40 Questions Blog Series - #34 How can you spot re-sell at Art Fairs?
Simple question - how can you spot re-sell at art fairs, right? There aresome simple answers however you'll need to make sure that handmadeart is not being mistaken as re-sell too. For an art fair to be atrue art fair, it should have handcrafted art work made by theartists who is selling at the show. If someone isn't following thoserules – especially if it is outlined in the application – thenrecognizing those who aren't following the rules and bringing that tothe promoters attention is something artists can do to help promotersrecognize such culprits. Here's a few ways you can recognize re-sellat a show...
Question #34 How can you spot re-sell at Art Fairs?
Like all artists applying to a show, especially high end juried art fairs,you send in photos (or use Zapplicaiton) and go through a juryprocess. A jury is as good as it's jury members and they can be madeup of all kinds of people and could be jurying for different thingstoo. Even the best of juries can make mistakes especially if theperson who is selling re-sell does everything in their power to tryand fool juries. If a re-seller wants to be in a show they willcheat and lie on their application as well as send in false photos oftheir work to make it look like they are the ones making the work.It is only if you are familiar with that work or look closely andnotice that you don't see the persons head, just their hands workingon a pottery wheel or whittling wood, then this should raise a redflag.
Spotting re-sell, at a show can be easy. One of the easiest things you canspot are tags/stickers stating a product is made in China or someforeign country. Be careful though, while you might see a stickerit could very well be price stickers that someone is switching out.Another sign are obvious knock offs – such as paintings that yourecognize as copies of famous art work. While some can be “inspiredby famous paintings” if they are priced at $20-40 most likely theyare copies. On the topic of prices, seeing a lot of items pricedpainfully low are most likely re-sellers such as cheap jewelry pricedat $10 or those that have kookie “info-mercial” sales. Simplyasking the exhibitors questions about their work like what propertiesmoonstone has (if the person sells moonstone jewelry) and not gettinga straight answer is also another possible sign the person is are-seller. This happened when I asked questions to a “jewelrymaker” and the person just said “my wife makes it and she issick, couldn't be here so I am taking her place” is definitelysomething that raises concern, but can't easily accuse him/her ofre-sell either.
There are some signals that might seem like re-sell but are not. I hear alot of people assume that if you see a many multiples of one itemand all are without blemish, it is a sign that is mass manufacturedover seas. While this can be a sign, I have known some artists, suchas potters and folk art painters , who are able to make identicalpieces – each and everyone by hand – and get them prefect becausethey do it so often days, months and years on end.
All in all it is important that if you do suspect someone selling re-sell,that you do have some sort of proof – a sticker saying mad in Chinafor instance – to show those in charge to hopefully help weed outre-sell. There is a time and place for that type of market, but at atrue art fair, it is unethical. I wish you all a great sales andgreat weather at your upcoming art fairs. I am finally back into theswing of doing art fairs as I have one this weekend. I hope to sharethat experience and others in future blogs. If you have a questionyou would like me to answer for the last remaining 5 blog posts,feel free to use the comment button and ask away! Best Wishes,Michelle Sholund – www.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.com
Comments
I had a show in up state NY this year where the booth next to me was selling baby hats with matching shoes, coming straight out of cheap cardboard boxes. the vendor across the isle was selling packaged cheese cake mixes 4 for $20. I packed up and pulled out after the first day, which I have never done before. When you jury into and pay for a fine art show you expect that you don't have to compete with the dollar store vendors.
Sabrina