In an earlier post, I said I view my results from the ACC Baltimore show as a success even though my sales didn’t cover my costs of doing the show.
My studio, cleaned up and ready for a gallery visit.
My goals for exhibiting at ACC Baltimore (and St. Paul) include not only selling my work directly to collectors, but also meeting new business contacts which helps lead to more opportunities for my work to be shown, and sold beyond the venues I’ve been showing and selling my work to date. To grow my art business, I need to expand my audience – a major goal this year.
Entering the Wholesale Marketplace
I first made the decision without really knowing what I was getting into, then did a ton of work to learn the business model, make decisions about policies and pricing, and set up my catalog and line sheets for work I am offering to the trade – dye drawings, pillows, and scarves.
I wrote my first wholesale orders at the Baltimore show to some Museum Stores. The first of these will ship out later this month to the Chrysler Museum of Art. Marking art to order is a different concept for me, but one I’m willing to get used to. 🙂
Other Wholesale Opportunities
I learned about another great show organizer – WholesaleCrafts.com – from an Artist friend at the ACC Show and I have since decided to exhibit at their 2015 Philadelphia show next Feb. They also host a fine craft wholesale show in Las Vegas which I’m considering doing next year – it is one of very few fine craft wholesale shows in the western US and also has a special one-of-a-kind showcase which would be a great fit for my work.
Prior to this year’s ACC shows, I’ve sent out post cards of my work to prospective galleries and also put an image of my work in the St. Paul show section of the March/April American Craft Magazine – both good decisions:
– I was contacted by and have now met with the owner of a cool fine craft store in the Denver area. Once I return from the St. Paul show, I’ll be taking some of my work down to show at that new venue.
– Last week I had a Studio visit from a NM Gallery owner who first saw my work in the American Craft magazine. We are discussing some potential upcoming exhibit opportunities.
Art Consultants
I had a number of Art Consultants at the Baltimore show express strong interest in my work and believe there’s a good likelihood that some of these could develop into sales of my wall art pieces.
“Lavender Fields”, 32″x40″, Dye Drawing (dyes on cotton cloth) gallery wrapped around stretcher frame. ©2014 Ayn Hanna
Building the Path, Developing Relationships
These are each good starting point connections and some will grow and develop. It’s been great to meet all these new people and talk about how we might work together and what both of our interests are. Developing the relationships will happen over time if there is synergy in where we’re both headed. I’m confident good things will come.
Preparing for and participating in the ACC Baltimore Show has influenced my perspective on the business of Art. I’m engaging prospective business partners with a much more informed and professional business-minded approach.
I’ll be expanding on all of this learning at the next ACC Show in St. Paul this week, April 11-13 at the RiverCentre. If you’re in the Twin Cities area, I invite you to come out to the show – I’ll be in booth 1023 and would love to see you! Full details on the show are available here.
