Wholesale Matters

15-Minute Marketing Project #2

This week's 15-minute project probably won't even take 15 minutes, but you should commit to doing it everyday.

Right now, make a comment on any one of this blog's posts. Be sure your comment includes your URL (for your website, your blog or both), either in the body or as a link attached to your signature (this is automatic on some blogs). Then tomorrow, do the same thing on another blog. The next day, do it again. And so on.

Continue, and watch the traffic to your website grow.

Blog posts on business

This week's blog post round-up focuses more on thinking about your business rather than your art. Enjoy!

• Rick Segel (one of the seminar speakers at this summer's Buyers Market) applies some of "Life's Little Instructions" to running a business in this post.
• Ideas for growing your small business during an economic downturn on the Just for Small Business blog.
• And, while not a blog post, an article from Exhibitor Magazine on reducing material handling fees... timely given the recent posts here about managing freight and drayage.

The Art of Greening Your Business

You're a hard-working artist, just trying to make a living in a challenging economy. You would never tolerate waste. At the same time, you might not consider yourself a tree-hugger. You're all for doing what's right for the environment, but is there a way to do it that's also right for your business?

Find out by reading this month's Market Insider.

Handmade vs. Big Box

I know it isn't Friday, but I couldn't resist posting a link to a fabulous blog post at Modish comparing scarves from big box stores (Banana Republic, Anthropologie, etc) to their less expensive but comparable handmade counterparts.

2009 Buyers Market Show Dates

NEWS FROM THE BUYERS MARKET:

Dear Exhibitors, Buyers and Council Members:

We've just learned about the one-week gap between our Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft and the ACC Baltimore Craft Show.

As many of you are aware, convention center calendars in both Baltimore and Philadelphia are booked many years in advance and it is not possible at this late date for us to change our dates for the 2009 season.

The Buyers Market will be held February 13-16, 2009 (and the jewelry preview will be held February 12), over the Presidents Day weekend, which is our usual schedule.

While the 2009 configuration of the show dates might be inconvenient for some, others may find the down time between the shows a great opportunity to regroup, rest and be fresh for the second show.

We look forward to working with the American Craft Council and Andrew Glasgow.  We support him in his new role as the ACC’s executive director, and we look forward to continued good relations and open communication as we look to future dates, and consider ways to coordinate future schedules to benefit our mutual customers.

Wendy Rosen, President

The Rosen Group/Buyers Market of American Craft

Become an award-winning artist

Applications are now being accepted for the 2009 NICHE Awards, celebrating excellence and innovation in American and Canadian craft. Winners are announced at a special ceremony during the February Buyers Market of American Craft in Philadelphia.

Professional entries are due August 30; student deadline is Sept. 30.

Click here to see past winners and download an application.

15-Minute Marketing Project #1

I'll try to post one of these a week -- a very quick marketing project that can be done in 15 or 30 minutes.

This week:

Write hand-written thank you notes to your top three wholesale accounts, letting them know how grateful you are for their partnership with you. No selling, no enclosing show brochures, no mention of new products allowed... just a simple note of thanks.

Being your own freight provider

The continuation of last week's discussion of drayage... today, driving your booth to a show.

If you live within a reasonable distance of a show and have access to a truck, minivan, SUV or trailer, driving is often an affordable alternative to shipping your work. Plus, having a vehicle at the show gives you a wider array of choices when it comes to housing.

It may seem simple (and inexpensive) to drive yourself, but be sure to ask show management what their policies are for personally-operated vehicles (called POVs).

At some buildings, union rules require you to pay for labor to unload and load your car (drayage).

Other venues will allow you to do so yourself at no charge, but only if you are in an automobile that falls under the technical definition of POV - a personal vehicle (no trailers, rental trucks, etc.). In cases such as this, you will usually also have the option of hiring "valet service," or paying labor to unload your car. Valet service can be offered separately for move-in and move-out. Bear in mind that move-in is generally staggered, so your wait will be shorter than at move-out when everyone leaves at the same time.

At the Buyers Market, exhibitors may unload their vehicles themselves at no charge. All exhibitors who need access to the loading dock are provided with a move-in pass. The pass includes the exhibitor's move-in date and time, which is when they can access the dock. Each exhibitor is given forty minutes to unload their car into their booth space, then remove their car from the dock. As at most shows, dollys and hand trucks are NOT provided, so you'll need to bring your own. 

Remember, all shows have different rules regarding POVs -- be sure to ask ahead of time so you're not surprised by an unexpected drayage bill.

Free marketing education for exhibitors

NEWS FROM THE BUYERS MARKET:

Buyers Market of American Craft partners with TS2

Exhibitors to benefit from complimentary educational programming, access to tradeshow

BALTIMORE, Md. (May 6, 2008) – The Buyers Market of American Craft, the nation’s largest wholesale tradeshow for products handmade in the United States and Canada, will partner with TS2, the premier conference and expo for exhibit and event marketing professionals.

Buyers Market exhibitors will be able to take advantage of a free two-day (Wednesday-Thursday) conference registration to TS2, taking place July 28-31 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. Exhibitors will also be able to access the expo floor at no charge. Package value is $675.

Among the sessions Buyers Market exhibitors will be able to choose from:

·           Leading with Questions: The Ultimate Key to Successful Trade Show Sales

·           Many Happy Returns: Getting the Highest Return on Your Trade Show Spend

·           Lose Weight (in Your Booth): Creative Ways to Exhibit Light

·           How to Develop and Manage a Budget for Success

·           Trade Show Espionage: What Every Exhibitor Needs to Know About the Spies Among Us

·           Driving a Consistent Brand Image from Start to Finish

·           Marketing 101

·           Strategies to Get Maximum Trade Show PR

·           Big Impact with Small Booths and Small Budgets

“TS2’s co-location in Philadelphia presented an unparalleled opportunity for our exhibitors to learn how to more effectively leverage their tradeshow participation into greater profits,” says Christine Kloostra, Show Director of the Buyers Market. “Conferences like this are often not affordable for the types of small businesses that exhibit at the Buyers Market, so we’re particularly excited to be offering these sessions at no charge to our exhibitors.”

The Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft takes place August 2-4 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. It attracts thousands of retail gift shops, museum stores and galleries that sell fine handcrafted jewelry, glass art, furniture, ceramics, art made from recycled goods and more.

For more information on the Buyers Market of American Craft, visit www.americancraft.com. For more information on TS2, visit www.ts2show.com.

Friday blog round-up

I'm not off to a business trip this week, but suffering from warm weather Friday laziness. Here's a rundown of some recent blog posts I've found valuable:

Art business coach Alyson Stanfield's discussion on how she divides up her marketing time.

These ceramic gift ideas for Mother's Day from Modish.

All sorts of insights from gallery owners Faythe Levin and Kim Kisiolek of Paper Boat Boutique & Gallery.

Have a great weekend!