Some products are related to the museum’s exhibits. Many things for sale also have a connection to the state of New Jersey.
“A major portion of our inventory is geared towards kids,” Jannotte said. “We always, again, try to make sure that it speaks to the major attractions within the museum. So, we have a lot of dinosaur-oriented objects. We have a lot of space-oriented objects to go along with the planetarium. We have quite a few that are linked to archeology and ethnology and Native Americans.”
Jannotte said that the shop’s collection of rocks is popular with young visitors. The shop also sells freeze-dried “space” ice cream and dream catchers made by Native Americans.
There are plenty of items that appeal to an older audience as well, many of which have a local connection. Those include prints by artist Thomas Malloy, carved decoys by Fred Reitmeyer and glass art by Eric McLendon.
There are also products from companies based in New Jersey, such as Recklesstown Potters, Ana Candles, and GlassRoots, a Newark organization that provides opportunities for youth to create glass art.
“It’s another nonprofit that we try to partner with and feature,” Jannotte said. The Friends shop also offers a variety of books, jewelry, handbags and silk ties.
Inventory changes throughout the year, and the shop holds seasonal sales. On June 7-24, the shop will offer a 20 percent discount on graduation and Father’s Day purchases of $25 or more. The shop also holds an annual Christmas in July sale.
Members of the Friends of the New Jersey State Museum receive a 10 percent discount at the Friends Shop and have access to sales exclusively for members, Jannotte said.
However, the work of the Friends of the New Jersey State Museum goes beyond the Friends Shop.
“Our mission is to support the collections, programs (and) educational exhibitions of the museum through advocacy, fundraising, volunteerism and promotion,” Jannotte said.
The organization hosts fundraisers and supports the museum’s programs. It also writes and administers grants for programs and exhibitions at the museum.
Jannotte said the role of The Friends of the New Jersey State Museum is important because the museum is free to the public and operates on funds from the state budget. The organization raises money to supplement what is provided by state funds.
“There’s limitations on state budgets, so we try to augment so that the museum can continue to present the programs and exhibitions that it has come to be associated with,” Jannotte said.
The Friends Shop is located on the second floor of the New Jersey State Museum at 205 W. State St. in Trenton. Shop hours are Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. More information is online at njstatemuseum.org.
,
