Linda Burns on sat 31 may 97
Hi all.
I felt I had to respond to the question of consignment. I recall struggling
in my own mind whether to consign to a gallery or not. One gallery I
approached had spent their quota for the season, but offered me consignment.
At first, I felt insulted (my husband quickly pointed out that my ego was too
big), and then I came to two conclusions.
1) I could go somewhere else, but miss the opportunity to be seen in a well
known gallery, in an affluent area and gain exposure.
2) Consignment would allow me to be in control of my work. I could change
my products whenever I wanted to and try new designs as they were created.
The result has been very successful. I am gaining a professional
reputation, making money....more than if I went the wholesale route, and it
produces other opportunities for my business from those that see my work
there.
Perhaps that is being an amatuer, but I think it is being smart. And I have
to add, that it has taught me a valuable lesson in being a bit more humble
about what I create and to look at my art as a gift to be shared with others.
That's my 2 cents worth..... :)
Linda Burns
Willowtree Designs
Baltimore, MD
The Shelfords on sun 1 jun 97
Ray Carlton wrote:
>Consignment is for amatuers only.
> Nowhere else
>in manufacturing [and lets not be too precious about what we do, we are
>small manufacturers] do the buyers of product expect to try a product and
>pay you some time later if it sells.
Hi Ray and all -
I don't think the above's quite true. You are not allowing for the small
manufacturers who choose to market their product themselves. In so doing,
they may choose different "store-fronts", effectively sub-contracting the
job of providing retail space, advertising, etc. to others so they can focus
on "manufacturing", but it is still sub-contracting, and they retain the
ultimate control.
I've already stuck my oar in this discussion once, but I'd like to second
Linda Burns' point. As she wrote:
> I recall struggling
>in my own mind whether to consign to a gallery or not. I came to
two conclusions.
>
>1) I could go somewhere else, but miss the opportunity to be seen in a well
>known gallery, in an affluent area and gain exposure.
>
>2) Consignment would allow me to be in control of my work. I could change
>my products whenever I wanted to and try new designs as they were created.
>
>The result has been very successful. I am gaining a professional
> reputation, making money....more than if I went the wholesale route, and it
>produces other opportunities for my business from those that see my work
>there.
>
>Perhaps that is being an amatuer, but I think it is being smart.
I agree. I don't think the rather loaded concept of "professional vs.
amateur" has much to do with one's choice of marketing options. There are
several worthwhile galleries in my area which are wholly consignment, and
I'd be one major twit to refuse access to their large clientele just in case
somebody might think I'm not "professional". The big point is whether the
gallery involved is a solid, well-established, reliable outfit that you're
comfortable with. Retaining control of the marketing of one's work is not
everyone's choice, but it has its points.
- Veronica
____________________________________________________________________________
Veronica Shelford
e-mail: shelford@island.net
s-mail: P.O. Box 6-15
Thetis Island, BC V0R 2Y0
Tel: (250) 246-1509
____________________________________________________________________________
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