Larry Kruzan on wed 19 jan 11
I tried that too but had issues with "out of service" issues. I use Verizon
and have been happy with the coverage - except in very rural areas. There
are reasons I go where cell phones don't always work.
Notes on business follow - Ignore if you choose.
I do a lot of small town gigs - big cities have art everywhere - small town=
s
appreciate artists who make the effort to visit them. I think that is why
I've sold so many pots, I don't reject the people who work the land. Some
towns I go have never had a real artist visit them. So I show up.
At times, I leave a setting of pottery at the local restaurant where I have
lunch - I pass back through the next month, pick up my money (the pots
always sell) and leave some more, pick up orders, offers to visit schools,
contacts and so on. Builds a 50 radius business - where have we heard about
that!
Always return calls. Be real - these people can spot BS from 100 yards. If
you are not small town - don't act like you are - they will know. No PC cra=
p
talk - they will NOT buy from you in droves. These folks are hard workers -
they don't like feeding people who won't work.
When they have their annual festival (corn, cherries, etc.) I attend with m=
y
tents and display and fine art. The town folks welcome you - you don't have
go hat in hand begging to let into the Art Center's BIG SHOW. Entrance fee
is $25-50 not $300-600. Customers come to your tent like old friends not
like people daring you to impress them.
When we go camping I load up a few tubs of pots and head into the nearest
town, find the Mayor/Chief of police (often the same guy) and ask permissio=
n
to set up for a few hours, they will direct me to a store that might oblige=
,
I give him a mug - always. Usually the store will ask $20-30 for the day -
plus the manager gets a mug too. I can sell enough pots in a few hours to
pay for all the costs of going camping for the week and make some friends.
The next time I take a bowl and generally don't have to pay for the spot.
The chiefs deputy will show up - just checking - leaves with a mug too sinc=
e
I carefully noticed how his squad has that ugly Styrofoam cup in the cup
holder.
I always check out the meat case while I'm in the store - and tell everybod=
y
"how good the chops looked today". Word will get to the manager that I was
sending him business - that helps too.
I like small towns. They seem to like me too. I have a notebook full of
places that I've worked this gamut with. It can work for you too, if you tr=
y
it, if you are honest to yourself and them.
Final thought - $200 mugs would be a loser but 10 $22 mugs a hour is real.
Larry Kruzan
Lost Creek Pottery
www.lostcreekpottery.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of DJ Brewer
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2011 8:56 AM
To: Clayart@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: New Credit Card minimuns
Get Verizon's internet anywhere card that plugs into your laptop and use
Paypal for people to pay you. It means you'll need your laptop and
Verizon's service -- but you'll get paid! (I think it is Verizon -- but
anyway, there are phone companies that offer such an item. My husband
used one)
much love
DJ
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On 1/19/2011 8:31 AM, CANDACE YOUNG wrote:
Just heard from Chase Paymentech that there will be a minimum $25 fee
per month for credit cards. I don't use mine for 6 months out of the
year. That's a big chunk to give away for the privilege of taking
CCs. What are other folks using to take cards? I already am
convinced that most of my sales are on cards so I need to find another
way. I do a few shows a year and take cards in my studio and on net
sales. Any thoughts?
Candace Young
brp@embarqmail.com
bayriverpottery.com
252-745-4749
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