Conrad Krebs on fri 6 jun 08
Hello,
I've been thinking about displaying some of my wares in a display case
at the local library. I would have the wares displayed (ceramic lanterns
in this case) along with photos of the wares staged in various settings,
my phone number, etc. The library offers the display case for free for a
month to any community resident who wants to use the case for a
legitimate purpose. I thought it would be a low cost way to stick my toe
in the water in order to gage interest. If little of no interest was
shown (based on the number of phone calls received) then perhaps I would
want to re-think my design. The lanterns are a significant departure
from anything I have ever seen for sale at local craft fairs so I have
not a clue as to what reaction to them might be. I have never attempted
to sell anything before.
The issue I have is that I really don't have enough stock to sell at
present; enough to display but not to sell. To ramp up production would
require a significant expenditure of time and money and if there is no
interest in the design then the time and money would be wasted. I was
considering telling people (if any) who called that I currently had
nothing for sale but that I would be happy to call them back at such
time that I did. Is this pie-in-the-sky thinking on my part? Has anyone
ever seen anything like this done before? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Thanks, Conrad
Mayssan Farra on fri 6 jun 08
=0A=A0=0A----- Original Message ----=0AFrom: Conrad Krebs ckrebs@STNY.RR.CO=
M=0A=0AThe issue I have is that I really don't have enough stock to sell at=
=0Apresent; enough to display but not to sell. To ramp up production would=
=0Arequire a significant expenditure of time and money and if there is I wa=
s=0Aconsidering telling people (if any) who called that I currently had=0An=
othing for sale but that I would be happy to call them back at ...no=0Ainte=
rest in the design then the time and money would be wasted. =0Atime that I =
did. Is this pie-in-the-sky thinking=A0 on my part? Has anyone=0Aever seen =
anything like this done before? Any thoughts would be appreciated.=0A=0ATha=
nks, Conrad=0AHello Conrad:=0AI am puzzeled, do you want to sell or not? If=
you want to sell and have only the displays then maybe you can sell the di=
splayas or tell people that you would take orders and deliver at a later da=
te, But if you don't want to sell what you make then why bother with the di=
splay in the first place? =0AJust my C2.99 worth ( it went up because of th=
e gasoline price :)=A0=0A=0AMayssan Shora Farra=0Ahttp://www.clayvillepotte=
ry.com=0Ahttp://clayette.blogspot.com=0A=0A=0A
Nancy on sun 8 jun 08
Conrad
I think you do pottery because you love to do pottery. That's why I am
a potter, I LOVE throwing clay and creating forms and designs. I
started selling my wares because I had given away as much as I could, I
had as much as I could in my home and I decided I'd sell some of my
product and once you start, you find you have room to be more creative
and then you start doing commissioned pieces.
It does take time and some things don't sell. I have a pottery
graveyard for things that just aren't up to par. It sure is pretty when
you are driving by. I get a lot of compliments.
Your thinking makes me wonder if you truly love throwing pottery, if
it's all about making money and you find it a waste of time to try new
things and make things that people might or might not buy, then I
wouldn't even try selling. A lot of you comes out in your pottery. I
was at a show recently with another potter in the same room as me and I
had sent one of my customers over to her because all my large mugs had
already sold. The customer was asking some questions and then had 2
mugs in her hands and said, "this one looks a little larger than this
other one"...the potter said, "What do you expect, they are hand made,
if you want one pick and move on". That customer came back to me and
said she'd rather buy a piece from someone she remembers with a smile as
she uses it every day.
People like to touch and feel pieces and walk away with them. I have
been getting 1-2 special orders from each show but they are from repeat
customers. I tried the by order only on a piece to see how that worked
and found no one at all even bothered to look at the piece past reading
the note.
You don't have to have alot of ware. I take enough to fill my display
and hold nothing back. That way everyone knows what is out is out.
Certain shows/areas like smaller less expensive items, others will take
the larger, more expensive items. I would suggest you go to the shows
before trying to sell at them and see what people area buying, talk to
other vendors about how the show is and look at their prices, etc.
Take your time and do the shows when you are ready and have enough stock.
Just my 2 cents and only because you asked.
Hope it helps
Nancy
www.hilltoppottery.com
Mayssan Farra wrote:
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: Conrad Krebs ckrebs@STNY.RR.COM
>
> The issue I have is that I really don't have enough stock to sell at
> present; enough to display but not to sell. To ramp up production would
> require a significant expenditure of time and money and if there is I was
> considering telling people (if any) who called that I currently had
> nothing for sale but that I would be happy to call them back at ...no
> interest in the design then the time and money would be wasted.
> time that I did. Is this pie-in-the-sky thinking on my part? Has anyone
> ever seen anything like this done before? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks, Conrad
> Hello Conrad:
> I am puzzeled, do you want to sell or not? If you want to sell and have only the displays then maybe you can sell the displayas or tell people that you would take orders and deliver at a later date, But if you don't want to sell what you make then why bother with the display in the first place?
> Just my C2.99 worth ( it went up because of the gasoline price :)
>
> Mayssan Shora Farra
> http://www.clayvillepottery.com
> http://clayette.blogspot.com
>
>
>
>
>
Angela Davis on sun 8 jun 08
Conrad,
Since the space is offered free, why don't you consider it a great
opportunity to have a one man show? Put some of your best pieces
on display, (be picky and don't crowd). Include a short bio on yourself
with contact information.
Contact the art writer for your newspaper she may be interested in doing
an article on your unique work.
No prices, just show. You could note that the work was NFS or in Private
collection.
You will have some exposure and may get
helpful feedback for the future.
Angela Davis
In Homosassa
>
| |
|
