Connie Christensen on fri 14 jul 06
On Jul 14, 2006, at 7:21 PM, JOYCE LEE wrote:
> David H. said:
>
> "The best way to illustrate the difference between imported
> pottery and hand made pottery is for the potter to sell
> directly to the customer from her shop, 10 feet from the
> potter's wheel and 30 feet from the kiln. It drives home
> the point to the customer in a way that going into a gallery
> in a shopping center can't even come close to illustrating.
> And, it doesn't more local than that."
We had an opening at our guild tonight. There is a gallery in the
front and during openings we also set up work in our studios and
customers are free to go all through the building. It's curious that
most of the sales are from the pots set out in people's studios
rather than from the gallery in the front. Same pots, the gallery is
only a few feet away from the studios - it must be more of a
connection to the potter and process and intimacy of the studio that
makes people more likely to purchase a pot. This happens at every
show we have. The challenge now is to figure out how to get people to
also choose pots from the gallery.
And, we had a great opening tonight, we had it in conjunction with a
wine tasting of Balistreri Vineyards wines. (Yup, John's Mom and
Dad.) Nice wines - especially the cherry wine - great with dark
chocolate.
Connie Christensen
Arvada, CO
www.conniechristensen.com
JOYCE LEE on fri 14 jul 06
David H. said:
"The best way to illustrate the difference between imported
pottery and hand made pottery is for the potter to sell
directly to the customer from her shop, 10 feet from the
potter's wheel and 30 feet from the kiln. It drives home
the point to the customer in a way that going into a gallery
in a shopping center can't even come close to illustrating.
And, it doesn't more local than that."
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In the past I've sold as many pots from my home or from the UglyPotSpot
as I've sold in shows. Generally, these sales have been unannounced =
(except
by word of mouth) with little presentation preparation by me. Most of =
my
sales have been to individuals or (usually) a carload of friends from =
The
City who are spending a gorgeous day desert hoppin'. I've been visited
by many small groups of artists who are looking for something =
"original,"
unique," "different" to be placed in a still life arrangement in their =
paintings.
(How would one even advertise such a possibility?) Most of my home
sales, as described, are accompanied by Back Stories that please me
immensely. Customers send me pictures of my chunky, awkward, round&
brown pots bedecked with plants on elegant patios overlooking grand
scenery. They also buy the pots that tend more toward Elegance which
are striving for Beauty.
I guess I've cheated a little here since I also include my studio sales =
to the
Cactus Lady who planted small cactus gardens in my low, shallow bowls.
Her support did increase my sales to the City Folk since many of them
mentioned her and asked to view my cactus garden.... I'm usually =
reluctant
to point out
to them that we are standing in it! It's actually more like a succulent
garden, anyhow.
The remark that I hear often (even from my own grown family) is that
they bought a pot from "a guy" when they were on vacation. He was
making pots just a few feet from where they were standing, with the
wheel "and everything" in plain sight..... and came
over to visit with them with clay in his hair, RIO on his hands etc and
answered their questions about the making of the pot they'd selected.
They're
always impressed. Apparently they don't get it that I am doing exactly
the same thing...... my studio they're familiar with, however, so it's =
not
as impressive........... until they want to show it to friends and other
relatives, or when one Best Friend of my son told him if you're ever =
again
giving me a present, please make it one of your mom's pots. I mean
forever, not kidding, any pot.......
That made me smile.
Joyce
In the Mojave desert of California USA
William & Susan Schran User on sat 15 jul 06
On 7/15/06 12:33 AM, "Connie Christensen" wrote:
> It's curious that
> most of the sales are from the pots set out in people's studios
> rather than from the gallery in the front. Same pots, the gallery is
> only a few feet away from the studios - it must be more of a
> connection to the potter and process and intimacy of the studio that
> makes people more likely to purchase a pot.
I agree - and, I think there's often a mindset in folks that buying from a
gallery means they're paying more and the gallery is getting a cut or more
money than the artists.
The gallery will also only have a couple of works out to see, while in the
artist's studio there are many more pots to choose from.
But as Connie said, the "intimacy of the studio" contrasted with the often
sterile environment of a gallery setting can often make a big difference in
the mind set of customers.
-- William "Bill" Schran
Fredericksburg, Virginia
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
Tom at Hutchtel.net on sat 15 jul 06
This is absolutely true...the casserole that will sell for $75 or $100 in
the gallery, will only go for 50 or 60 bucks at a street fair or in the
artists studio. We know because of experience with our pots and gallery.
It is also the basis for why you can make wholesale work for you. You don't
have to charge 1/2 of your street fair price to sell wholesale. You charge
50% of the real gallery market value.
----- Original Message -----
From: "William & Susan Schran User" Subject: Re: David/it ain't necessarily
so/wholesale
>> It's curious that
>> most of the sales are from the pots set out in people's studios
>> rather than from the gallery in the front. Same pots, the gallery is
>> only a few feet away from the studios - it must be more of a
>> connection to the potter and process and intimacy of the studio that
>> makes people more likely to purchase a pot.
>
> But as Connie said, the "intimacy of the studio" contrasted with the often
> sterile environment of a gallery setting can often make a big difference
> in
> the mind set of customers.
>
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