Wholesale Matters

NEWS RELEASE: New Year-Round Virtual Tradeshow for Craft Artists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Jean Thompson
410-889-2933, ext. 218
www.NICHEmag.com/Marketplace
JeanT@rosengrp.com

The Buyers Market of American Craft Expands Online Catalog
Now Open to the Nation’s Craft Artists

BALTIMORE, Md. (June 30, 2009) – A new wholesale catalog of handcrafted products is delivering the gift tradeshow experience to the retailers’ computer screen, at www.NICHEmag.com/Marketplace.

NICHE Marketplace launched less than a year ago as the virtual catalog of artists who exhibit at the Buyers Market of American Craft. Both site and show promote American and Canadian artists who produce fine jewelry, glass art, home accessories, handbags and other goods for resale by museum gift stores, craft galleries, gift shops, art catalogs and other retailers.

 

Since its inception, NICHE Marketplace has grown to 1,400 handcraft artisans and studios displaying nearly 5,000 products. The site has just opened membership to the greater art community. Artists may purchase a $225 membership to receive a full year of Web promotions seen by credentialed wholesale buyers.

 

For retailers, this will mean an expanded offering of the same quality work for which the Buyers Market is known: For example, the goods must be wholly produced by artists in the U.S. or Canada. No imports or overseas finishing is allowed. Memberships for credentialed buyers are free.

 

For some, NICHE Marketplace will become “a local annex” of the national tradeshow. Gerry Etzler, owner of Etzler’s Antiques in Keymar, Md. was thrilled to discover the new service. “I often have a conflict of dates to get to the Philadelphia show each year so having a website with the Buyers Market artists all together makes a wonderful way to browse their wares and place orders at any time of the year.” 

 

Opening the site to the wholesale trade during the recession, The Rosen Group has attracted anticipated questions about the future of its biannual tradeshows.

 

“We see NICHE Marketplace as an extension of the Buyers Market, not a replacement,” said Wendy Rosen, founder of The Rosen Group shows and publisher of AmericanStyle and NICHE magazines.

 

“Nothing will ever take the place of the one-on-one, face-to-face relationships between artists and retailers that the show has built over nearly 30 years. If you’re an art retailer and you’ve had to cut back on travel, you can visit NICHE Marketplace to stay in touch with Buyers Market artists. Between the shows, this will also make just-in-time ordering easier for buyers who have that gap in inventory to fill today.”

 

Qualified retailers register for free at www.NICHEmag.com/Marketplace. The next Buyers Market of American Craft will take place August 1-3 in Philadelphia, Pa.

       

# # #

Produced by The Rosen Group, 3000  Chestnut Ave, Ste 300, Baltimore, MD 21211

 

New Exhibitor Spotlight: Cynthia Gorman

Cynthia Gorman’s work is based on visuals that have mingled a way into her life, like the retro style wallpaper in the parent’s bedroom and artifacts she studied while in England. 
 
Each enameled piece is made by fusing glass to copper. Delicate lines are formed out of fine silver. Each piece is fired in a kiln at least 6 times at temperatures of 1400-1500 degrees Fahrenheit. To complete the enameling process, each piece is hand ground flat and then flash fired to bring out the beautiful glowing glass finish. Handcrafted settings are fabricated in sterling silver with a fine silver bezel. All findings, including the earring wires and clasps, are handmade.

 

100 Small Actions: #51 and #52

51. Start a mailing list – get contact info from every sale

It is not enough to leave a notebook open in your booth or next to the register. Certainly, you should have those items for customers who don't necessarily make a purchase but want to get information. You must actively ask for complete contact information from each person who does business with you. Give them an incentive to share their information - "I mail all my customers a thank-you coupon for 25% off your next purchase. May I have your mailing address and email so I can be sure you receive it?" "We're hosting a private reception next month for one of our gallery artists, and I'd like to send you an invitation."

Then, once you enter their information into your contact management software, also be sure to note what they purchased, and for what occasion (if that is information they shared with you).

Frequency: Every sale

52. Participate in your city’s next open studio/gallery tour

Whether it's an art walk, open studio tour, or gallery hop, be sure to take part in these community activities. It will expose you to potential new customers who have demonstrated an interest in the arts (or perhaps just free wine & cheese), and is an easy "special event" to which you can invite your mailing list.

Frequency: At least once a year

NEWS RELEASE: Buyers Market Announces 2010 Dates, New Location

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Jean Thompson, Public Relations Director

PHONE:  410-889-2933, ext. 218

CELL: 443-845-6130

E-MAIL: JeanT@rosengrp.com

DATES ANNOUNCED for 2010 BUYERS MARKET OF AMERICAN CRAFT  

SUMMER 2010 SHOW MOVES to BALTIMORE

 

BALTIMORE, Md., June 18, 2009 – With the goal of improving sales opportunities for fine craft artists from the United States and Canada, the Buyers Market of American Craft today announced a new schedule for its 2010 wholesale tradeshows.

 

BUYERS MARKET OF AMERICAN CRAFT, 2010 Winter show:        

      February 11, 2010 (Thurs.) Jewelry Preview

      February 12-15, 2010 (Fri.-Mon.) Buyers Market of American Craft

      Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19107

BUYERS MARKET OF AMERICAN CRAFT, 2010 Summer show:

     August 23-25, 2010 (Mon.-Wed.) Buyers Market of American Craft

     Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201

 

The biannual Buyers Market of American Craft is the nation’s largest wholesale tradeshow where art, gift, jewelry and fine craft retailers buy directly from U.S. and Canadian artists. Produced by The Rosen Group for nearly 30 years, it is listed by Tradeshow Week as one of the nation’s Top 200 tradeshows.  

 

With revised Summer dates -- and a new Summer location – the Buyers Market will be better positioned to attract the nation’s jewelry stores, museum gift shops and fine craft galleries, said Christine Kloostra, show director.   

 

Mindful of economic challenges faced by artists during the recession, The Rosen Group has been seeking ways to reduce the costs of tradeshow participation. Moving its Summer show to Baltimore from Philadelphia “allows us to keep booth fee increases to a minimum while also decreasing exhibitor costs for show services and rentals, including freight, cases and carpet,” Ms. Kloostra said.  

 

The next Buyers Market of American Craft will take place this coming Aug. 1-3, 2009, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. For details, visit www.AmericanCraft.com or call 800-432-7238. 

 -end-

 Produced by The Rosen Group, 3000 Chestnut Ave., Ste. 300, Baltimore, MD 21211

100 Small Actions #49 and #50

49.   Make the Handmade Pledge at BuyHandmade.Org  

 

More than 42,000 others have already done so. Join them.

 

Frequency: Once

 

 

50.  Encourage your customers, friends and family to take the Handmade Pledge

 

When you visit the website, you will be provided with a variety of tools to help you share the word about the Handmade Pledge. You can send a friend a message about the site or download an image to place on your website or blog. You can become a fan on Facebook or follow on Twitter. Whatever method you choose to use, let everyone know that you have pledged to buy handmade.

 

Frequency: Once after you make the pledge.

 

100 Small Actions #47 and #48

47.  Promote local craft events on your website or blog

 

Much like #46, everyone needs to work together to get the word out. So even if it’s a exhibition at your competitor’s gallery or a show that rejected you, in the end, everyone in the community benefits when the audience for handcrafted items expands. Get out there and tweet, blog, post or update your status with some area craft events.

 

Frequency: Weekly

 

 

48.   Get professional photos taken

 

Digital cameras now offer features that non-professionals had no access to even a few years ago. But a fancy camera does not make you a photographer. And well-photographed, high-resolution images are the key to being featured in promotional materials for shows, magazine stories, and more. Artists should have images of not only their work, but of themselves. Gallery owners need images of their storefronts, interiors and of themselves. And, as we’ve already discussed, these images need to be easily accessible to place on a CD or send via email at moment’s notice.

 

Frequency: Once a year

100 Small Actions #45 and #46

45.        Donate old copies of art/craft magazines to your doctor’s office

 

Not too old, please. We don’t want anyone thinking the contemporary craft movement consists of macramé plant hangers or hand-thrown ceramic fondue pots, so keep your . But those three-month-old copies of Ornament, Metalsmith, or Ceramics Monthly might just get picked up and read by someone who will gain a new appreciation for handcrafted work while they wait for their annual physical.

 

Frequency: Every three months

 

 

46.    Link to artists’ and retailers’ sites from your blog, website, Facebook or Twitter account.

 

Spread the love. The more you can connect your visitors with other artists and craft retailers, the stronger the entire community becomes. If you have a Twitter account, participate in the #followFriday campaign, where each Friday you recommend other Twitterers to follow. If you keep a blog, devote one entry a month to giving links to other artists and/or retailers you admire. If you have a Facebook page, become a “fan” of artists and retailers.

 

Frequency: Depending on your social media outlet of choice, weekly to monthly.

100 Small Actions #43 and #44

43.  Compliment a stranger on something they are wearing that might be handmade

 

“Those are lovely earrings. Are they handmade?”

 

“What a fun handbag? Did you buy that from an artist?”

 

Even if what they are wearing isn’t handmade, they’ll still be flattered that you think they have such good taste. And you’ll be spreading the gospel, perhaps to someone who never even considered owning something made by hand.

 

Frequency: Once a week

 

 

44.    Send a handwritten note to someone you used to do business with

 

It could be a former customer, a supplier, even an old employee. Don’t try to conjure up new business with them – just write a short, friendly note that will remind them of your previous connection. Ask how they are. Tell them you hope they stay in touch.

 

Frequency: Twice a year

 

100 Small Actions #41 and #42

41. Do a postcard mailing to your customers

 

You do have your customers’ addresses, don’t you? If not, now’s the time to start asking for them, and not just with a “Sign Up for Our Mailing List” notebook at the sales counter. Verbally request their mailing address from them when they make a purchase. Once you’ve gathered up a good-sized list of your customers, send them a postcard announcing something special – an upcoming show, exhibition, or special event. Entice them to come with a “preferred customer” offer such as a discount or a free gift.

 

Frequency: Every three months

 

 

42.   Put your contact information, including company name, on every page of your website

 

Now that you actually HAVE a website (see #23), ensure that your contact information appears on every page. This is important for search engine optimization, and also makes it much easier for visitors to get in touch with you directly without having to navigate through multiple pages of your site.

 

Frequency: Once for your entire site, then as you add new pages

100 Small Actions: #39 and #40

39. Participate in your local, regional or state arts council

 

While most arts councils are government agencies rather than member-based organizations, there are still plenty of opportunities to get involved. Many councils produce art fairs and festivals, which require volunteers to plan and execute; other councils have a wide range of committees that work on promoting arts within the community. Not all council websites are easy to navigate – if necessary, just pick up the phone and ask how you can help.

 

Frequency: Join once, volunteer at least twice a year

 

 

40.   Write a letter to the editor of an industry magazine

 

Writing a letter to your local paper (#30) is an excellent method of raising your profile locally. Letters published in national trade magazines will get you attention within your industry. Whether you are a jeweler (JCK, InStore) or the manager of a museum store (Museum Store Magazine), there is a trade publication devoted exclusively to your industry.

 

Frequency: Once a year