Harry in Iowa on sun 20 jan 02
To all,
How are sales? I hear everybody make ugly noises about galleries =
like they were organized crime. Sales out of your own studio/store front =
sounds like slow death. Craft fairs don't fair much better. How about =
sales from your website? I don't hear a whole lot about that. Is that =
the way to go? If you believe in your work won't it sell anywhere and =
anywhere being the internet? Those of you that sell through various =
avenues, where is the money?
Harry in Iowa
still no sight of winter
lela martens on mon 21 jan 02
Hello Harry, I don`t have a web site, so can`t tell you about those. It was
only this past spring that I had enough confidence to try and sell in venues
aside from our guild sales. Last year at this time I had my first `opening`
and with that success(I really relate to Kellie`s feelings)and with the
confidence of one who didn`t know better, armed with advice from T. Wirt I
approached different venues. My best sales were in the gift shop of our
local art gallery. They even called me for more the second week before
Christmas. The next were our guild sales, we have one in the art centre
where our facilities are,and a X-mas sale at a local garden centre. I
haven`t got the results back yet, but for reasons unknown to me, the tea
room across the street. The place is packed with stuff, antiques, girlie
stuff,lacey cushions, candles, cards, etc. I didn`t think the place would
last 3 months, but it`s packed all the time. The cafe mocha is wonderful.
And it did well for me in the fall. She`s so busy, I hate to bug her to find
out.
I make labour intensive stuff. Food safe, useable, fruitbowls, carved stuff,
but more arty ( centre piece things)than domestic. My husband calls it the
`vanity` crowd, and I think he`s right, it`s the stuff I love making,but
personally, wouldn`t have much in my own house. Lela
>From: Harry in Iowa
>Reply-To: Ceramic Arts Discussion List
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: How are sales?
>Date: Sun, 20 Jan 2002 19:07:53 -0600
>
>To all,
>
> How are sales? I hear everybody make ugly noises about galleries like
>they were organized crime. Sales out of your own studio/store front sounds
>like slow death. Craft fairs don't fair much better. How about sales from
>your website? I don't hear a whole lot about that. Is that the way to go?
>If you believe in your work won't it sell anywhere and anywhere being the
>internet? Those of you that sell through various avenues, where is the
>money?
>
>Harry in Iowa
>still no sight of winter
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>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.
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Richard Aerni on mon 21 jan 02
You've heard right, Harry! Everything is terrible. I'd advise everyone to
quit now and get a fast food job. Now there's security in a growing
field...
Seriously...this is an overly broad question with no real chance of a
meaningful reply. More like a chance for folks to vent, and then rebut.
Regards,
Richard Aerni
Bloomfield, NY
----- Original Message -----
From: "Harry in Iowa"
To:
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2002 8:07 PM
Subject: How are sales?
To all,
How are sales? I hear everybody make ugly noises about galleries like
they were organized crime. Sales out of your own studio/store front sounds
like slow death. Craft fairs don't fair much better. How about sales from
your website? I don't hear a whole lot about that. Is that the way to go? If
you believe in your work won't it sell anywhere and anywhere being the
internet? Those of you that sell through various avenues, where is the
money?
Harry in Iowa
still no sight of winter
____________________________________________________________________________
__
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.
Harry in Iowa on mon 21 jan 02
Craig,
Are you telling me you were standing on a street corner hawking your
wares? Or are you talking about a store front?
Harry in Iowa
----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Clark"
To:
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2002 9:45 AM
Subject: Re: How are sales?
> I live in the forth largest city in the country and have had good and
> bad relations with galleries/shops. I got really pissed off and pulled all
> of my work out of the last place that I was in and haven't invested the
> energy to find another place since. That was over a year ago.
> My sales are from two festivales (Bayou City Art Festival) in the
spring
> and the fall, an increasing number of sales from my shop(I'm trying to
> follow Mel's fifty mile radius rule), and setting up to peddle my wares on
> the street not far from the house (this worked great this past christmas.
I
> just went down the end of the block one Saturday morning and sold.) I earn
> additional money by teaching private lessons. I charge $25 per hour on an
> hourly basis. THis helps and I enjoy teaching, it keeps me in touch with
why
> I started working with clay to begin with and the interaction with other
> folks is quite nice rather than working in relative isolation day in and
day
> out.
> I'm not making a ton of money, but I'm doing better than I've done
> before!
> Hope this helps
> Craig Dunn Clark
> 619 East 11 1/2 st
> Houston, Texas 77008
> (713)861-2083
> mudman@hal-pc.org
KLeSueur@AOL.COM on mon 21 jan 02
We expectd January to be absolutely a dead time for us. But our stores started calling in orders even before the new year. A number reported their best Christmas season in years. Go figure. Don't know why. But I'm glad. Maybe we won't starve to death these first few months.
But on a less optimistic note, I think fairs are dying. I could list all of the reasons why I think so, but I don't want to bore everyone to death.
Kathi LeSueur
Harry in Iowa on mon 21 jan 02
I am hearing mainly positive comments about sales recently. You people are
nothing like the farmers I deal with on a daily basis. Farmers grouse about
everything, if it was raining money they would complain that their bucket
was too small.
It is good to hear about the good business. We still haven't heard from
the web sales people. You must be out there, I can see your web sites and
every one of them have something for sale. I understand that most people
view pottery or clayart as something more dependant on physical contact.
Does this impede web sales? Are all these web sites just for show? Would I
be wasting my time to do it?
Harry in Iowa
I'm spending a lot of time glazing lately, will be ready to fire soon.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Orchard Valley Ceramic Arts Guild"
To:
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2002 11:42 AM
Subject: Re: How are sales?
> Harry,
>
> The various sales events held by our Guild have done very well this
> year - better
> than the previous year. We attribute this to lots of publicity, and
> building up a steady
> customer base. (We have a large mailing list of both street
> addresses and e-mail
> addresses.) We also have a small gallery situation in a local coffee
> shop which has
> done well, mostly due to the great personality and sales ability of the
owner.
>
> The work of our best potters seems to sell itself - the rest of us rely on
> marketing. ;-)
>
> I'm also interested in hearing about sales on the web. Personally,
> I don't think
> I'd ever buy pottery from a website... I need to feel the pot in my
> hands to appreciate
> it. Are there any web "success stories" out there?
>
> >
Craig Clark on mon 21 jan 02
Harry, I had the best sales ever at the end of last year. Practically
sold out my entire inventory. Am currently working to build it back up (damn
the bad luck......thought I'd be able to spend a good bit of January working
on sculpture rather than commerce.)
I'm amongst those who think that galleries, consignment shops, etc.,
have their down side, but that doesn't mean they are all bad. Just watch
your rear end. Don't sign anything that relieves the selling entity of
responsibility for breakage or theft!!!!!Keep an exact record of what the
shop/gallery has. Don't give them more than a few peices at first. If they
sell, and they pay you within a month, give them more work. Don't roll over
and let them not pay you. The time period between sale and payment to you
also needs to be in the intial contract. Let me emphasize that without a
contract you are SCREWED if there is any type of problem. Try and keep a
good relationship with the galley/shop owner. That way if they find they've
got to back door someone inorder to keep the lights on in the shop one month
it will be one of the artists or craftsmen and not you.
I live in the forth largest city in the country and have had good and
bad relations with galleries/shops. I got really pissed off and pulled all
of my work out of the last place that I was in and haven't invested the
energy to find another place since. That was over a year ago.
My sales are from two festivales (Bayou City Art Festival) in the spring
and the fall, an increasing number of sales from my shop(I'm trying to
follow Mel's fifty mile radius rule), and setting up to peddle my wares on
the street not far from the house (this worked great this past christmas. I
just went down the end of the block one Saturday morning and sold.) I earn
additional money by teaching private lessons. I charge $25 per hour on an
hourly basis. THis helps and I enjoy teaching, it keeps me in touch with why
I started working with clay to begin with and the interaction with other
folks is quite nice rather than working in relative isolation day in and day
out.
I'm not making a ton of money, but I'm doing better than I've done
before!
Hope this helps
Craig Dunn Clark
619 East 11 1/2 st
Houston, Texas 77008
(713)861-2083
mudman@hal-pc.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Harry in Iowa"
To:
Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2002 7:07 PM
Subject: How are sales?
To all,
How are sales? I hear everybody make ugly noises about galleries like
they were organized crime. Sales out of your own studio/store front sounds
like slow death. Craft fairs don't fair much better. How about sales from
your website? I don't hear a whole lot about that. Is that the way to go? If
you believe in your work won't it sell anywhere and anywhere being the
internet? Those of you that sell through various avenues, where is the
money?
Harry in Iowa
still no sight of winter
____________________________________________________________________________
__
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.
Orchard Valley Ceramic Arts Guild on mon 21 jan 02
Harry,
The various sales events held by our Guild have done very well this
year - better
than the previous year. We attribute this to lots of publicity, and
building up a steady
customer base. (We have a large mailing list of both street
addresses and e-mail
addresses.) We also have a small gallery situation in a local coffee
shop which has
done well, mostly due to the great personality and sales ability of the owner.
The work of our best potters seems to sell itself - the rest of us rely on
marketing. ;-)
I'm also interested in hearing about sales on the web. Personally,
I don't think
I'd ever buy pottery from a website... I need to feel the pot in my
hands to appreciate
it. Are there any web "success stories" out there?
>
> How are sales? I hear everybody make ugly noises about galleries
>like they were organized crime. Sales out of your own studio/store
>front sounds like slow death. Craft fairs don't fair much better.
>How about sales from your website? I don't hear a whole lot about
>that. Is that the way to go? If you believe in your work won't it
>sell anywhere and anywhere being the internet? Those of you that
>sell through various avenues, where is the money?
>
>Harry in Iowa
>still no sight of winter
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bob Nicholson
Webmaster, Orchard Valley Ceramic Arts Guild
http://www.ovcag.org/
Marie Gibbons on tue 22 jan 02
In a message dated 1/22/02 6:10:10 AM Pacific Standard Time,
IowaHarry@MYREALBOX.COM writes:
> I understand that most people
> view pottery or clayart as something more dependant on physical contact.
> Does this impede web sales? Are all these web sites just for show? Would I
> be wasting my time to do it?
>
I think the reason to go into a website is not to sit back and watch the
sales ring up.... cause good ole murphy will be sure to throw a curve your
way if that is what your counting on..... In my opinion, artists should use
the web as a marketing tool.... use it to expose your work, to make contacts,
to be found by people outside of your 50 mile radius.... it is likely that
sales will evolve from the web, priced or not... I almost never post prices
on my site, I have done a low level of selling on it anyway... if people like
a piece they tend to write (email) and ask more about it.... last year i did
about 30% of my total income on the web... go figure.
marie gibbons
www.oooladies.com
Tony Ferguson on tue 22 jan 02
Hello,
Sales have been good, but course I would like better. I am still acquiring
artists as well as defining the gallery. It has been able to support us,
barely. I hope to do more shows and fatten up the mailing list this summer
and next fall.
I am focusing on marketing shortly here (as well as filling he
gallery)--direct email, snail mail, and other ways to alert people of what
the gallery has to offer. I am looking into buying specific lists that are
targeted. In fact, if any other people who have websites are interested in
going in on lists that target art buyers and the like, contact me off the
list serv.
I am a one man show so things are slow. Can't afford to pay someone else so
I learn how.
Thank you.
Tony Ferguson
315 N. Lake Ave. Apt. 401
Duluth, MN 55806
USA
218.727.6339
Stoneware, Porcelain, Raku
http://www.AquariusArtGallery.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Harry in Iowa"
To:
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2002 5:33 PM
Subject: Re: How are sales?
> I am hearing mainly positive comments about sales recently. You people are
> nothing like the farmers I deal with on a daily basis. Farmers grouse
about
> everything, if it was raining money they would complain that their bucket
> was too small.
> It is good to hear about the good business. We still haven't heard
from
> the web sales people. You must be out there, I can see your web sites and
> every one of them have something for sale. I understand that most people
> view pottery or clayart as something more dependant on physical contact.
> Does this impede web sales? Are all these web sites just for show? Would I
> be wasting my time to do it?
>
> Harry in Iowa
> I'm spending a lot of time glazing lately, will be ready to fire soon.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Orchard Valley Ceramic Arts Guild"
> To:
> Sent: Monday, January 21, 2002 11:42 AM
> Subject: Re: How are sales?
>
>
> > Harry,
> >
> > The various sales events held by our Guild have done very well this
> > year - better
> > than the previous year. We attribute this to lots of publicity, and
> > building up a steady
> > customer base. (We have a large mailing list of both street
> > addresses and e-mail
> > addresses.) We also have a small gallery situation in a local coffee
> > shop which has
> > done well, mostly due to the great personality and sales ability of the
> owner.
> >
> > The work of our best potters seems to sell itself - the rest of us rely
on
> > marketing. ;-)
> >
> > I'm also interested in hearing about sales on the web. Personally,
> > I don't think
> > I'd ever buy pottery from a website... I need to feel the pot in my
> > hands to appreciate
> > it. Are there any web "success stories" out there?
> >
> > >
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.
_________________________________________________________
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Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
Craig Clark on tue 22 jan 02
I set up and sold on the street. It was great. There was no booth fee.
There wasn't a huge crowd. There wasn't any competition. I met some nice
folks that stopped to either purchase or talk about the work. It was an
absolutely beautiful day. I was able to sit back and read, think and draw.
To top it all off, sales were good and I've since gotten fruther business,
one couple wants two larger vessels.
Craig Dunn Clark
619 East 11 1/2 st
Houston, Texas 77008
(714)861-2083
mudman@hal-pc.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Harry in Iowa"
To:
Sent: Monday, January 21, 2002 7:07 PM
Subject: Re: How are sales?
> Craig,
>
> Are you telling me you were standing on a street corner hawking your
> wares? Or are you talking about a store front?
>
> Harry in Iowa
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Craig Clark"
> To:
> Sent: Monday, January 21, 2002 9:45 AM
> Subject: Re: How are sales?
>
>
> > I live in the forth largest city in the country and have had good
and
> > bad relations with galleries/shops. I got really pissed off and pulled
all
> > of my work out of the last place that I was in and haven't invested the
> > energy to find another place since. That was over a year ago.
> > My sales are from two festivales (Bayou City Art Festival) in the
> spring
> > and the fall, an increasing number of sales from my shop(I'm trying to
> > follow Mel's fifty mile radius rule), and setting up to peddle my wares
on
> > the street not far from the house (this worked great this past
christmas.
> I
> > just went down the end of the block one Saturday morning and sold.) I
earn
> > additional money by teaching private lessons. I charge $25 per hour on
an
> > hourly basis. THis helps and I enjoy teaching, it keeps me in touch with
> why
> > I started working with clay to begin with and the interaction with other
> > folks is quite nice rather than working in relative isolation day in and
> day
> > out.
> > I'm not making a ton of money, but I'm doing better than I've done
> > before!
> > Hope this helps
> > Craig Dunn Clark
> > 619 East 11 1/2 st
> > Houston, Texas 77008
> > (713)861-2083
> > mudman@hal-pc.org
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> 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.
>
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