Wholesale Matters

Buyers Market Wrap-Up

As the summer Buyers Market drew to a close on Monday, August 3, there was a great deal of optimism from artists and retailers alike. Though gallery owners and craft buyers were still cautious, they reported that sales were picking up in their stores. Time to place their orders!

Exhibitors were not only making their costs, many were exceeding their own expectations. Pam Corwin of Paper Scissors Rock reported that it was her “best summer show ever” and picked up 13 new accounts! Several of the artists we’ve spoken to since have continued to get orders over the phone.  

Read the good news for yourself on Twitter. Just search #bmac.

We’ll see everyone again February 11-15, 2010!

Mixed Media Report from the Floor...

Primal Roar in Booth 1610 always gets artistic inspiration from fellow BMAC exhibitors.

Laurene Hunt Designs in Booth 1508 feels optimistic that the economy will pick up soon.

Mikutowski Woodworking in Booth 1302 says this show has been on par with the winter one, and they've even gotten a few new accounts.

Barrick Design Candles in Booth 1402 says it was wonderful to see old customers and meet some new ones.

Mystic Woodworks in Booth 1205 is excited to see old friends.

Lone Kro' in Booth 1210 is honored to be in the company of such high caliber artists.

Gary L. Carter of the Arkansas Craft Guild in Booth 1018 was impressed with the amount of talent on display.

Wild Goose Pottery of the Arkansas Craft Guild in Booth 1018 picks up new galleries at every show.

DAB-T Designs/Beeline Studios Booth 911 has made a lot of contacts and a few sales.

Pistol Designs in Booth 1415 loves being surrounded by such a supportive group of of artists and was thrilled to get her first reorder!

Glass and Ceramics Report from the Floor...

Gersonware increased their sales just by rearranging their Booth (#2100).
Green Mountain Glass in Booth 2713 was impressed by how many serious buyers the show attracts.

New exhibitor Case Island Glass in Booth 2821 was relieved that setup went so smoothly.

Ed Branson Glass was afraid the economy would impact his sales, but he's been pleasantly surprised.

Emily Holmes Design in Booth 2806 is selling a lot of Christmas items.

Siennablue Glass Studio in Booth 2717 applied what she learned from her first show in February for another great show this summer.

First time exhibitor Kapfer Glass Studio in Booth 2521 picked the brains of seasoned vets.

When You Need a Hand...

BMAC welcomes business development specialist Andrea Giles from the U.S. Small Business Administration. She will be answering questions about federally-backed ARC loans, microloans and other programs all day on the Concourse

SBA representative Andrea Giles is on hand to advise BMAC participants.

Congratulations to the 2009 Top Retailer Award Winners

The winners of the 2009 NICHE Top Retailers Awards were announced in a ceremony held last evening during the Buyers Market. Awards were given to 33 galleries and retailers for their commitment to the North American craft community.

Maddi's Gallery of Charlotte, N.C., received the highest honor of the evening, NICHE magazine's 2009 Retailer of the Year award. Owners Diane and Madis Sulg implored fellow retailers in the audience to aggressively promote American and Canadian craft as part of the "buy local" movement. They concluded "Go craft!" to a standing ovation.

The full list of winners appears online at AmericanCraft.com/Top_Retailer, and the winners will be featured in an upcoming issue of NICHE.

NICHE magazine's 2009 Retailer of the Year, Maddi's Gallery, Charlotte, N.C.

Jewelry report from the show floor...

Julie Jerman-Melka of Flying Anvil Designs, Booth 708, didn’t know what expect,
but she says it has been great.

Jill Italiano of Jill.i Designs, Booth 606, is excited for her growing business.

Uncommon Threads Jewelry, Booth 612, is busy making sales and friends.

ABRA Couture of New York exchanges feelings about the show with buyers in Booth 620.

Shari Dixon, Booth 418, is happily making a sale!

Economic recovery help for artists and art retailers

Andrea Giles, a business development specialist with the SBA, will be on the Concourse near the Rosen Publishing Booth today at the Buyers Market of American Craft.

See her there from 10am to 4pm.

Exhibitors can leave a business card with a booth number at the Rosen Publishing Booth - we'll get them to Andrea so she can contact you.

Need help with your rent, supplies, show costs, debt? 

Check out the economic stimulus programs and microloans offered through U.S. Small Business Administration.

There are federally backed loans to help small businesses get through tough times. Some of the programs provide help with leases and rents, some help stores buy land or buildings. The emergency ARC loan will help small businesses with debts.

During her presentation at the Buyers Market "boot camp" on Friday, Andrea urged artists and retailers to contact the SBA district office nearest their home or studio or store. SCORE volunteers are there. Also, you'll find an SBA program to help women-owned businesses.

Details for all the loan programs, including lists of local lenders who are offering the federally backed emergency loans, also can be found at the SBA district office nearest you.  Locate your district office at  www.SBA.gov.

Trends You Can Bank On...at the Buyers Market of American Craft

Tweet your friends. The word is "coral." Color trend forecaster Michelle Lamb gave us a peek into the design future on Sunday during her well-received seminar, "Trends You Can Bank On."  

"If you go away with one thing today, go away with 'coral,'" she said. Not just orange, not pumpkin, but lovely, sweet coral will figure prominently in design going into 2010 and beyond.

She didn't find anything in coral on the show floor when she made her tour (let's all get busy), but she did find examples of many, many other up-and-coming trends: In vessels, the hourglass shape...and the unexpected or unusually placed opening. In wearables, the purple with red undertones, which will be shifting to blue undertones by 2011.

Ostentation is out through 2010, but luxury, she says, still rules -- it's just that the designs need to be subtle with "an extra helping" of value, she said. Quality is king. She especially loved the fine leather handbags of Breezy Mountain Leather, Booth 1727, which are embellished with stone inlays.

You can check out Michelle Lamb's newsletter, The Trend Curve, at www.trendcurve.com.

 
Michelle Lamb of the Trend Curve presents at the Buyers Market of American Craft.

 
Ostentation is out, luxury is always in, but luxury now must be more subtle, says Lamb.

 

 

Philadelphia Premiere of “Handmade Nation” Documentary

The Philadelphia Premiere of "Handmade Nation," a documentary about the DIY craft movement in America, drew a crowd of more than 200 people. Director Faythe Levine answered questions after the showing as part of her multi-state tour.

The event, which was open to the public, sparked a dialogue about the differing approaches to craft between attending Philadelphia-based artists and Buyers Market exhibitors.

One self-proclaimed 'Granny' artist asked "What connection do DIY and indie artists feel to the members of the craft movement in in 1960s?" Responded Levine, "The respect is there, it's just a different aesthetic."

 
Faythe Levine answers questions following the Philadelphia premiere of Handmade Nation, her documentary film on the rise of DIY craft.

 
Fans asked Faythe to autograph copies of Handmade Nation, the book.

Holiday Display

A holiday-themed display brings cheer to the show floor of the Buyers Market. Participants include Tutela Handbags, Booth 1330, with a vintage reindeer print handbag and Scarlett Glass, Booth 2523, with a unique silver jewelry set that doubled as a nativity scene.

 

Catch more than the Christmas spirit at the Holiday Display in the back of Exhibit Hall B: you'll also find the gift and decor items for Hanukkah,Valentine’s Day, weddings and even wine & cheese parties.

Be sure to check it out in person before the show closes on Monday, Aug. 3 at 4 p.m.

 

  

Tutela Handbags, Booth 1330, included in the Holiday Display, Back of Exhibit Hall B.

 

 

Judaica featured in the Holiday Display, Back of Exhibit Hall B.