barbara arner on sun 1 sep 02
Hi
Things in pottery land are going well - firing and glazing is all coming out a-okay. So what is the next step? I produce so much functional ware that it's starting to build in my studio. I sell it at one store down the shore here in NJ but it's not like it's flying off the shelf. What to do? Craft fairs? Tomorrow I'm thinking about having a little pottery sale out front in my yard - we'll see how that goes! But seriously, it is difficult without a business being that I dont have my own gallery to show pieces. Any sugggestions? I'm pretty much only a few months into selling but the rate I go I might have to move out because these peices are taking up lots of room! Any suggestions would be helpful. I just want to sell so I can have more room to make
new things. Thanks.
-Barbara
don hunt on mon 2 sep 02
I know about getting started selling, because thats about all I have
done is get started. One thing I have found out though, is whatever you
do, give it awhile. It's very incouraging when people remark "I came
here looking for your work" People it seems don't alway buy the first
time they see something, if you do a platform regularly it helps. I
think its the grocery store mentality, we're confused if Costco doesn't
carry the same merchandise week in and week out.
Don Hunt
Kim Marie on mon 2 sep 02
Hi Barbara,
I started selling at a farmers market and having those sales in front of my
house. Now I pot full time as a livelihood. Ain't clay grand!
Kim Marie
In fall like Spafford, NY
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Lois Ruben Aronow on mon 2 sep 02
On Sun, 1 Sep 2002 20:47:36 -0400, you wrote:
>Hi
>Things in pottery land are going well - firing and glazing is all coming=
out a-okay. So what is the next step? I produce so much functional ware =
that it's starting to build in my studio. I sell it at one store down the=
shore here in NJ but it's not like it's flying off the shelf. What to =
do? Craft fairs? Tomorrow I'm thinking about having a little pottery sale=
out front in my yard - we'll see how that goes! But seriously, it is =
difficult without a business being that I dont have my own gallery to =
show pieces. Any sugggestions? I'm pretty much only a few months into =
selling but the rate I go I might have to move out because these peices =
are taking up lots of room! Any suggestions would be helpful. I just want=
to sell so I can have more room to make
>new things. Thanks.
>-Barbara
>
Sell it wherever you can! I made more money selling my work from my
stoop than I did at a craft show. Plus, it was all profit - no
promoter fee or expenses. I have a holiday sale at my studio, which
is alot of fun nd always proves to be extremely profitable. It
requires only local promotion (signs on lamp posts/ad in a local
newspaper) and you get to keep all the money. Also, you can unload
all those seconds. People LOVE seconds. Check your local tax laws -
you may not need to collect sales tax if it's a once or twice a year
stoop sale. =20
On the other hand, I got a large (for me) and very profitable order as
a result of the craft show. The company that made the order (and paid
retail, I might add) would like me to be a regular vendor of theirs. =20
It all depends on what works for you and your work and your schedule
and your life. If you just want to unload what you've got, do a stoop
sale. Craft shows are good, but you need to find the right one and
have enough time to consistently create enough quality work, still
have a life, and not drive yourself crazy. Can't do seconds at a
craft show. You'll also need to take care of the "business end" -
sales tax, promotion, slides, etc. =20
Good luck!
--------------------------------------------
Lois Ruben Aronow
gilois@bellatlantic.net
=46ine Craft Porcelain
http://www.loisaronow.com=20
Orchard Valley Ceramics Arts Guild on mon 2 sep 02
>Hi
>Things in pottery land are going well - firing and glazing is all
>coming out a-okay. So what is the next step? I produce so much
>functional ware that it's starting to build in my studio. I sell it
>at one store down the shore here in NJ but it's not like it's flying
>off the shelf. What to do? Craft fairs? Tomorrow I'm thinking about
>having a little pottery sale out front in my yard - we'll see how
>that goes! But seriously, it is difficult without a business being
>that I dont have my own gallery to show pieces. Any sugggestions?
>I'm pretty much only a few months into selling but the rate I go I
>might have to move out because these peices are taking up lots of
>room! Any suggestions would be helpful. I just want to sell so I can
>have more room to make
>new things. Thanks.
>-Barbara
Barbara,
If you're just getting started selling, the best advice is try
different things and see
what works for you. Yes, by all means try some crafts fairs... some
people hate
them, but others do very well.
Talk to other local potters. There may be opportunities for group
shows. Perhaps
your community has an "open studio" weekend, where artists sell from
their studios.
Are you taking classes anywhere? Often schools have student shows
and sales, which
can provide another outlet for your work.
If you're already selling in one store, look into other local stores
and galleries. (Be
careful to space out your work... gallery owners don't like to see
the same artists
in places within a few miles.)
Good luck,
Bob
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