With 4 wholesale crafts markets scheduled between January & mid February, how does one decide which show to choose? If you are a first timer there are several factors to consider.
- Is it wise to choose the ACC's new & cheap Hip Pop offering? Being the 4th and last show there will be fewer buyers attending a show that has shown a discouraging history in recent years. Those buyers that do show up will have depleted a major portion of their budget.
- The Rosen Show in January has the history and would be the show of choice. Better to share a booth to cut costs and meet the buyers who are fresh and looking for new work. Historically the Rosen Buyers markets have been the strongest for wholesale crafts.
- The NY Gift Fair is tricky, expensive and does not get enough "craft buyers." Nothing compared to the Rosen Show.
- The Acre Show mid February, took the old Rosen Show dates, an unpopular and disruptive move and does not have a reputation for quality or buyer attendance. Too many artists will be doubling up to cover themselves since no one knows which buyers will be going where for sure.
In a nutshell ... The Facts
A. The numbers of serious craft buyers has been shrinking. Although there is still a strong core of capable buyers out there, we don't know who will show up at which show, and they are all hedging their bets and loyalties as they decide where to do their buying.
B. Even though the ACC's new HIP Pop program is cheap, you will be competing with 550 plus exhibitors in a show that has disappointed many exhibitors for years.
1) The ACC has shown nothing in the way of any effort to recruit new buyers, yet they continue to add exhibitors. You could call their wholesale the "No Buyer Zone."
2) Here are the links to Craft Show News anonymous reviews of the past ACC wholesale shows. Read them and make your own decision: http://www.craftshownews.com/show_summary_info/ACCretailBalt13_Comments.php
C. If you are new to wholesaling, struggling with making your current wholesale business a success, need coaching on how to get your wholesale business working, you might want to consult with an expert in the field. I believe that The Rosen Group offers mentoring and workshops and so does ACC. Do yourself a favor and visit the shows before you put your money down.
I am very curious about how this winter's lineup of wholesale is going to work out for everyone.
Comments
Hi I'm looking for advice, information and guidance with selling wholesale versus retail. I am currently doing both, and struggling with many wholesale related issues. Can anybody help me or point me in the right direction of who to talk to about this? I love doing art shows (retail) but wholesale customers seem to always want a lower price and don't want to respect my minimum order amounts, etc and plus I'm really bothered that they get my things for half off anyway. Thanks!
Thanks for all the comments. It's been helpful. My sister and I are trying to decide whether to get into wholesale. We currently do well at craft fairs, but as we are aging!, it is harder to set up and take down the tent and other equipment. We attended the ACRE show in Northern NJ last August and thought it was well run. We talked with many of the vendors, and they were happy with management overall and commented they would do the show again. We were there the second day of the show in the afternoon, and many indicated they had made their booth fee already, and that the way to succeed was to get follow on orders in the months following the show. We think we will try wholesale, but it is difficult to decide which show. The first year I don't want to try 2 shows. That would be too expensive. I appreciate the comments from other vendors. I hope other vendors continue to add to this thread as it will help us decide.
Good advice, Wendy. And I agree I wish more exhibitors were posting here. Unfortunately, I know some who want to but are afraid of repercussions. That's a sad thing to have to say, but it's true.
Every experienced wholesale artist has their opinions and reasons for choosing certain shows and those reasons and opinions should be respected. I am sorry to see that this conversation seems to have turned into a debate between show promoters and staff. With all due respect, I think artists should be able to have this kind of conversation, and express our biases and reasons for them without show staff becoming defensive and/or taking over the thread.
My two cents:
I loved ACRE and did it for years. I was on the jury until this week. I love wholesalecrafts.com and have been on the site since it started. I have gotten tons of accounts and orders and it's been consistent for me for over 12 years. Its's been hugely important and valuable to my business.
As with any business, my business choices have to come down to finances. I have always done well at BMAC/American Made, it's been my best show every year since I started there. This year will be my 25th show. This is not to say anything negative about any other show, it is just my experience and my choice. (And they do offer education, and a rep, and great service as does ACRE) I will continue to use wholesalecrafts.com, and consider new venues and options based on reports from other artists, reviews and research. I think any good business person will do the same.
What's so sad about these comments is that so many of the exhibiting artists aren't making their own statements. The world of wholesaling has changed dramatically and buyers have so many options for filling their shelves.
I trust that the buyers will carefully evaluate each show by the actual number and quality of legitimate wholesaling artists and make their decisions from that information. We must all realize tho that any show without at least 500 exhibiting studios will in the end not succeed. Our marketplace relies on buyers willing to fly across the country to find new artists.
The problems each show director faces are getting more and more difficult... mega shows are moving all over the calendar looking for the sweet spot... and that forces the rest of us to fall into line wherever we can get a spot. No one person is to blame for this problem. But all of us have to find ways to better serve and provide more good buyers for our exhibiting artists.
Our buyer services staff has been adding new "shop local / well branded" stores to our lists for the last 5 years in hopes of building a new buyer base... they have been receiving NICHE magazine and now with the show name change it's all coming together. I don't like the dates either... but I'd rather be in the front of the line than in the back where only crumbs of open-to-buy will be left.
The marketplace has always been very divided by type of studio business model... ACC buyers tend to be dependent on consignment. Our buyers have always been purchase Net 30. We have always believed that 100% consignment is not the best way to succeed as a gallery owner. 90% of what's consigned is very pricey and moves very slowly... without production works the success of any store is very limited.
Like everyone else "the split" of the marketplace was a surprise and concern to us. But we have focused on having one GREAT show and avoided any distractions in the process.
If you want to succeed this year here are the best tips I can offer.
1) Bring new work.
2) Spread your price points from $18-$1800 (or further)
3) Have more than one "line" a specialty line is best.
4) Do your homework... know what your buyers really need.
5) If you are willing to consign... only do it for the most expensive works... bundled with a "buy".
6) Your show manager is your PARTNER not your PATRON. Call those buyers!
7) Always call for reorders 4 weeks after delivery. I've spoken to hundreds of artists who have told me "wholesaling just dropped off for me" ...it was because everyone ELSE was calling for reorders and THEY WEREN'T.
We all have work to do... It's getting close to showtime! Let's get to work!
As founder and owner of Wholesalecrafts.com Inc, the largest online wholesale American Craft Marketplace, and the producer of 14 ACRE Shows, I feel compelled to comment. Our move to a two show line up, ACRE Philadelphia February 14-16, 2015 and ACRE Las Vegas May 28 - 30, 2015, was based on feedback from our clients who told us they want a show in Philadelphia, not DC, and they want a show in February,not January, preferably lined up directly before ACC Baltimore, like it has been for many years. Buyers, especially store owners in the Northeastern States, tell us January is too soon to regroup from Holiday buying, do inventory, and then make their most significant buying by mid January. Artists tell us they cannot be ready with their finest of new work and have a stress free holiday with their family by moving the show into mid January. The marketplace was disrupted when BMAC moved from February to January, placing their dates directly over our ACRE Orlando show which ran successfully for 4 years, forcing us to move our dates and eventually cancel this show.
We also are aware, which many may not be, that the DC show is scheduled directly over AmericasMart and the Presidential inaugural event. We don't think their pattern can continue, which means even more instability. And not well thought out in our opinion! The show must most likely move again, but moving even a week in DC means having a show during the time when Congress is in session, which means sky high hotel rates. We knew all of this when we inquired about a show in Philly. Did they have to leave? Was their possibly space? We got the answer...
and we acted.
ACRE Philadelphia offers a solution for artists and retailers. We feel that our company is stabilizing the wholesale market for both artists and retailers by listening and then acting based on our client's desires.
I’d also like everyone to rest assure that Hall A at the PA convention center will accommodate more than the 400 booths the Rosen Group stated they could accommodate. In reality it can hold almost 700 booths. They also stated they left Philly (one of many excuses) because the Hall Fee was $120k. In fact the fee is $76K. We can produce an affordable show, with a friendly union situation. Artists can now build their own booths, and use their own shippers now without drayage fees. Our booth fees include carpet, electric, a year of web service, and free wifi.
Now that we are in Philly, we have added services and reduced exhibitor fees, and removed the traditional ‘two show contract and all sabbatical fees’ that Philly was known for in the past.
Our move to Philadelphia in February is well thought out and well planned out. With a cosponsored, collaborative effort with ACC we have also been able to help buyers go from Philly to ACC Baltimore with a FREE shuttle for buyers. We are proud of what we have accomplished and we hope you will give us strong consideration.
We have record numbers of buyers and artists signing up. Let us show you the ACRE way – one based on facts and a strong desire to help you build your business. And about the quality of the show, we are top notch and well juried. Please take a look at our online preview guide to prove this fact here! http://www.wholesalecrafts.com/Preview_Guide/PHLFLIP/ACREPHL2015PGf...
Go to http://www.acrephiladelphia.com or www.acrelasvega.com for more info.
We want to protect the quality of this great show, and bring everyone home to a stable market place, one that all can rely on for years to come.
I have given this conversation much thought. I could reply from the perspective of a long time exhibitor, my partner Richard and I have been making our living for over 40 years in this business (laughing Moon LLC) .
As an exhibitor We have done all the shows mentioned in this blog.
I have also worked for over 10 years with wholesalecrafts.com and the ACRE Shows and I am currently the sales/exhibit manager.
I have to say that this blog seemed to start off rather one sided and deceptive regarding the ACRE shows .
I would think the hundreds of Artists that have done the Juried ACRE shows over the years, and many who exhibit or have exhibited at the ACC, Rosen, and New York gift might take offense at being called low quality exhibitors in this forum by Ms. Mettler.
I will also say that I am very proud to have helped 100’s of new exhibitors have the opportunity of being able to learn how to make a living doing what they love because of our emerging artist programs, web service and print ad connections.
Plus we are the only company in this industry that provides each and every artist with their own personal representative as well as mentoring from staff members that are there to consult with them on every aspect of their business. We are also the only show in this industry that provides artist friendly payment schedules and a web service on Wholesalecrafts.com that can keep orders coming all year long.
So when an exhibitor needs to make a decision on what show to participate in this winter it would be prudent for them to call me at 888 427 2381 ext 109 and get the facts so that they may really have a fair comparison.
I have been doing the wholesale shows for almost 30 years. I have shown in the Buyer's Market (Rosen), ACC Baltimore, and NY Gift (NY NOW). I am showing this winter at both the DC show and NY. I chose the DC show because of the track record that I have with the Rosen Group. They have consistently put on the best show in the country for handmade artists. The quality of the art AND the buyers is unsurpassed. There is something for everyone at their shows from lower-end impulse buys to high-end one of a kind. The move to DC and the re-branding is a positive in my opinion. The new venue allows the artists to know that we have continuity for our winter show. From what I understand, they have the hall booked for the next few years. The re-branding to "American Made" is equally smart. The Made in America movement is still gaining steam and to use that in the brand is great. I'm sure that many galleries and stores who did not understand the "Craft" in BMAC will understand "American Made". The change of dates actually helped me last year. The old dates in Feb that were picked up by ACRE are after Valentines Day and President's Day. I was able to gain a month of production (Feb) and market my work specifically for Valentines Day with ASAP orders with the January dates. As for NY, there is some duplicity with the other big shows (DC and ACC) in buyers, but I am looking for more of the museum/catalog/ larger store buyers there. Last year's show was not too good with the overlap of the Super Bowl and TWO snowstorms in one week! I'm hoping that this year's show is better. As with any show, if you are able to visit the show before you sign up, do it! There's a lot of money involved to go in to the venture without good info.
Yes its been a hard to decide on which show to do.... I had scheduling problems so I am going to do the Acre show in Philly and see what happens.... I will give a review when I am done ... This is my 2nd wholesale show the first one last year in Vegas. Picked up 5 solid account that have ordered at least 4 times though the year, not enough to cut back on art shows yet but will keep plugging away ...I will also be attending the Vegas show again in spring and will send my emails in Spring to the new galleries and see what happens... I have heard from other artists that the Rosen show is very good and "seemed more like a retail show" one artist said to me...
Connie, thanks for posting this, especially the links to the reviews of the ACC wholesale shows. Informative and helpful.
Another reason I might choose the Rosen show is the "new" factor. Imagine you are a buyer, you want to see the new thing. You want to be where it is happening for the first time. Heck, maybe you haven't been to DC for awhile and think it will make a good destination. Sometimes new events are more successful the first time because of this factor.
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