Wholesale Matters

NEWS RELEASE: Top Arts Desinations Voting Opens

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Jean Thompson

AmericanStyle magazine

410-889-2933, ext. 218

Vote TODAY for AmericanStyle's Top Arts Destinations

Baltimore, Md. (December 31, 2008) -- Cities and towns across the country are competing to be named the Top Arts Destinations by readers of AmericanStyle magazine.  Voting is open now and continues through January 31, 2009.

The annual readers’ poll showcases the nation’s small, medium and large cities that roll out the red carpet for art tourists and cultural travelers.

Often, these destinations are in unexpected places.  Many towns are recognizing that cultural and arts districts fuel economic development. Your favorite places to buy art, visit galleries and museums, and attend festivals can make the list: Write-in candidates are welcome. Seventy-five cities or towns will be chosen – 25 winners in each of three population-based categories.

In addition, one lucky voter will be selected at random to receive a $500 travel gift certificate for participating in the poll. 

Visit www.AmericanStyle.com to select your favorite arts destinations. A paper ballot is also available in AmericanStyle magazine, now on newsstands. Voting ends January 31.

 

About AmericanStyle magazine

AmericanStyle magazine is the nation’s premier arts lifestyle magazine for arts enthusiasts, collectors and travelers. Published bimonthly, AmericanStyle can be found online at www.AmericanStyle.comand on newsstands nationwide.  For more information, contact Jean Thompson at jeant@rosengrp.com or 410-889-2933, ext. 218.

100 Small Actions #28 and #29

27. Visit craft shows

 

And not just the good ones. Local church craft shows, indie/DIY shows, “traditional” craft shows, country craft shows… you should be able to find something resembling a craft show in your town at least once a month. Sure, not all of the work will be museum-quality, but everyone starts somewhere, and your presence demonstrates your appreciation of all things handmade. Visiting shows is an opportunity to see and give support to artists in all stages of their career, as well as learn what type of work is available and attracting buyers. Before you go, be sure to mention to others that you’ll be attending a show – spread the word.

 

Frequency: Every two months

 

28. Market everything you make or sell with the "Handmade in America (or Canada)" message

 

Stickers, labels, taglines, hangtags, receipts, business cards, packaging, advertising, websites, email signatures, catalogs, signage… promote the “Handmade in America” message in everyway you possibly can.

 

Frequency: Constantly

100 Small Actions: #26 and #27

26.       Subscribe to “Help A Reporter Out” (HARO)

 

Some companies spend thousands of dollars year to subscribe to services that connect sources with reporters. Not anymore. “Help a Reporter Out” is a FREE service that will email you three times a day with specific topics that reporters are writing about. If you are an appropriate source, you can email the reporter directly and hopefully get some free p.r. in a newspaper, magazine, book, website or blog.

 

Frequency: Sign up once and get three emails daily

 

 

27.    Respond to at least one appropriate HARO query a week

 

Some sample HARO queries from the past few weeks that artists and/or gallery owners may have been able to respond to:

 

Small Business owners and surviving recession (Confidential publication)

 

Valentine's Day Gift Guide Submissions (Web site)

 

Bricks and mortar businesses using Internet (Radio)

 

Seeking Green Products for Submission (Attribute Magazine)

 

Entrepreneurial Moms (Book)

 

Handling criticism at work (Major News Outlet)

 

Retailers contending with snowstorm? (Major Newspaper)

 

Last Minute Holiday Gifts (New York TV)

 

Product Counterfeiting and IP Infringement (Business Monthly)

 

Small toy manufacturers hurt by CPSIA (Freelance)

 

Frequency: Once a week

100 Small Actions: #23, #24 and #25

23. Get a website if you don't have one

 

I’m not lying. There REALLY are artists and retailers out there without websites. Unfortunately, the chances that they are reading this are slim to none. So next time you meet one, please tell them they need a website. Now.

Frequency: Immediately

24. Put an image on your business cards; hand them out like candy

 

Whether it’s an image of your work, yourself, your store or a product in your store, a visual cue on your business card will help remind recipients of who you are and what you do. Give your cards away to everyone you possibly can. I often hand mine over before verbally introducing myself to someone, which allows them to hear me introduce myself while they read the information on the card, making a more memorable impact. 

Frequency: As often as possible

 

25. Join a local Toastmasters group

Even if you never anticipate speaking in front of a group, it’s a vitally important skill to acquire. Most towns have at least one, if not dozens of Toastmasters groups that will help you learn how to speak publicly, comfortably. Most clubs are open to anyone, and meet either weekly or twice monthly. As an added bonus, it’s an excellent business networking opportunity.

Frequency: Attend at least one meeting a month

100 Small Actions #21 and #22

21. Take a customer to lunch

 

This is a great opportunity to find out exactly what your customers are thinking. No need to make it an interrogation, but a pleasant lunch conversation should elicit some insights into how you can better serve all of your customers, whether they are gallery owners or consumers.

 

Frequency: Twice a year

 

 

        22. Start an email newsletter

 

Much like a blog, this one tends to overwhelm people. Take a few minutes and visit 10-15 artist and retailer websites and subscribe to their newsletters so you can get an idea of what sort of content you should include.  Your newsletter doesn’t need to be elaborate – a small paragraph about what you’re working on, any promotions or events you have upcoming and maybe a small blurb about a fellow artist or gallery. You do, of course, have a customer email list, right?

 

I recommend using a service so that you monitor your open rates and measure which emails and subject lines are the most successful. We use Ennect for our blasts, and Constant Contact is also a commonly used service.

 

Frequency: Once a month

 

Save handmade toys!

As a parent, I am fully supportive of efforts to make children's toys as safe as possible. But the threat of unsafe (lead-filled or otherwise) toys does not come from items created individually by artists in the U.S. A law is set to go in effect in February that will make it nearly impossible for U.S.-based artists to create and sell toys - from wooden block sets to sock monkeys.

Please visit the Greenjeans blog for details on the new law and links to a number of ways you can voice your opinions about the law.

NEWS RELEASE: Registration Open for Visiting Artist Program at BMAC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Meghan Bunnell

Visiting Artist Program at the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft
February 13-15, 2009
Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19109
info@ArtsBusinessInstitute.org
Phone:  877.ABI.5771
www.ArtsBusinessInstitute.org

Business Savvy for Artists Will Be Taught at February Tradeshow
Seminar Registration Open Now

Asheville, N.C. -- (Dec. 11, 2008)  Sponsored by the Arts Business Institute (ABI) and the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft, the Visiting Artist Program is a series of educational seminars designed specifically for artisans who are interested in wholesaling to galleries, museum shops and gift stores.  All Visiting Artist programming is held during the Buyers Market tradeshow, Feb. 13-15, 2008, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Pennsylvania Covention Center, 1101 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA.

The program includes guided marketplace tours, individual mentoring sessions, and the opportunity to ask questions and network with ABI and Buyers Market staff, seasoned craft exhibitors and other Visiting Artists. All instruction is designed to provide artists with the information they need to take their creative businesses to the next level. Seminar prices from $75 to $210.

Topics & Presenters:

Wholesale 101 - Bruce Baker, arts business lecturer/facilitator and writer
Booth Design - Bruce Baker
Relationships with Galleries - Nancy Markoe, handcrafts gallery owner
Pricing - Milon Townsend, glass artist, writer and arts business lecturer  
Ins and Outs of the Buyers Market - Panel of Buyers Market staff
Impacts of Wholesale - Panel of experienced Buyers Market artists
Group Mentoring Session - Wendy Rosen, Buyers Market founder

Questions? Send an E-mail to info@ArtsBusinessInstitute.org, with “Visiting Artists” in the subject line.

100 Small Actions: #19 and #20

19. Write a handwritten note to a member of the media who might be interested in your story

Finally, a handwritten note opportunity where you can lay the sales pitch on as thick as you want. Keep an eye out in your local paper for articles and features that are relevant to you. When you see that a writer has written about something similar to what you do, write them a note telling them how much you enjoyed the article. Briefly share your story with them, letting them know that you would be happy to supply additional information if they are interested.

Frequency: Once every eight weeks.

        20. Host a special event

An open studio, a trunk show, a wine & cheese reception for your best customers, a Groundhog Day party, an artist demonstration day… just about anything can be done as a special event, and most are quite affordable.

        Frequency: Twice a year.

New Exhibitor Spotlight: Rob Glebe Design

After working as toolmaker, owning his own yacht service and following his brother to art shows, Rob Glebe took the plunge to work as a full-time metal artist in 2006. Glebe cuts steel into multiples of the same shape, which can vary in scale. These pieces are then hammered to form the lines of the piece. Pieces are clamped and tig welded from the inside. The forms are meant to replicate classic pottery shapes.

   

100 Small Actions: #17 and #18

17. Volunteer at a fundraiser & introduce yourself to attendees

 

Preferably one where the attendees might be interested in your and your business – your art museum’s annual gala, or a fundraiser for another similar cultural institution. Wear something handmade. Be friendly. Introduce yourself. You never know who you might meet.

 

Frequency: Once a year.

 

        18.  Donate a handmade piece to a charity auction

 

Again, be selective. Try to donate to an auction where the attendees have the greatest potential of turning into future customers. Stipulate that your complete company information MUST be displayed with the work for the duration of the auction, and included with the item when it is sent home with the winning bidder.

 

Frequency: Once a year.