Kathi LeSueur on mon 8 sep 03
ccpottery@BELLSOUTH.NET wrote:
>I see some posts asking what's with the 'Handmade' Issue ... why niggle over definitions?
>Let me share some of my limited understanding of why it matters.
>
>If you are selling from your studio it probably means zip, except explaining process to
>customers.
>
>But ... if you are selling at wholesale or retail shows or in galleries ...you may find yourself
>competing with a buy/sell importer or a large scale ram presser who is NOT telling the
>truth about how their items are made. So there you are with a $14 hand made mug and
>there they are with a $6 ' hand made' mug.>>
>
>
>
Many years ago I was at a show with Bill Campbell. A number of artist
came up to me to talk about his booth and what "we" should do about it.
They just couldn't compete with him. I didn't know Bill but I was
curious so I went over to look. This is what I found. Exquisite pots
being sold to a line of people. I looked closer. He had a $10 mug. I had
a $10 mug. He had a $20 bowl. I had a $20 bowl. I could compete with him
on price. I just couldn't compete with him on product. His was better.
By far. My solution--get better. Now I have lines too. But it's not
because I cast or press or have employees. It's because I've gotten
better. I charge what I think is a fair price. Some think I should raise
my prices. I'd rather sell lots of pots to lots of people rather than a
few who have lots of money. I'm not going broke here. People buy what
they like. Rarely does price matter unless there is a dramatic
difference. And, even then most will still spend the higher price if
they like it.
Kathi
ccpottery@BELLSOUTH.NET on mon 8 sep 03
I see some posts asking what's with the 'Handmade' Issue ... why niggle over definitions?
Let me share some of my limited understanding of why it matters.
If you are selling from your studio it probably means zip, except explaining process to
customers.
But ... if you are selling at wholesale or retail shows or in galleries ...you may find yourself
competing with a buy/sell importer or a large scale ram presser who is NOT telling the
truth about how their items are made. So there you are with a $14 hand made mug and
there they are with a $6 ' hand made' mug.
The ram pressers and importers are getting very tricky by leaving flaws on the molds and
by having several molds with slightly different flaws so it looks handmade. They are also
using glazes that run or pool or just look slightly amateurish to fool the public. Look at
recent homeware catalogues and you will see a perfect examples of folkish looking work,
The artwork is slick and professionally amateurish.
They are well designed, well executed and very appealing to the public. Who can blame
the retailers for wanting to carry items that sell? I sometimes wonder why our American
potters are not taking more shots at supplying department stores and catalogues.
Now, another issue that applies ... some big retailers have bought ONE order from
American artists and sent them abroad to be copied and manufactured. We are not just
talking Target either. Some big expensive stores should blush in shame for flagrantly
ripping off original designs. Wendy Rosen spends a great deal of time and money
tracking this down and attempting to prosecute the offenders ... with some success. The
stores bring these items back in and sell them as if they were hand crafted and devalue
the whole process.
So while it seems that we are getting our underwear in a bunch about small details, the
larger picture is much more intense. It entails the survival of the hand crafter.
I am not prone to caring diddley about how any artist creates their work ... run a hundred
ram presses and knock out items by the thousands ..... sell them by the trainload ... just
tell the truth !!!
It should be obvious to the person of average intelligence that one pottery could not be
hand throwing tens of thousands of dishes .. but it's not. They only know what they like,
what is the right color, and what is available in their price range.
Until you find yourself competing head to head with this you don't really understand ... but
sit through a few long weekends next to one of these booths and you will feel like you've
earned your PhD in the subject.
Chris Campbell - in North Carolina - been there, got the t-shirt ... but I think the shirt was
made off shore since all the textile companies here are gone !
Janet Kaiser on tue 9 sep 03
Kathi LeSueur is my kind of gal! That is truly the one and only
way to go! Thanks for hitting the nail on the head, Kathi!
Sincerely
Janet Kaiser
*** IN REPLY TO THE FOLLOWING MAIL:
*** From: Kathi LeSueur
*** E-address: klesueur@AOL.COM
*** Sent: 08/09/2003 Time: 18:33
>Many years ago I was at a show with Bill Campbell. A number of
artist
>came up to me to talk about his booth and what "we" should do
about it.
>They just couldn't compete with him. I didn't know Bill but I
was
>curious so I went over to look. This is what I found. Exquisite
pots
>being sold to a line of people. I looked closer. He had a $10
mug. I had
>a $10 mug. He had a $20 bowl. I had a $20 bowl. I could compete
with him
>on price. I just couldn't compete with him on product. His was
better.
>By far. My solution--get better. Now I have lines too. But it's
not
>because I cast or press or have employees. It's because I've
gotten
>better. I charge what I think is a fair price. Some think I
should raise
>my prices. I'd rather sell lots of pots to lots of people rather
than a
>few who have lots of money. I'm not going broke here. People buy
what
>they like. Rarely does price matter unless there is a dramatic
>difference. And, even then most will still spend the higher
price if
>they like it.
*** THE MAIL FROM Kathi LeSueur ENDS HERE ***
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