I have a feeling this is a black or white issue for some people,
I've now done 19 shows and before today I bet no more then twice has someone asked for a lower prince. First time I said now as it was at the very end of a show and I felt they were just trying get something cheap an I knew she had money. Goof Grief it was $20, I'm not going lower.
Second time A guy stopped into the canopy for the 3rd time and I KNEW he was agonizing. He was funny and took me aside and very quietly slipped $200 into my hand in cash and said, "if I give you this can I have that canvas image?" I liked the guy and whispered "sure". I THINK he thought I would not have to pay taxes or something.
HOWEVER - today. Small (I thought) art fair (2000 attendance but I guess they had money) in a tiny town, 1st time there. I bet 6 people asked for discounts. WEIRD!! The odd thing is that it was my best show ever (18 times fees).
I had no problem giving people $20 off. It's not like I'm selling hammers.
I know some of you will say NEVER - art is art, it has a price tag and that is what it goes for. Of course I do not consider photography art at all. Photographers are photographers, not artists but that is a different argument).
I say if it makes a buying feel better about buying, fine, not a problem. I'm not going to crush my bottom line with 10% off now and again. A sale is better then no sale. I have NEVER said "no" and still made a sale. But I have ALWAYS made a sale when I have said "yes".
What do you guys do. "yes"? "no?" "depends?"
Rod
Replies
I do a little thing with my prices. The original art I take to my booth might very well have been in a gallery, or going to a gallery after the show.
At the gallery, I have to give up between 30 - 60% of the "retail" price for commission. Many buyers know this. So, I put a price on my work, and then have the gallery price right below it [in smaller print]. I have taken off a % of the "retail" price - and that way I don't have to bargain - I've already discounted my work.
Hey...the art of salesmanship has it's own merits. When you stick your art and craft out in a show then it's assumed you want to sell it right. People are all alike and want a bargain so I say everything in the show is half price or 50% off the studio price. As an example a landscape painting is $2500.00 in the studio and in this show only it is on sale for $1250. It's a numbers game....that's all.
I am flexible on the more expensive works (I am a painter). For most of my work, I list prices for 1 and for 2, with a small discount worked in for 2 or more pieces. For prints and small works, I usually hold firm to the prices. I work very hard to keep up with inventory, so I feel I don't need to discount. For mid sized and big originals, I usually give discounts. I try to hold to 10% off, but I can go lower if I need to move an older piece, if I'm having a bad show and need to show a profit, or if a big bill is due. On a big ticket item, if someone makes me an offer on a piece, I try to think to myself if my wife would be mad if I turned down that much money (we have a mortgage and 2 kids in daycare).
I think it depends. I kind of like online auctions but I'm not going to lower a $10 price lets say because a person wants to pay next to nothing for it. However if its a higher priced item then sure. Sometimes people can't afford it. Here's one to make you smile I had a girl on ebay buy 2 paintings, I combined shipping, they were something like $10.00 altogther since they were mini paintings and it took her 1 1/2 months to pay since she didn't even have money for toilet paper. In that example I waited because being that broke is a. sad and b. I appreciated that she loved my work.
Daniela
I think it depends on the piece. I am a painter and I will discount my originals, I figure I'm getting more profit by selling it myself rather than a gallery who will take 50%. As far as prints, I do not discount, my costs for the canvas prints make my profit margin smaller. I rely on selling the prints to at least make up for the booth fee and any originals is usually pure profit.
Artists come in all types...Actors, painters, photographers, potters, etc. It would be like me saying I'm a painter not an artist.
A few things...
1. I am an artist working in the photographic medium. I really don't want to get into the debate on weather or not photography is art because it defiantly is and the whole argument is dumb. However, that does not mean that EVERY photographer is an artist... I haven't read the replies but I hope someone pointed this out, I don't have the energy right now.
2. I give a 10% discount when someone purchases more than one piece, and to repeat customers.
-Evan
Facebook.com/EvanReinheimer
EvanReinheimer.com
Dick Sherer
www.sherersaddlesinc.com
I had a woman who, just by the look on her face, I KNEW she really loved a piece. She said she'd be back and I knew she would; wasn't just playing her "get out of booth free" card.
She came back and made an offer on the painting and I said yes. That moment was priceless and I'll never forget it.
She cried. I know without a doubt she will love that painting for years and that it was meant to be hers.
I would do it again.
Depends. Today some guy asked for a discount right off the bat, offered $60 for an $80 print. Told him no, he asked why, and I said I wasn't Walmart. He laughed, said that was fair and paid full price. Toward the end of the day, a lady was wanting to buy a framed piece for her daughter and was having trouble deciding which of two she wanted. She came back later, looked and left. She came back again a third time, I talked to her and offered a package deal; 2 for $120. She snapped on it. She paid in cash, so it was a deal all the way around. She was very happy, and so was I to close a sale at the end of the day.
Send them here for a 50% discount.
Larry Berman
http://BermanGraphics.com
412-401-8100
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