Working Potter on sat 24 aug 02
I just received an invitation from an artist/business woman to begin showng
with other artists and craftspersons, all to be local[whatever she decides
the parameters will be not stated] with a year's lease in a 3000 sqft
facility wirh the sales taken by employees and occasional scheduled
demonstrations by the artists/craftspersons.
Has anyone here experiennced this selling format and can you relate the
pluses and drawbacks of such a venue,please.
Misty
Orchard Valley Ceramics Arts Guild on mon 26 aug 02
>I just received an invitation from an artist/business woman to begin showng
>with other artists and craftspersons, all to be local[whatever she decides
>the parameters will be not stated] with a year's lease in a 3000 sqft
>facility wirh the sales taken by employees and occasional scheduled
>demonstrations by the artists/craftspersons.
>Has anyone here experiennced this selling format and can you relate the
>pluses and drawbacks of such a venue,please.
>Misty
Is this a co-op situation, a consignment gallery, or ... ? Without more
information, it's hard to comment.
There are a LOT of variables that will determine the success of
this venture, including the location, the mix of work, and the marketing
and sales skills of the people involved.
Since this is a new venture, and the parameters are not yet stated, my
general advice would be to have a complete written contract. Be
sure it covers questions like responsibility for loss/damage, payment
schedule, selection of pieces, management of display space, etc.
Make sure you have an option of pulling out if the venue isn't working.
L. P. Skeen on mon 26 aug 02
> >I just received an invitation from an artist/business woman to begin
showng with other artists and craftspersons
> Is this a co-op situation, a consignment gallery, or ... ?
In addition to a contract, before you even GET TO the contract, you need to
find out exactly what she's going to allow to be sold in the place, so you
can decide if you even WANT to be associated with such a venue. For
example, if there's gonna be a lot of what I call "granny crafts", ie:
things crocheted around Leggs eggs, "antiques", (which very often is a fancy
word for RUSTED JUNK), and the like, I'd take a pass. If, OTOH, she's
going to have high-end work set up in a tasteful display situation, then I'd
consider it, if other factors (contract, display location,etc.) are good.
If it's a situation where you are renting a set amount of space from her,
then YOU should have the say-so in how your work is displayed, and hopefully
you can choose a good location within the store. (I say near the door is
always best because buying decisions are made from jump street.)
Be sure she has insurance that will cover your work at LEAST at wholesale.
Some insurance companies won't even touch consignment work in a gallery. (I
din't know that until I shopped for new insurance last month. I got a rate
of about half what I'm paying now from Erie, but they won't cover the
consigned work at all, so for the moment at least, I'm stuck with
Nationwide.)
Last but not least GET IT IN WRITING. If she doesn't have a contract for
you, LMK and I"ll send you a copy of mine, which you can then share w/ her.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
L
Working Potter on wed 18 sep 02
In a message dated 8/26/2002 4:39:19 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
lpskeen@LIVING-TREE.NET writes:
Thanks for all the hints on this subject but now the lady is suddenly in
the proscess of a divorce so all is not to be.
Misty
>
> In addition to a contract, before you even GET TO the contract, you need to
> find out exactly what she's going to allow to be sold in the place, so you
> can decide
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