Thursday, January 31, 10 am, ET
Are you ready for to wholesale your fine art or fine craft? Do you have handmade goods that you'd like to see in galleries and gift shops?
Guests will be:
Paul Willsea, who along with his partner Carol O'Brien, has worked as a glass artist for over 20 years. They sell their work through the wholesale marketplace as well as at art fairs. In addition, Paul has been on the Board of advisors for the Buyers Market of American Craft and is well acquainted with the business aspects of wholesale shows.
John Terry, owner of the Avalon Gallery in Del Ray Beach, FL, who not only attends the wholesale markets looking for new artists to showcase you'll also find him at street art fairs searching for the perfect work for his enterprises.
Stacey Miller, a jeweler, brand new to wholesaling who will share her experiences preparing to participate as a first time exhibitor at the upcoming Buyers Market of American Craft in Philadelphia in February.
Join us as we learn about:
- best wholesale marketplaces
- what a wholesale buyer is looking for, price points, inventory, presentation
- the ups and downs of the gallery business
- is wholesale for you?
- ideas for longevity in the business
- how to prepare for your first show
You can call in with your questions: (805) 243-1338
Leave your questions in the comments below and I'll ask the guests
Listen here: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/artfairs/2013/01/31/is-wholesale-marketing-an-answer-for-you
Comments
Thanks Wendy!! Those points were funny and right on. Got my head where it needs to be. Informing with a grin attached.
How to know you ARE NOT ready to wholesale....
1) Your skill are still at the assemblage level.
2) Your idea of a successful show is $2000
3) You've never met with a local gallery owner to show your work.
4) You are not interesting in taking 15,000-30,000 in orders.
5) You hate the idea of shipping or billing.
6) You like the open road and hate studio time.
7) The thought of hiring an assistant gives you the hives!
1) Attending a trade show. My advice would be to call show management prior to coming and tell them you are interested as a potential exhibitor. They will likely offer you a guest badge to be picked up at either registration or the show office. About who can attend... most gift shows are very lax about who attends... a business card is often enough. At any gift show you will see foreign manufacturers and their reps in the aisles. At the BMAC we prohibit manufacturers and reps from attending. A rep may however, get a badge from an exhibitor. 2) If you've really expanded your body of work into a recognizable "product line" and you've priced it from three angles... a. WTMWB (what the market will bare) b. materials+labor+cost of sale. c. your online price is marked at 2.3 over your wholesale price. d. You've already started selling or consigning to local shops... and they are successful at a 2-3x turn annually. There's more but it takes two entire days to learn at the Arts Business Institute. WE don't want anyone to exhibit unsuccessfully... that's why we provide pre-show planning webinars, mentoring locally and from our office... and other services that help you plan for success. A new exhibitor last year really took our pre-show planning advice seriously... he wrote 52 orders at his first show!
Connie, thanks once again for an informative show. I really appreciate these. Seems I only think of my questions after the show is over!! 1) The advice to attend a wholesale show first seems very smart - so can anyone just "attend" these? I believe Paul had a comment about shows no longer just letting any attendee in - so how does an aspiring artist get in? 2) when do you know if you ARE ready? I believe I read somewhere that you first have to show that you've had retail accounts but I don't see that on the Buyers Market website as a requirement. (may have missed it)
Thanks again - love your website and this group.
Kaye Light