Question #12 What are some signs that what I am making should be phased out?
The skills of both a business person and salesperson should come out of hiding. As an artist, we often can't take rejection well, but being our own best critic and putting on the “business hat” to analyze our work is the ideal approach in this situation.
The best way to check the “life cycle” of your work is to chart it. Simply make a chart listing the months of the year on one side and dollar figures of the sales of the item – each item on the other side. Next, plug in the sales for each piece of art you sell each month. This can be applied to painters or photographers tracking each subject matter to a fiber artist who makes scarves. It doesn't take long before you see a pattern of how the piece starts to sell, maybe becomes steady with a peak and then a decline. Granted, seasonal items always have a low and high and low, but there are many pieces of work that aren't seasonal, thus giving the craft artist a clear picture of how well their work is selling as well as not selling. As pieces “loose” their selling luster, that is the time to start introducing new work. And for that reason it is always wise to spend part of your production time devoted to creating new lines, fine tuning your techniques and explore other mediums to enhance what you already make.
Lastly, the why some items may not always sell well. The success of new products as well as your “bread and butter” pieces really look at all aspects of your work. People are attracted to the appearance, the appropriateness of it in the marketplace, availability of materials, design, labor hours, price, how profitable it is, technique, timeless (will it last forever or always “be in”), unique factor, and its useful/functionality of the work. If these traits change, especially once the item peaks, this could be a sign of why items should be phased out. For example your supplier of raw materials went out of business and now are forced to go with another supplier. You may find the new supplier might not have the same quality of supplies as the original or the price is higher. Regular customers expect consistency (same quality work every time) and it be priced reasonably. If one of these change over night, you'll find the art or craft might need to be phased out list.
Look at the photo I took at a museum in Arkansas of 2008 provided. What do you think might cause this piece to be phased out? Or should it be phased out?
Do you find this helpful? Left with more questions? Use the comment button and share your thoughts. Of course, share this blog with others you know! - Michelle, www.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.com
