Cindy Strnad on fri 26 jan 01
Hi, Susan.
Galleries are certainly within their rights to offer you any consignment
terms they like. And you are well within your rights to refuse or make a
counter offer. Problem is, so many of us underrate our own value and are so
flattered to be offered the opportunity to see our work on the auspicious
shelves of a respected gallery that we go down without a fight.
I don't know what it's like where you do business, but I don't consign
except in special circumstances. And I wouldn't recommend the practice to
anyone who could possibly avoid it.
Here's the deal:
1) You pay shipping to the gallery
2) You take the risk of theft (usually)
3) You put the money and time out up front.
4) You stock the gallery's shelves at your cost.
5) If your work sells, you get paid. Well, if you're lucky, you do.
6) If the gallery goes under, your work is sold to pay debts--not
necessarily including the debt to yourself.
There are a few people I will consign work to, but this is only my very
high-end work, and only to close, long-term associates who have proven their
reliability to me over time. These galleries are within a short driving
distance, and our arrangement is that I can pick up the work anytime I like,
with no advance notice. After all, it *is* my stuff. If I don't like the way
it's being displayed, I do come and pick it up, too--politely, of course. If
I, personally, sell the work, I don't offer the gallery a cut unless the
sale was related to a customer having seen the work at the gallery.
Everything else gets sold outright, and usually much faster than I can
produce it.
Don't underrate yourself.
Cindy Strnad
Earthen Vessels Pottery
RR 1, Box 51
Custer, SD 57730
USA
earthenv@gwtc.net
http://www.earthenvesselssd.com
Paul Lewing on fri 26 jan 01
Susan,
I know that there are lots of galleries out there now taking 50% as a
consignment rate, but I won't deal with them. I agree with you that
that's a wholesale price. If they want it for the wholesale price, they
should just buy it. However, I also notice that it's rare nowadays for
a wholesale outlet to just double the price. They almost all double the
price and then add some. I hate that, but I set the wholesale price.
After they buy it, it's theirs to price as they like, whether I like it
or not.
I hear that in the "fine art" gallery world, an arrangement of 60% for
the gallery and 40% for the artist is becoming more common. Personally,
I would never do that, as I think it's immoral. I don't care how high
their expenses are, selling art is not more important than making art.
And yes, you can raise your prices to get the same amount for yourself,
but in the process, you give even more to the gallery.
Paul Lewing, Seattle
Sue and Steve on fri 26 jan 01
Hello all-Just breakin' my clayart virginity here...
Wanted to piggyback on Mary Lou's question about galleries. I'm
interested in a discussion about 50/50 consignment. I'm pretty new to
this sales stuff, but excuse me, isn't 50/50 a wholesale term? My first
gallery used this policy and I've since seen more than a few ads in the
Crafts Report stating this arrangement. How did this evolve? Am I
wrong to feel slightly burned by this? I appreciate you're insight.
Susan Rattenbury in Pacifica, CA where next week there will be 12
additional minutes of daylight.
Snail Scott on fri 26 jan 01
At 08:26 AM 1/26/01 -0800, you wrote:
>Hello all-Just breakin' my clayart virginity here...
>
>Wanted to piggyback on Mary Lou's question about galleries. I'm
>interested in a discussion about 50/50 consignment. I'm pretty new to
>this sales stuff, but excuse me, isn't 50/50 a wholesale term? My first
>gallery used this policy and I've since seen more than a few ads in the
>Crafts Report stating this arrangement. How did this evolve? Am I
>wrong to feel slightly burned by this? I appreciate you're insight.
>
>Susan Rattenbury in Pacifica, CA where next week there will be 12
>additional minutes of daylight.
In my experience, most galleries charge a 50%
commission on works consigned. A few charge
40% or 60%, but 50% is pretty typical.
Advertising costs are also commonly a 50%
arrangement, also called a co-op ad. They
pay half; I pay half. If another artist is
featured in the same ad, the gallery still
pays half; we'd each pay for our 'half-of-
a-half' (25%).
For that 50%, I expect the gallery to
promote me and my work, handle sales and
all sales-related hassles, handle mailing
lists, openings, etc.
My prices are constant - the piece isn't worth
less if it's sold from a cheaper gallery or my
own studio. Thus, a lower commission is my
profit, but if the lower-commission gallery
sells less, or causes more hassle for me, it
may not be worth it. Conversely, a higher-
commission gallery had better give me Cadillac
service, or perhaps represent my work to a
better-heeled clientele which might allow me
to sell more expensive work.
Sure, sometimes I'm annoyed to give such a
large chunk of my gross to the gallery,
especially if it seems like they just sit on
their asses and drink cappuccino all day.
But, I know I can't sell my work myself.
(Some days I can't even say a price to a
customer without mumbling.) I hate dealing
with that stuff, and I have no aptitude for
business, and direct sales eats precious
working time. So, until a viable alternative
arises, I'll keep paying for their services.
A good gallery will earn their percentage.
Don't be a doormat, though. Only sign acceptable
contracts, and demand that they adhere to it,
once signed. If you don't like a clause, ask
for it to be changed - they may do it. (Then
have the change initialled.)
Try to talk to other artists represented by the
gallery before you sign on. Get the straight
dope - good or bad.
-Snail
Norman van der Sluys on sat 27 jan 01
Back in the 70's when I was raising pigs like everybody else, the butcher made more
for his few hours of time than I did for 5 months. I guess what we think of as
important is not what society thinks of as important.
Or else money is not a judge of importance!
Paul Lewing wrote:
>
> I hear that in the "fine art" gallery world, an arrangement of 60% for
> the gallery and 40% for the artist is becoming more common. Personally,
> I would never do that, as I think it's immoral. I don't care how high
> their expenses are, selling art is not more important than making art.
--
Norman van der Sluys
by the shore of Lake Michigan, wishing this ice would go away, but the rain
forecast for Monday and Tuesday will probably make more.
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