RE: How's business?

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RE: How's business? - 4/2/2011 7:16:13 AM

bromley2

Posts: 20586
Joined: 7/30/2005
From: Clarion, Pa.
Status: offline

I have not done well when it comes to sales except for one big sale recently. Lately I have been quite busy making new images and that is fun. I guess I am always going to have to use the internet for sales. I live in the sticks and there are few opportunities for selling. However, there is one gallery and I do belong to it. Also we have a thriving coffee shop that features an artist a month. They featured me in Jan and I had the largest sales I have ever had!! I sold 4 framed images and one print. That for me was amazing...I am still buzzing about that!! I am hoping this may mean this year will be better for me.

I am still trying to tackle online marketing. I am learning what is needed, but having a hard time getting myself to do it. I really hate marketing and putting myself out there, but my sales really show my lack of trying. So, I know what to do, it is just doing it that I am trying to focus on.

Oh, and I wanted to comment...people are using their personal lives to get sales? That is awful. I didn't realize. That is so sleazy.....how do they sleep at night??? Gad!!

C

< Message edited by bromley2 -- 4/2/2011 7:17:31 AM >

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Post #: 21

RE: How's business? - 4/2/2011 8:47:07 AM

imakeart

Posts: 5718
Joined: 6/9/2008
From: Athens, GA
Status: offline

One thing I've learned selling on Etsy is you need a lot of items in your shop. Some say 50 at least and most will say 100 is good. Ultimately, the more items you have the more chances you have of coming up in the search results.

Learning all the in's and out's of Etsy SEO is essential to get your shop to show up on Google and other search engines.

But also if you are selling large, expensive items you need to have some that are smaller and more affordable.

Dawn have you ever thought of making smaller little window hangings? Like in the 5" x 5" range? Something like that might sell on Etsy.

When the market crashed I had to change gears and sell watercolor bookmarks and bookplates. It did help tremendously! Now I'm working pack up to more watercolor paintings, but my acrylics are barely selling anymore.

This past year from Nov 2010 - Present I've sold more commissions, truth be told. I'm not sure what that is about. I sold two 11x14 acrylic commissions just before Christmas. They literally saved my Christmas since I have zero income. I've also done some portraits since then, two kid portraits and a pet portrait in watercolor just last week. Also a custom pebble painting.

I've giving some serious thought to closing my Makepeace Gallery shop (acrylic works) in the coming months and seeing if I can get those paintings into some local galleries. I'd rather have them there than be paying fees on Etsy! Of course that will mean coming up with gallery prices, not Etsy prices.

Just my rambling thoughts...

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Post #: 22

RE: How's business? - 4/2/2011 8:39:44 PM

naturelover

Posts: 23
Joined: 10/16/2007
Status: offline

Yep...sleazy is exactly the word for that artist...
But I must admit that even though it is sleazy it is a marketing strategy

not the most moral one but nevertheless working.

But I have been wondering what to do to increase sales without taking advantage of people's goodness but who are really interested in my business.
Those coffee shops is a great idea C and also bookmarks, Amanda.

An owner of a flowershop shared also a great idea. She has a contract with local hotels and restaurants. Every week she delivers fresh new flowers. I was wondering maybe restaurants and hotels want to rent artl...It is more affordable for the renter and they have every time a different art piece on the wall. The location of the renter will be like a "gallery" but the renter pays the artist instead...and maybe with the possibility of renting to own...At least there is some money coming in and the original can still be sold...

I have sold paintings to doctor's offices in the past so I know that there is a market but now they rather prefer prints to save money so they might like the idea to rent...This way I show that I have their best interest (save money) for the renter/buyer in mind (hopefully motivating them) and that I am also a business woman

. More important, I sleep well

with a clear conscience. Win win situation.

Also, I realized that FAA is not cheap either. When a print sells they get almost all the profit...So in fact their fee is even worse than a mortar brick gallery...

Has everyone tried this idea before?

Ursula

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Post #: 23

RE: How's business? - 4/3/2011 7:13:11 AM

dawnt

Posts: 6162
Joined: 7/30/2005
From: NY
Status: offline

There is no way in hell I could build up an inventory of 100 pieces to sell on Etsy. (Where would I even store them without renting a space?) That would explain all the jewelry stores, I suppose. To work very small in glass, you have to simplify to the point that most of the work looks pretty much the same, and there are masses of people doing that already. (Not that I haven't tried that....and it worked when Etsy was a LOT smaller. Draw people in with the more impressive stuff and sell the little guys...) As it is now....so overwhelmed with people cranking it out and selling cheap, doing the small and not unique stuff seems like a waste of time and materials.

That is a huge plus for the brick and mortars. That, and as Ursula said, not having to deal with shipping, communication etc. (I lose sleep, too, waiting for a piece to safely ship!) If they are doing their job....advertising, effectively displaying and actually selling for you, they earn their commission. It is just always kind of a crap shoot when you're starting with a new place as to how effectively they do that, as well as how well your work "fits" the venue. And I can't help but think that if someone is willing to pay so much, I wish they could just pay it all to me.

I remember your cafe experience, Carolyn! Your work looked so great in there....I'm not surprised you had such good sales. That seems like the perfect venue for wall art to me. It is like having a solo show in a place people actually frequent!

I have seen the rental idea discussed before, but haven't ever heard of anyone actually negotiating a contract. If you get any traction with that, be sure to let us know!

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Post #: 24

RE: How's business? - 4/3/2011 9:41:34 AM

naturelover

Posts: 23
Joined: 10/16/2007
Status: offline

So true about Etsy, Dawn. I encountered the same problem with Ebay. I used to sell on Ebay and even opened a store but I closed it a year later. Seemed that the brick and mortar stores, with their huge inventory and exposure, were taking over the Ebay market...Galleries and participating in theme exhibitions at local events is the best choice for me now. You are right they do have to earn their fee though...

I am researching about rental contracts. In the summer I will gather my courage and approach local businesses...Scary...but hopefully this will give some steady income.

I will keep you posted and wish you abundance and growth in your business!

(in reply to dawnt)

Post #: 25

RE: How's business? - 8/6/2011 11:02:40 AM

natashawescoat

Posts: 13
Joined: 7/30/2005
From: Michigan
Status: offline

I agree with you all. In the last 8 years that I have been doing this, the last two years and the last 6 months in general have been dicey and daunting at best. Tho, if you sell regularly, you're aware that art sales tend to drop right around the Summer holidays with July being absolutely dismal, there is a relatively low amount of sales.

LOOKING OUTSIDE
I've only stayed afloat off of the fanbase I have through Facebook and Twitter. And even that at best, is causing me a huge loss. People are buying less or forking out much less than they were in past years. Even with excellent marketing, consistent blogging and social media use and outside efforts (I went over to Los Angeles where my hugest collector base is) and approach galleries, cafes,etc it's been nearly impossible to make this work. 2009 was so bad I couldn't even defend it as income.

I currently use the following to sell art and prints, in order of most income made:

Facebook page
Imagekind.com
Art.com
Justin.tv
My own site - print sales
Twitter
Etsy

PAST METHOD
Of 2009-2010, I'd only been using Facebook and Twitter to sell. I don't even know how I did that. The audience is totally different and it's a joke to try using those to market. Twitter is still very niche, used by super nerd wanabees and tech addicts who buy only gadgets but you might get a rare opportunity to make a sale or connection to do something with your art. I stopped using eBay and etsy entirely due to a lack of sales and incompetent customer service issues. It nearly ruined my business on there and put me in debt.

I believe things are definitely shifting now that a majority of people are catching on and have infiltrated all the venues we have previously found good use. Etsy and eBay are completely swamped. In my research, I can't even find the selling artists or selling work. The search system is terrible. I can only find Osnat (whom has been on there as long if not longer than me) if I search her name directly. Very difficult to find her just by category advanced searches. Is something off with that or is it just me?

But, yeah. I'm starting to find it relatively or almost completely impossible. A shift in internet use by the majority of humankind and the changes in use of venues is pushing us to find other avenues or die. We may have to leave eBay and Etsy altogether and try places that are new and untouched. However it means we will be starting from scratch again. :/

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Post #: 26

RE: How's business? - 8/7/2011 7:24:53 PM

Melanie

Posts: 109
Joined: 7/30/2005
From: NE Louisiana
Status: offline

Gosh, Natasha. That doesn't sound to encouraging. LOL. Facebook and local art events are what is working for me right now, but it's still very slow. The facebook sales are mainly from local friends.

I'm seriously looking into renting a studio space in the cultural district so I can offer classes. I've had several parents approach me about classes for their children. It would nice to pay the bills AND use the studio for a gallery, especially if I can rent wall space to other artists. We have regular art crawls in our area and getting a studio in the center of the activity would be beneficial.

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Post #: 27

RE: How's business? - 8/7/2011 8:23:36 PM

almalee

Posts: 3576
Joined: 7/19/2008
Status: offline

It has just dawned on me I have not tried to sell anything in a year!!! Hesitant about Ebay, Esty never does anything,Zip at Artfire, thinking I will cancel that one. I seem to be getting most of my traffic from Artflakes problem is people like me and then leave a comment and it is in some langage I don't understand.lol I did manage to double my money on IK and got one small payout from RB. I don't see how anyone can buy anything...let alone art in this economy. But when they do come back I will have a glut worth.

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Post #: 28

RE: How's business? - 6/10/2012 5:01:23 PM

1kelton

Posts: 22
Joined: 10/5/2007
From: 1996
Status: offline

I have a business question. I would like to know if anyone in this forum has experience with Incorporation? I am contemplating this but would like to know more about it. For example, when you select a State for Incorporation, are there States which offer more protection to Artists? I have read about Copyright laws and Art Law but I was wondering if it was better to Incorporate, for example in New York or if it was better to do so in other States? I was just wondering if anyone had experience in terms of this issue.

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Rossana Kelton's Fine Arts
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