February 12-15, 2010 (Jewelry Preview: February 11) Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia Deadline: Applications are reviewed throughout the year, until the show is full Why apply? -No application fee (and only a $10 fee for online applications) -Gain access to thousands of buyers from stores and galleries in search of handmade products -Free membership in NICHE Marketplace - our online, year-round tradeshow -Tenure for accepted exhibitors - you are guaranteed space each year without reapplying The
Buyers Market of American Craft is the nation's largest wholesale marketplace bringing together more than 1200 American and Canadian craft artists with qualified retailers. Between 7,000 and 10,000 buyers representing about 3,000 companies attend the show each February. Attending buyers include craft galleries, museum shops, specialty retailers, catalogs, gift stores, boutiques, jewelry stores, judaica shops and art galleries.
The
Buyers Market's unique selection process for first-time exhibiting artists may seem a bit overwhelming. The information you provide helps us determine how much support and information you will need to be successful. Every new exhibitor is a valued partner in a long-term relationship. Each application is reviewed, and references and suppliers are called to verify that the applicant's information supports the pledge: "My work is made in the U.S. or Canada." We believe that you should never be forced to exhibit in an environment where imports and foreign manufacturers could erode your ability to earn a living. A career as an artist has never been easy; the life of most studio artists is an all-consuming 55-70 hour weekly effort. It has always been our mission to make that life a bit easier, providing you with tools and systems that keep you in the studio doing what you love, while at the same time making a good living. Today, artists can choose to spend more of their time making work and less time on the road ... you don't have to work harder-instead you can work smarter.
My business continues to grow through the Buyers Market, with my work in approximately 175 stores throughout the country now. Craft shows in the Northeast are consistently popular and draw buyers from all over the country. I have sold my work to stores in Alaska and Hawaii after taking the orders at the Philadelphia show. - Barbie Levy, Barbie Levy Jewelry Design For more information and to download a paper application and prospectus:
www.americancraft.com or:
info@rosengrp.com, 410-889-2933 To apply online via Zapplication:
www.zapplication.org ABOUT THE BUYERS MARKET AND THE ROSEN GROUP The Rosen Group is an arts marketing, publishing and advocacy firm based in Baltimore, MD. Wendy Rosen,
founder and president, started her business in the classic entrepreneurial way: she saw a need others had overlooked, and she moved quickly and decisively to fill it. Twenty-five years ago, a potter at a local craft show informed her that craft artists desperately needed business assistance. Her interest piqued, Rosen set out to learn more about artists' business needs. Within weeks, Rosen had uncovered a market for providing business services to artists and the Buyers Market was launched. The Buyers Market of American Craft (1982) is held biannually, and offers artists the opportunity to create long-term business relationships with over 3,000 galleries throughout the United States and Canada. Rosen says she sees her company more as an economic development organization than an arts organization. "What we're really doing is helping individual artists and craft retailers succeed in business, which stimulates local, state, regional and even national economies." Learn more at
AmericanCraft.com.
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