Museum shops get facelift despite red tape

The gift shops operating at Greece's museums and archaeological sites sum up the Culture Ministry's idea of promoting the country's cultural legacy, says archaeologist Mimika Giannopoulou, a member of the board at the Archaeological Resources Fund (TAP). Over the past few months, Giannopoulou's job has been to freshen up the products available at these shops, as well as the spaces themselves. Until recently, visitors looking for a decent Greek souvenir found empty shelves, limited choice, stock shortages, old-fashioned designs, badly lit stores and idle staff. That is when the shops were actually open.

Things have certainly changed at the National Archaeological Museum (NAM) in Athens. The basement shop now has more light, more color and more products, including a selection of painted sculptures that have gone on sale for the first time. The museum launched Greece's first...