The Welsh Wire: Chris Shires, Gilmore Car Museum

What’s it like running USA Today’s #1 Michigan tourist destination? Much like running a successful small business.

“Trying to forecast the future, trying to stay on top,” says Chris Shires, executive director of the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners. Chris appears on this week’s Welsh Wire podcast with Sheri Welsh. “We’ve had year-after-year of success, so how do we maintain that success? How did we do last week compared to this week?”

The Gilmore Car Museum is Trip Advisor’s top rank car museum in the country and for the past decade has enjoyed record-breaking attendance. But that doesn’t mean they’re resting on their laurels. “We’re tying to make sure that we’re constantly on-target and on-the-ball,” he says. “(But also) making sure that we don’t overwhelm ourselves, that we’re not working too hard.”

Chris pays close attention to customer feedback. “Our visitors feel a strong sense of ownership, so, we want to try and incorporate their ideas or at least hear their ideas,” he says.

Watch Sheri’s entire interview with Chris Shires or listen to the audio.

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