Dannon Rhudy on wed 18 mar 98
I've had several requests for information re: gallery hours for
the Ceramics USA exhibition at the University of North Texas.
Regular gallery hours:
Monday-Tuesday......12 noon to 8 -p.m.
Wednesday-Saturday.....12 noon to 5 p.m.
NCECA week, Friday hours will be extended until 8 p.m. for those
who want to see exhibition before the dance Friday evening.
Dannon Rhudy
potter@koyote.com
David Hendley on tue 7 jan 03
After 12 years of having my studio/gallery close to my house,
I've found that no matter what you do or say people will
pretty much ignore your "hours" and come whenever they feel
like it or happen to be in the area.
For years my literature has said that my shop is closed on
Tuesday and Wednesday, but even old repeat customers
will show up on those days.
I think that virtually no one would have the foresight or memory
to come to a gallery that is open only one weekend a month.
The first few years I tried to be conscientious about making
sure the shop was indeed open when it was supposed to be open.
If I had to be gone and my family couldn't cover for me I would
hire someone to keep it open. This usually resulted in either
a "wash", with sales about the same as what I had to pay the
shop-sitter, or a net loss.
I've now discovered that it does not, as I feared, make people
mad if they stop by and you are not there. They understand
that a one-person business cannot be open all the time.
On the other hand, no matter what the sign says, if I am home
the shop is open. I am more than happy to be interrupted to
sell some pottery. Compared to packing the stuff and going to
an art fair or boxing it up and selling it for half the price wholesale,
it's a small inconvenience.
Most people are reluctant to come knocking on the door of your
home, so if I am not at the shop I try to keep an eye on the
driveway and hang a "honk and I'll come over" sign on the
pottery door.
Building your own clientele at your own shop is by far the best
long-term strategy for a studio potter. After 12 years of working
at it, my stay-at-home business is now dependable enough that
I sell 80% of what I make at my shop with no additional advertising
or effort.
BTW, my hours are 1:00 to 5:00 pm, Thursday through Monday.
Many days I sell nothing when I am "open" but make sales when
I am "closed".
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
hendley@tyler.net
http://www.farmpots.com
Susan Cline on tue 7 jan 03
There are some potters who are able to operate on an "honor system," even
leaving a change box, a receipt book, a calculator, and a credit card swipe
machine and forms in their galleries. They leave a nicely worded note on the
gallery door and/or near the cash box, stating that customers are welcome to
purchase and wrap their own merchandise IF the potter is not on the premises.
These are usually more rural areas and the potter's studio, and home, are
nearby, so if the potter sees customers, he/she can join them in the gallery.
However, some days the potter / father / mother / family person just has to go
pick up the kids at school and cannot be on site....
The potters I know who are able to do this do not report any problems with
theft even though their work is quite pricey. This allows them to keep the
gallery open and not fool with signs and gallery-sitters.
Wouldn't work everywhere, of course, but could be considered. I do think most
people who are interested in our work are appreciative and honest.
On Tue, 7 Jan 2003 09:05:18 -0600 David Hendley wrote:
> After 12 years of having my studio/gallery
> close to my house,
> I've found that no matter what you do or say
> people will
> pretty much ignore your "hours" and come
> whenever they feel
> like it or happen to be in the area.
> For years my literature has said that my shop
> is closed on
> Tuesday and Wednesday, but even old repeat
> customers
> will show up on those days.
> I think that virtually no one would have the
> foresight or memory
> to come to a gallery that is open only one
> weekend a month.
>
> The first few years I tried to be conscientious
> about making
> sure the shop was indeed open when it was
> supposed to be open.
> If I had to be gone and my family couldn't
> cover for me I would
> hire someone to keep it open. This usually
> resulted in either
> a "wash", with sales about the same as what I
> had to pay the
> shop-sitter, or a net loss.
> I've now discovered that it does not, as I
> feared, make people
> mad if they stop by and you are not there. They
> understand
> that a one-person business cannot be open all
> the time.
>
> On the other hand, no matter what the sign
> says, if I am home
> the shop is open. I am more than happy to be
> interrupted to
> sell some pottery. Compared to packing the
> stuff and going to
> an art fair or boxing it up and selling it for
> half the price wholesale,
> it's a small inconvenience.
> Most people are reluctant to come knocking on
> the door of your
> home, so if I am not at the shop I try to keep
> an eye on the
> driveway and hang a "honk and I'll come over"
> sign on the
> pottery door.
>
> Building your own clientele at your own shop
> is by far the best
> long-term strategy for a studio potter. After
> 12 years of working
> at it, my stay-at-home business is now
> dependable enough that
> I sell 80% of what I make at my shop with no
> additional advertising
> or effort.
> BTW, my hours are 1:00 to 5:00 pm, Thursday
> through Monday.
> Many days I sell nothing when I am "open" but
> make sales when
> I am "closed".
>
> David Hendley
> Maydelle, Texas
> hendley@tyler.net
> http://www.farmpots.com
>
>
______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or
> change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may
> be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
>
Ingeborg Foco on tue 7 jan 03
Having just recently opened a retail outlet I am certainly no expert on
gallery hours and customer habits. However, I know that I personally can't
remember shops that have varying hours for Sat. Sun; closed here, open late
there and so forth.
I decided to try to keep it as simple as possible for people to remember.
The gallery is open daily from 11 to 6 closed on Monday and Tuesday. When I
am working in the workshop on my "off days", I put my "open" flags out at
the street. Since I am the only one here...I have no help of any kind, it
isn't possible for me to be here all of the time. I do however, keep the
posted and advertised hours religiously since it is a retail operation not
attached to my home.
As David mentioned, people come when they want to. I have only 2 months of
experience behind me but have found that no one seems to come after 5 and
Sundays are very slow for me. Surprisingly I thought Sundays would be the
busiest. People do come when I am closed and will tell me they were here.
I simply explain that I'm a one person show and can't be here all of the
time. They seem to understand. Certainly I think sales are missed when one
is not open. The expense and hassle of having employees is not worth it for
me and I doubt it would be cost effective for me at this time.
Best wishes
Ingeborg
the Potter's Workshop & Gallery
P.O. Box 510
3058 Stringfellow Road
St. James City, Florida 33956
"David Hendley" said:
>" After 12 years of having my studio/gallery close to my house,
> I've found that no matter what you do or say people will
> pretty much ignore your "hours" and come whenever they feel
> like it or happen to be in the area."
> .
Des & Jan Howard on thu 9 jan 03
The village we live in is on a secondary sealed road leading to Mudgee,
a small regional centre, about 900 cars a day travel this road,
( a local alderman assured me of this figure).
Our place is 300 metres up a dirt road. The road sign has an
"Open" sign permanently attached, as have the front gate sign
& the showroom door. We are here for visitors during
daylight hours, 365 days a year.
During the last financial year approximately 88% of our sales
were from our showroom. Mailing lists are of no value to us as our customers are transients.
Quite a number of repeat visits, but usually they live 350+ km away.
When shopping is done in Mudgee either Jan or I stay behind.
If both of us go to town, or for a trip to Sydney, a neighbour looks after the place.
No payment, quid pro quo, he doesn't have a car or drivers licences, we do.
He spent some years with us & knows the ropes.
Des
--
Des & Jan Howard
Lue Pottery
LUE NSW 2850
Australia
Ph/Fax 02 6373 6419
http://www.luepottery.hwy.com.au
| |
|
