gail sheffield on sun 26 sep 99
-------------------
Since tiles are different from most other ceramic work, I'd appreciate you
tile-makers/glazers sharing how you market them. Thanks.
Gail Sheffield
Covington, LA
Jeff Ferris on tue 28 sep 99
>Since tiles are different from most other ceramic work, I'd appreciate you
>tile-makers/glazers sharing how you market them. Thanks.
Hmmm. Good question. One I have been struggling with for some time, and
not yet successfully enough to retire from. However, it seems to me that
there are at least three major market outlets available, and each require
different solutions. They are :
* Direct marketing (Open markets, fairs, galleries, gift-shops)
* Tile retail outlets
* Commissions
Direct marketing - Anywhere a product is offered to the public. Loose
tile do not sell well! They need to be made into "something". I have
made jewelry from small tiles, mounted tiles in frames for use as
trivets, wall hangings, corkboards, etc. This *seems* to be what the
market-goer wants. Ready to appreciate, ready to appeal to emotions.
NOBODY goes to the Saturday Market, sees your tiles and says: "WOW, let's
re-tile the bathroom this afternoon, honey!"
Tile Retail Outlets - Loose tiles are the trade in stock here, but be
ready to prepare demonstration boards that can be displayed to show your
line of tiles, your color palate, and how they install with field tiles.
Also helpful are sales matertials such as printed brochures that show
some installations, talk about your company and how fine your materials
are. You need to approach these markets with a salesman attitude, manner
and appearance. Be ready to answer questions such as lead time on volume
orders, volume price breaks, production capabilities.
Commissions - Often commission work is found thru one of the above
markets or thru shows. I am making my first commission pitch this
evening, so any additional advice here would be wishful thinking.
I think I have been in school too long. This post has more words than
info!
-- Jeff Ferris
---------------------------------------------------------------------
"You're gonna have to kill me to make me stop." -- Cool Hand Luke
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Tracey on wed 29 sep 99
I'd love to sell tiles "made into things" (and not) on my gallery site, sure
other sites would too. Maybe a few of you tile people should band together
and open an online gallery? It would be more cost effective than each of you
trying to get the word out, super cheap in fact, and said gallery could do
marketing specifically for you. A Cyber Co-op!
Food for thought at least!
Tracey
Come see how it works! www.artifactgallery.com
for more information send a blank email to exhibit@artifactgallery.com
----- Original Message -----
From: Jeff Ferris
To:
Sent: Tuesday, September 28, 1999 11:20 AM
Subject: Re: Marketing tiles
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> >Since tiles are different from most other ceramic work, I'd appreciate
you
> >tile-makers/glazers sharing how you market them. Thanks.
>
> Hmmm. Good question. One I have been struggling with for some time, and
> not yet successfully enough to retire from. However, it seems to me that
> there are at least three major market outlets available, and each require
> different solutions. They are :
> * Direct marketing (Open markets, fairs, galleries, gift-shops)
> * Tile retail outlets
> * Commissions
>
> Direct marketing - Anywhere a product is offered to the public. Loose
> tile do not sell well! They need to be made into "something". I have
> made jewelry from small tiles, mounted tiles in frames for use as
> trivets, wall hangings, corkboards, etc. This *seems* to be what the
> market-goer wants. Ready to appreciate, ready to appeal to emotions.
> NOBODY goes to the Saturday Market, sees your tiles and says: "WOW, let's
> re-tile the bathroom this afternoon, honey!"
>
> Tile Retail Outlets - Loose tiles are the trade in stock here, but be
> ready to prepare demonstration boards that can be displayed to show your
> line of tiles, your color palate, and how they install with field tiles.
> Also helpful are sales matertials such as printed brochures that show
> some installations, talk about your company and how fine your materials
> are. You need to approach these markets with a salesman attitude, manner
> and appearance. Be ready to answer questions such as lead time on volume
> orders, volume price breaks, production capabilities.
>
> Commissions - Often commission work is found thru one of the above
> markets or thru shows. I am making my first commission pitch this
> evening, so any additional advice here would be wishful thinking.
>
> I think I have been in school too long. This post has more words than
> info!
>
>
> -- Jeff Ferris
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> "You're gonna have to kill me to make me stop." -- Cool Hand Luke
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>
deborah goletz on thu 30 sep 99
Gail and other tile makers,
I am writing a book about contemporary hand made tile in the United States.
Schiffer Publishing has contracted me for this project and it is due to go
to press next spring. The book will be aimed at design and home markets.
I am currently soliciting slides of handmade tile. Though I may include a
chapter on one-of-a-kind work, this is not the general aim of the book. If
you are a tile maker and would like further information on being included
in this book, please contact me off list.
DeBorah Goletz
dgoletz@interport.net
Bruce Girrell on fri 1 oct 99
> I am writing a book about contemporary hand made tile in the
> United States.
> Schiffer Publishing has contracted me for this project and it is due to go
> to press next spring. The book will be aimed at design and home markets.
>
> I am currently soliciting slides of handmade tile. Though I may include a
> chapter on one-of-a-kind work, this is not the general aim of the
> book.
I have no slides for you but I do have a reference. If you have not already
done so, you should make yourself familiar with the work of Marsha McArthy
from near Boston. She does some beautiful hand-made tiles for the commercial
market. Lynne and I are especially of her plants and leaves and we are
planning on putting a few of them in a bathroom that we are remodeling. She
has several other lines including fairies and other stuff, but I think the
leaves are the best.
For all you wanna-be tile makers out there - Those hand-made tiles by Marsha
sell for $50.00 per piece (4 3/8" square). Ouch! Apparently somebody's
buying them at that price, though.
Bruce Girrell
in Northern Michigan, where fall started early and isn't about to let summer
make an encore
Janet Kaiser on fri 1 oct 99
------------------
All the tiles that arrive for The International Potters' Path are put on =
display
in The Chapel of Art with a label which includes details such as maker's =
name,
workshop/home town, country, etc. There is also a sign saying what the tiles=
are
for. This display attracts a great deal of interest and questions about =
tiles...
It is quite new to many people that tiles will be quite OK on the ground and
outside, that tiles can be made by potters not just manufactured, etc. etc.
Many have never considered tiles as more than bathroom or kitchen trim =
before
and certainly not as an art-form.
But (wouldn't you know?) this display makes some very cross people=21 They =
want to
buy the single tiles and it is no good trying to explain they are not for =
sale,
have been donated and are part of an exciting international project. Oh=21 =
NO=21 Off
they go in a huff...
But many also then take another look at the =22tiles=22 Linda John makes in =
another
light. She mounts ceramic tiles of various sizes into panels to hang on =
walls.
Not a mosaic exactly, but almost. I have spoken to potters and tile makers =
who
have all said =22what a good idea=22. Especially using modern design and =
colour
slips, judicious amounts of gold lustre, matt dry glaze and keeping to a =
size
that can be hung on an ordinary wall in an average sized house. Her large =
=22one
piece=22 tiles are really =22paintings on clay=22. (Do see =22Coy =
Mistress=22 on our web
page).
More important she can move from tiles retailing at =2410 max. each. She =
can have
more fun, be much more creative and be taken a whole lot more seriously by
buyers and galleries... Her work now retails from =24300 to =241,000 (US) =
This is
for tile panels that would have sold for maybe =2450 to =2480 if just =
retailed as
sets of tiles.
So, what I want to say: as soon as you have acquired a good technical and
artistic consistency in your work, stretch what you are doing away from =
single
tiles as skivets, framed pot stands, table tops, etc. and go into the mural
business=21 Commissions will also soon become a big part of your business =
too...
Hope this gives you some inspiration?
Janet Kaiser
P.S. You can send all those tiles you do not need to The Path=21
(Just joking... BUT we do need another 4,500 you know)
The Chapel of Art, Criccieth LL52 0EA, GB-Wales
Home of The International Potters Path
WEB: http://www.the-coa.org.uk
EMAIL: postbox=40the-coa.org.uk
James Blossom on mon 4 oct 99
Hi Deborah.
We make relief tile ans architechtural details. We are interested in your
book, and would like more info.
TIA
"The supreme misfortune is when theory outstrips performance"
--Leonaro Da Vinci
Mike Blossom
Tione Joseph
Sleeping Dog Designs
1305 Wellesley DR, NE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
jblossom@worldnet.att.net
-----Original Message-----
From: deborah goletz
To: CLAYART@LSV.UKY.EDU
Date: Thursday, September 30, 1999 11:13 AM
Subject: Marketing tiles
----------------------------Original message----------------------------
Gail and other tile makers,
I am writing a book about contemporary hand made tile in the United States.
Schiffer Publishing has contracted me for this project and it is due to go
to press next spring. The book will be aimed at design and home markets.
I am currently soliciting slides of handmade tile. Though I may include a
chapter on one-of-a-kind work, this is not the general aim of the book. If
you are a tile maker and would like further information on being included
in this book, please contact me off list.
DeBorah Goletz
dgoletz@interport.net
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