Darlene Yarnetsky-Mudcat Pottery on thu 6 oct 05
Yes, the economy is a bit soft here. It is better than just after
9/11, but we have not returned to the economy we had previously. I
don't believe most areas have. It has been a while since we did shows
up there, but I have never had a really good profitable show in
Indianapolis. I did Penrod, Talbot, etc. It just wasn't working for
me. However, I have often found shows in big cities to be this way.
Unless you have a huge booth or some sort of gimmick, it is harder to
get their attention. I would much rather do a show in a smaller city.
As for Ohio, they have lost a LOT of jobs in the past few years. Like
Indiana, I think tastes are a little more conservative as well, at
least they were when I was up in Toledo.
I do believe that those with money are holding on a little tighter
right now. In 2001, before the attacks, my husband and I traveled to
shows in about 6 different states. We found that the richer of an
area we were in, the more they seemed to be hesitant about spending -
less of those impulse buys for sure. The economy was already
questionable before 9/11, and it seemed the wealthy knew it.
Currently, I think that the ongoing war, the shock of the hurricanes
and the aftermath, as well as the rising gas prices and talk of huge
heating bill increases have made everyone a little cautious right now.
As for doing shows in malls, I don't think it is easy to get their
attention. Most people come to a mall to shop the mall while they go
to an art show to shop for art. In a mall, you are getting many
people that are not your customers. In an art show that is having a
lot of other attractions (we did Arts, Beats and Eats one year) such
as music or drama you will have many art lovers, but also some who
are there simply to be entertained. Some art shows in big cities draw
a few serious buyers, but they at the same time will bring in many
who are just out for an entertaining afternoon.
I do think that customers are wanting more of an experience, of a
connection to the artist. This is one way that we CAN compete with
the imports. It is important that however we are selling we make that
connection for the buyers. A good flyer about the art and the artist
to be displayed by the work for sale in a gallery or shop, a gallery
owner who is enthusiastic about the work and can convey that to the
customers, an open house or open studio once a year that brings
customers in to see where the work is made... all of this can help
make that connection. Much of this, by the way I have learned from
comments here on clayart (and they have been validated by
experience) There are such good people here who are willing to share
- THANK YOU ALL!
Well I hope my meandering musings here are helpful. I just looked at
the time and gotto get the day in gear.
Happy potting all!
Darlene Y.
Madison, Indiana
John Rodgers on thu 6 oct 05
Darlene,
I agree with you that the economy is uncertain, and that is definitely
resulting in some of that "softness to which you refer, but ..... even
during these times there are tricks of the trade that can be applied.
I have done a Saturday market every Saturday since the first of May this
year. Here is waht I have learned.
There are going to be good days and bad days. Some Saturdays I did well,
other Saturdays I did less well, and there were two Saturdays where I
would have been better off staying home so far as sales went. Just the
nature of the beast. But by being there good days or bad, I picked up a
number of sales after the market was over. People would call me during
the week to tell me they had seen something and would I be back or could
they come by and get the item. Very nice outcome from a bad Saturday.
Another thing - much discussed on Clayart - and my experience this
summer provided me with conclusive proof -- Always have inventory five
times greater than what you expet to sell. Everytime my stock got low,
sales dropped off. When I had lots of pots, sales would be up. People
want to have choices, and low stock on the shelves does not make them
feel they have choices. They feel as if everything has been picked over.
The greater the number of choices, the greater likelihood of a purchase.
Variety - you need bread and butter items and you need high end items.
Be sure you have 5 times what you think you can sell, and have a good
spread of low to high end items. People want to have choices, and low
stock on the shelves does not make them feel they have choices, and all
low end or all high end stuff does not make them feel they have
choices. They feel as if everything has been picked over. A cousin
recently did a show nearby that he does every year. One day show, and
consistently a very strong show--- but, sales were off. He came pretty
close to last year, but people bought only the smaller, less expensive
items. He turned a lot more inventory to just come close to last year.
Big ticket this year was not where it was last yer. But he made good
money. And he did sell one $750 Vase, and one set of 5 pots at $700.
Each of those 5 represented the lower end for his things, but the
customer bought 5 of them at one time. He had the high end- low end
thing covered.
Another thing. Be sure you have a good flyer or brochure about yourself
and your work that you give away to both buyer and browser alike. .
People really do like to connect with the artist. By having a flyer to
give away, I picked up a contract that is substantial - will keep me in
beans from now until next June.
Regards,
John Rodgers
Chelsea, AL
Darlene Yarnetsky-Mudcat Pottery wrote:
> Yes, the economy is a bit soft here. It is better than just after
> 9/11, but we have not returned to the economy we had previously. I
> don't believe most areas have. It has been a while since we did shows
> up there, but I have never had a really good profitable show in
> Indianapolis. I did Penrod, Talbot, etc. It just wasn't working for
> me. However, I have often found shows in big cities to be this way.
> Unless you have a huge booth or some sort of gimmick, it is harder to
> get their attention. I would much rather do a show in a smaller city.
>
> As for Ohio, they have lost a LOT of jobs in the past few years. Like
> Indiana, I think tastes are a little more conservative as well, at
> least they were when I was up in Toledo.
>
> I do believe that those with money are holding on a little tighter
> right now. In 2001, before the attacks, my husband and I traveled to
> shows in about 6 different states. We found that the richer of an
> area we were in, the more they seemed to be hesitant about spending -
> less of those impulse buys for sure. The economy was already
> questionable before 9/11, and it seemed the wealthy knew it.
> Currently, I think that the ongoing war, the shock of the hurricanes
> and the aftermath, as well as the rising gas prices and talk of huge
> heating bill increases have made everyone a little cautious right now.
>
> As for doing shows in malls, I don't think it is easy to get their
> attention. Most people come to a mall to shop the mall while they go
> to an art show to shop for art. In a mall, you are getting many
> people that are not your customers. In an art show that is having a
> lot of other attractions (we did Arts, Beats and Eats one year) such
> as music or drama you will have many art lovers, but also some who
> are there simply to be entertained. Some art shows in big cities draw
> a few serious buyers, but they at the same time will bring in many
> who are just out for an entertaining afternoon.
>
> I do think that customers are wanting more of an experience, of a
> connection to the artist. This is one way that we CAN compete with
> the imports. It is important that however we are selling we make that
> connection for the buyers. A good flyer about the art and the artist
> to be displayed by the work for sale in a gallery or shop, a gallery
> owner who is enthusiastic about the work and can convey that to the
> customers, an open house or open studio once a year that brings
> customers in to see where the work is made... all of this can help
> make that connection. Much of this, by the way I have learned from
> comments here on clayart (and they have been validated by
> experience) There are such good people here who are willing to share
> - THANK YOU ALL!
>
> Well I hope my meandering musings here are helpful. I just looked at
> the time and gotto get the day in gear.
> Happy potting all!
> Darlene Y.
> Madison, Indiana
>
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