Ravitshy on sat 28 mar 98
Hi everyone.
We want to open a ceramic gallery and we have no idea what we should take into
consideration. If you have any suggestions or ideas, and you are willing to
share them, it will help us a lot.
Thank you very much, Ravit.
Don Jones on sun 29 mar 98
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>Hi everyone.
>We want to open a ceramic gallery and we have no idea what we should take into
>consideration. If you have any suggestions or ideas, and you are willing to
>share them, it will help us a lot.
>Thank you very much, Ravit.
I opened my own gallery in Albuquerque a few years ago. It folded for
basically the following 3 reasons:
1. The location was wrong. Spend lots of time in researching location.
2. Too much money was spent in promotion, especially print media. Be very
careful.
3. Not enough capital was available for the long haul.
Don Jones
claysky@highfiber.com
:-) implied in all messages and replies
http://highfiber.com/~claysky
JLHclay on sun 29 mar 98
You have lots to consider. You said we, who's we, life partner, other
friends or artists? #1 What type of business sole propritership, or
partnership? Many businesses start off as partnerships but less than half
continue as partnerships after 5 years. People have different ideas &
priories, someone usually buys the other out. #2 What type of business
background do you have? Find the nearest small business bureau for research,
usually for free. #3 Keep your own books with a simple bookkeeping method. I
have a CPA who has done my taxes for 10 years. She's great keeps me posted on
all the changes that are specific to being an artist. This year looking over
the returns I discovered 2 errors totalling over $300. Re figuring my taxes
saved about $20. may not seem like much but over a years time small "may not
seem like much expenses" add up. #4 Paul Hawkins book "growing a Business " is
fantastic. #5 I could write a book just listing things for you to think about,
keep a journal. Reading over your growth & thoughts week to week gives
insights #6 To be in business for oneselves one needs lots of energy, health,
perserverance, ability to evaluate & re plan,#6 enough $ or the means to live
& support the business for at least 6 months is almost a requirement. #7 So
many new business owners get all caught up in the romance of it all & spend
unwisely thinking that any trinket that is deductible is a good investment.
Not so.
Good luck, keep in touch, your entire process interests me & no doubt many of
us. We're in business & have business concerns even if we don't have a retail
outlet. jlhclay in once again rainy Tucson
joan lisi on wed 1 apr 98
------------------
First of all good- luck trying again. Some thoughts -
Location - a busy street, lots of foot traffic lookin in your window
Stay away from malls.
find a partner with skills you don't have, agree who is to do what.
Understand that partnerships don't last and be flexible.
Do more than one thing in your gallery. Just selling pots usually doesn't
bring in enough. Teach, expecially children - do birthday parties, invite
senior citizens to a workshop, try a meditation/pinchpot evening with your
local alternative health styles group. Make free advertising by
contributing to a cause - bowls for a soup kitchen, - the girl scout
ceramics badge (we do 2-3 per month at =2410 per girl - they tell their
friends, the whole school knows, we do summer clay camp projects - lots of
free advertising.
Find the cheapest weekly shopper to advertise in and do it at least once
per month. include coupons for =25 off stuff or services.
Include a bisqueware gallery - hot, hot, hot and you learn a lot about
decoration in the process - much of which can relate to pottery.
Do it part time - and have another job.
Grow the business slowly in a small space with a short lease- more
flexibility.
joan lisi on wed 1 apr 98
------------------
First - good luck. The more clay that's =22out there=22 in the public view,
the more we sell, and the more we get to make. Having said that - running
your own gallery will take so much time that you may not get to do what you
like most - play with clay. So think about it.
Some galleries are run as co=3Dops - slave labor, all volunteer except the
book keeper/cpa. Great if you have a core group who are the decision
makers. who get in, who works when, who sets up displays, publicity.
Decide- non-profit or for profit. Each have their good and bad sides.
Most important - cheap location - good traffic flow. Being in a barn ain't
goin to do it, no matter how quaint you think the appeal is. Foot traffic,
in a town. Stay away from malls - too expensive and too many hours.
Wendy Rosen on thu 2 apr 98
I agree about starting small with a short term commitment... try 400-600
square feet... that's what most of our successful galleries and shops
started out with. It pays to be near a business that gets really good
upscale "repeat" traffic... like the best drycleaner, best bookstore,
restaurant, coffee shop, etc... Try to limit your hours early in the week
if you have to be open late nights on the weekends. I know one gallery
that was located near the hottest movie theatre in town... she was buried
by the overhead of staying open late each night... The worst thing you can
do is to sign a lease and "hope" that customers come in... be sure to have
some display items outdoors... windsocks, garden sculpture, fountains
etc... and get some good interactive stuff going with the community. Kids
classes or art contests, artists receptions, special events galore... if
you're on a busy street be sure to leave the lights on in the window! Move
your merchandise around EVERY day. Your regular customers will THINK you
have new stuff (even if it's been there forever). Most new galleries open
and if business is good they buy on credit... then get hit with the big
bills. If you have a xmas season remember it's 65% of your entire YEARS
SALES! Don't underestimate that last quarter or overestimate the first
three quarters of the year!... it can kill you! Make sure that you have
just enough fast moving production stuff to pay the rent and light bills!
Look at what other galleries have done with special exhibition rooms and
reception areas with production work... it will save you if a recession
comes. Advertise only where it pays! The Hotel Books are popular and of
course... AmericanStyle magazine!
Best Wishes,
Wendy Rosen
>----------------------------Original message----------------------------
>------------------
>First of all good- luck trying again. Some thoughts -
>Location - a busy street, lots of foot traffic lookin in your window
>Stay away from malls.
>find a partner with skills you don't have, agree who is to do what.
>Understand that partnerships don't last and be flexible.
>Do more than one thing in your gallery. Just selling pots usually doesn't
>bring in enough. Teach, expecially children - do birthday parties, invite
>senior citizens to a workshop, try a meditation/pinchpot evening with your
>local alternative health styles group. Make free advertising by
>contributing to a cause - bowls for a soup kitchen, - the girl scout
>ceramics badge (we do 2-3 per month at $10 per girl - they tell their
>friends, the whole school knows, we do summer clay camp projects - lots of
>free advertising.
>Find the cheapest weekly shopper to advertise in and do it at least once
>per month. include coupons for % off stuff or services.
>Include a bisqueware gallery - hot, hot, hot and you learn a lot about
>decoration in the process - much of which can relate to pottery.
>Do it part time - and have another job.
>Grow the business slowly in a small space with a short lease- more
>flexibility
*******************************************
Wendy Rosen
The Rosen Group
Niche & AmericanStyle Magazines
http://americanstyle.com
The Buyers Markets of American Craft
http://www.rosengrp.com
http://www.americancraft.com
3000 Chestnut Ave #304 Baltimore, MD 21211
Voice: 410/889-3093 Fax: 410/243-7089
*******************************************
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