Elizabeth Priddy on wed 12 jul 06
It's interesting.
A few days ago, I took a batch of work from my
disastrous homesale to a gallery I love and the
resulting feeling I had was a surge of energy.
I left thinking, "Dammit, I am going to come back in
here two years from now able to buy any damn thing I
want without even thinking about the cost." The
gallery has beautiful high end everything. The tile
pieces I had just sold her were over a hundred retail
for just one and I thught they were outrageously
priced.
But they are not. Even in that store, I did not see
anything of that ilk. They are unique in a field of
extremely diverse work.
And I am charging peanuts.
I am an idiot.
My homesale was a success in that I managed to sell st
least one thing to each and every person that came in.
Trouble is, so few came in that I am now breaking
even by selling in my usual way, wholesale to
galleries. Pepsi Sail managed it's Park and Ride lots
so well that we had zip traffic on one of the busiest
roads in the county. Everybody came in the alternate
route, went straight to the Lots, bussed straight to
the events and then left the same route they came in.
So no traffic at all on my road. My fifty mile radius
had been scared by the hype and stayed home diligently
either just holing up til it was all over or tending
to house fulls of 4th guests. I have heard from a
large sample since it is all over and that is where my
customer base was. Also, I relied on direct
advertising with a postcard and should have put an ad
in the paper, which the woman at the paper said was a
crap shoot considering the strange market that
weekend. On the one hand, maybe I should have spent
the money, and on the other, she may have been right
and nobody was reading the local paper for a national
event.
Argh.
Lucky for me, the work will sell itself, as it always
has. And I am about to revamp my marketing plan to
allow for very expensive work.
Not because T says it is a good idea though. My work
has been moving in that direction for years with a
slight detour of two years off for baby.
If your work is not rationally priced in the hundreds,
you will have to change the work. I know this sounds
too basic a thing to bother saying, but it still needs
to be said.
My work has been moving that direction with me kicking
and screaming that "it is functional!" the whole way.
I still remark that the work can be used for service
at parties even though it is a $150 20x10 chinese
brush painted slab tile. Thusly, I am an idiot.
But that ain't me no more.
"No, they serve no function but to exist as beautiful
objects for contemplation, amusement, or decor. They
fit nicely in the same homespace as a small painting
on the wall or on an easel on a mantle."
I am going to say that to myself about a hundred times
and mail a cd to Garth Clark with one sample piece
enclosed. "Intimately scaled ceramic pieces for a
contemporary decor or collection." Perhaps they might
fit into his low-end retail.
What the hell. It is that. I just need to get used
to it and go with it.
I used to be a functional potter. And there is
something lost as I shift over. But it was not a
plan, just how it all worked out. I dip glazed for 20
years and kept the mindset even when my natural
instincts and progress was moving out of my control in
another direction. That is the way with any artform,
though. It goes where it will and you just have to be
brave enough to follow it and hang on.
Just a little scared.
E
Elizabeth Priddy
Beaufort, NC - USA
http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
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Tom at Hutchtel.net on wed 12 jul 06
----- Original Message -----
From: "Elizabeth Priddy"
> another direction. That is the way with any artform,
> though. It goes where it will and you just have to be
> brave enough to follow it and hang on.
>
> Just a little scared.
>
> E
Elizabeth....as you know and as has been said before here, scared is good.
When you enter the unknown, and aren't a little scared, you're in big
trouble.
There is a fairly good little book (the philosophy is right on, but the
writing is a bit disorganized) called "Trust the Process" by Shaun McNiff
that might give some continued support. Also Tony C's oft-mentioned "Art
and Fear".
Go!
Tom Wirt
David Hendley on wed 12 jul 06
Elizabeth, you are jumping the gun if you are writing off your
home sale after one attempt.
I certainly wouldn't base a career move on one weekend.
I've never tried it, but I have a sense that the Fourth of
July weekend is a terrible time to stage an art event. I don't
know how it is there, but in Texas, really, anytime form June
to August would not be a good time for a pottery open house.
There's no way around it - pre-Christmas time is THE time to
have home pottery sales events. No other time comes close,
but spring is the second place time period.
I don't know what "Pepsi Sail" is, but my impression is that
you would want nothing to do with it, and would change your
date just to avoid it.
I certainly wouldn't have a pottery sale on a weekend when
big things are happening in my area. Here is a list of our big
events, just for a grin:
Mud Nationals (4-wheelers racing through mud bogs)
Tops in Texas Rodeo (this week!!)
NHRA Finals (dragster races)
You gotta love the south.
For several years I tried advertising with the Texas State
Railroad, a steam engine tourist train that passes through.
I got a little business form it, but really, it didn't pay for
the advertising. People who like to take their kids to ride
trains, watch rodeos or drag races, or drive through mud bogs
are not my customers.
A direct mailing to your customers is usually the best way to
reach customers.
Newspaper advertising is a big gamble. Everyone will tell
you that you need a whole series of ads to make an impression.
I have also had success with one huge ad - A couple of times
I made my own 4 page newspaper-within-the newspaper
advertising my open house. This is moderately expensive in
a small town and prohibitably expensive in a city.
If you are in it for the long haul, I fervently believe that
you are better off selling your own work rather than relying
on galleries.
David Hendley
Maydelle, Texas
david(at)farmpots(dot)com
"EXTRUDE IT! Getting the Most From
Your Clay Extruder" available at
http://www.farmpots.com
----- Original Message -----
>
> My homesale was a success in that I managed to sell st
> least one thing to each and every person that came in.
> Trouble is, so few came in that I am now breaking
> even by selling in my usual way, wholesale to
> galleries. Pepsi Sail managed it's Park and Ride lots
> so well that we had zip traffic on one of the busiest
> roads in the county. Everybody came in the alternate
> route, went straight to the Lots, bussed straight to
> the events and then left the same route they came in.
> So no traffic at all on my road. My fifty mile radius
> had been scared by the hype and stayed home diligently
> either just holing up til it was all over or tending
> to house fulls of 4th guests. I have heard from a
> large sample since it is all over and that is where my
> customer base was. Also, I relied on direct
> advertising with a postcard and should have put an ad
> in the paper, which the woman at the paper said was a
> crap shoot considering the strange market that
> weekend. On the one hand, maybe I should have spent
> the money, and on the other, she may have been right
> and nobody was reading the local paper for a national
> event.
Elizabeth Priddy on wed 12 jul 06
I actually told Jeffery after it was over, "Never
again, unless it is Christmas" which goes to the old
never say never quote.
I'm not relying on galleries to hit it big, either,
but they are at least letting me break even.
I wish I had asked about big event coincidence
planning before, as the consensus is that I was crazy
to even trry it.
But I am able to learn, which seperates me from the
fishes...
So Christmas homesale with dedicated mailing list of
established customers. Now what do you do about
pricing? Should I go ahead and put the large numbers
on or stick with my plan, which was to have a full
range of prices? Or leave the big fish for the
galleries and concentrate on normal pricing for home
at christmas?
I have the bags, the cards, the wrapping paper, the
work and the experience, so all is not lost. But damn
what a hard way to learn...come to think of it, it
seems like an awfully familiar way for me to learn, so
I might be the problem.
I didn't even realize that I had never really had a
homesale until my friend was helping me set up. I had
sold from home, but not retail, just wholesale clients
who were at my studio to pick through stuff, or
students getting a "kiln opening prize".
I know that sounds weird, but it is the truth as it
occurred.
You mean to say you can't sell fine pots at a mudfest?
who'd a thunk it.
E
Elizabeth Priddy
Beaufort, NC - USA
http://www.elizabethpriddy.com
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Pat Southwood on fri 14 jul 06
Elizabeth,
If you will forgive me for saying so, your bottom end is well low. !
my lowest price is =A315
I cant sell fairly intricate mugs at that price but 4" high bottles, =
each slightly individual, walk out of the door.
Sooo, - it is o.k to spend =A315 (is that about 30 dollars ? ) on an =
ornament, but not on a functional item ? Discuss .
We can get acceptable mugs here for =A31 in the supermarkets with our =
weekly shop.
I'm sticking with bottles and bowls of varying sizes, a notion of =
function if required as a justification of purchase.
I have an exhibition at a National Trust property next week. The =
Jacobean stunner that is Blickling Hall in Norfolk =
(www.norfolkcountryside.co.uk)=20
I am one of 8 designer/makers who have either attended and/or taught on =
the design crafts B.A. hons at Lowestoft College in Suffolk. U.K.
The p. v is Tues 18th July 6-8-pm=20
All welcome.
And the exhibition runs from 19th July to 31st July.
It will be interesting to compare what sells there as to what solds from =
my Open Studio in May.
Best wishes,
Pat Southwood
Tom at Hutchtel.net on sat 15 jul 06
From: "Elizabeth Priddy"
Subject: Re: I used to be a functional potter
> So Christmas homesale with dedicated mailing list of
> established customers. Now what do you do about
> pricing? Should I go ahead and put the large numbers
> on or stick with my plan, which was to have a full
> range of prices? Or leave the big fish for the
E..
There used to be a rule of thumb that if you divide your work into, say 5 or
6 price categories, let's say 5 for example, and then decide how much total
you'd like to take in, lets say $3000, then divide that by 5 = $600. Now go
to your price categories let's say 20-30, 30-50, 50-70, 70-90 an 90-100.
Now divide the category average into the $600 and that's how many pots
you'll need, in this case 25 small ones, 15 low middle, 10 middle, 7 high
middle and 6 high.
Obviously this is a vast generalization. It also assume you get enough
people there to do the total sales number. If your average customer will
buy $50 worth of pots, you'll need 60 customers. For us on average, that
would mean we'd have to mail at least 400 cards since our average attendance
is about 15% of any given mailing (our list in the 50 mile radius is
actually about 6000).
YMMV, but it is a rough rule of thumb that works at street fairs and home
shows.
Tom Wirt
Tom at Hutchtel.net on sat 15 jul 06
From: "David Hendley"
> big things are happening in my area. Here is a list of our big
> events, just for a grin:
> Mud Nationals (4-wheelers racing through mud bogs)
> Tops in Texas Rodeo (this week!!)
> NHRA Finals (dragster races)
> You gotta love the south.
WHAT???? No Maydelle wine tour?
Tom
Joyce Mullen on sun 16 jul 06
Elizabeth, I've had your website bookmarked for months. I'm opening a clay
gallery in Floresville, Texas next month -- The Blue Parrot. I love the
raku tiles on your "2003 Tile Work" page. Are you still doing this type of
work? I'd be very interested in purchasing some of your work for the
gallery. (And if you're not doing this type of work, what are you doing?)
Joyce Mullen
-----Original Message-----
From: Clayart [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG] On Behalf Of Tom at
Hutchtel.net
Sent: Saturday, July 15, 2006 10:20 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: I used to be a functional potter
From: "Elizabeth Priddy"
Subject: Re: I used to be a functional potter
> So Christmas homesale with dedicated mailing list of established
> customers. Now what do you do about pricing? Should I go ahead and
> put the large numbers on or stick with my plan, which was to have a
> full range of prices? Or leave the big fish for the
E..
There used to be a rule of thumb that if you divide your work into, say 5 or
6 price categories, let's say 5 for example, and then decide how much total
you'd like to take in, lets say $3000, then divide that by 5 = $600. Now go
to your price categories let's say 20-30, 30-50, 50-70, 70-90 an 90-100.
Now divide the category average into the $600 and that's how many pots
you'll need, in this case 25 small ones, 15 low middle, 10 middle, 7 high
middle and 6 high.
Obviously this is a vast generalization. It also assume you get enough
people there to do the total sales number. If your average customer will
buy $50 worth of pots, you'll need 60 customers. For us on average, that
would mean we'd have to mail at least 400 cards since our average attendance
is about 15% of any given mailing (our list in the 50 mile radius is
actually about 6000).
YMMV, but it is a rough rule of thumb that works at street fairs and home
shows.
Tom Wirt
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