For all you artists and crafters out there...a website that will provide a link to your website. Free of charge. http://www.trulycanadianmade.com/. This site is a great resource for buyers as it lists links to websites of artists from across Canada.
If you wish to receive a free monthly newsletter that is written for artists and craft producers please send an email to info@uniquelymanitoba.ca to be added to the distribution list. While the newsletter has a lot of info about upcoming events in Manitoba, creative types will find the articles of interest no matter where you live.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Summer Sales
Summertime is often a good time for craft sales. People are travelling and want momentos of a pleasant visit. This year more and more people are taking advantage of stay-vacations. They are staying at home or close to home and exploring and discovering their local surroundings. This is a great chance for artists and craft producers to get local people more familiar with their items. Sometimes in the busy hustle of everyday life we don't take the time to seek our the beauty that is all around us...but on a stay vacation what a great opportunity to explore and discover what we normally don't have time for.
This year may be the time for artists and craft producers to find a local venue, a kiosk or a table in the local mall, or a display on the walls of a local restaurant. Look at all the alternatives that are available and chose the one or two that will showcase your work to the local tourist.
Make sure you get a listing of names for your newsletter...always a great way to stay in touch. Always ask permission before placing an individual on your mailing list. In some areas it is illegal to send unsolicited mail or emails to an individual.
This year may be the time for artists and craft producers to find a local venue, a kiosk or a table in the local mall, or a display on the walls of a local restaurant. Look at all the alternatives that are available and chose the one or two that will showcase your work to the local tourist.
Make sure you get a listing of names for your newsletter...always a great way to stay in touch. Always ask permission before placing an individual on your mailing list. In some areas it is illegal to send unsolicited mail or emails to an individual.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Welcome to Old Portland
We took a mini vacation last weekend and spent the time in Portland Maine. Old Portland is historical and interesting. There is a mix of new and old and there is so much to see and do. The business owners certainly cater to the visitor but they also are proud of the fact that downtown Portland consists of "local" businesses. The large box stores and chains are at the Maine Mall and Old Portland consists of the one ofs. The gift shops, the galleries, the restaurant featuring local foods and the trolley rides, the boat trips, the old train rides and the walking. Walking is the way to get around. The streets are busy and if you are a visitor you will see more if you park the car and walk.
There were numerous opportunities to see and buy local crafted items. A jewellry kiosk was set up on a wide piece of sidewalk. The jewellry was beautiful and well crafted.
The Old Portland area was vibrant and exciting. The shops were inviting and attractive and seemed to reach out to the passerby, encouraging a visit to browse, to shop and to enjoy. The streets were clean and attractive. And the area was appealing.
The business owners and the elected officials have created a destination which is very appealing. There must have been some careful planning and foresight to creat this result. One that we enjoyed certainly and one that we look forward to seeing again.
For any business owner finding the "best" location is always a challenge. But it is an even greater challenge for the artisticpreneur. To be with similar businesses to create a destination is important. But the other products offered should be of a similar quality to the items you are selling. If you are selling fine art for example you don't want to be beside a vendor that is selling a poorly constructed child's toy.
There were numerous opportunities to see and buy local crafted items. A jewellry kiosk was set up on a wide piece of sidewalk. The jewellry was beautiful and well crafted.
The Old Portland area was vibrant and exciting. The shops were inviting and attractive and seemed to reach out to the passerby, encouraging a visit to browse, to shop and to enjoy. The streets were clean and attractive. And the area was appealing.
The business owners and the elected officials have created a destination which is very appealing. There must have been some careful planning and foresight to creat this result. One that we enjoyed certainly and one that we look forward to seeing again.
For any business owner finding the "best" location is always a challenge. But it is an even greater challenge for the artisticpreneur. To be with similar businesses to create a destination is important. But the other products offered should be of a similar quality to the items you are selling. If you are selling fine art for example you don't want to be beside a vendor that is selling a poorly constructed child's toy.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Festival of Crafts
We spent part of Sunday afternoon attending the craft show and sale in Lunenburg. Wow, some really beautiful items. Great fish chowder lunch. We also stopped at one of the many galleries where a friend had three paintings exhibited in a show. Good crowd.
The craft festival was interesting. The work was well made and attractive but I had seen most of it before. There was one booth that had a great variety of hand made vests. They were made from a wide range of materials and looked very attractive. The show was definitely worth the trip. There was a bake table and we purchased a container of home made baked beans. Yum!
The artists and crafters were from all over Nova Scotia and one booth had items from Sydney, NS. This must be lucrative for them to travel several hours, find accomodations for three nights and then the return travel. There seemed to be a good crowd and there were sales happening.
An enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
The craft festival was interesting. The work was well made and attractive but I had seen most of it before. There was one booth that had a great variety of hand made vests. They were made from a wide range of materials and looked very attractive. The show was definitely worth the trip. There was a bake table and we purchased a container of home made baked beans. Yum!
The artists and crafters were from all over Nova Scotia and one booth had items from Sydney, NS. This must be lucrative for them to travel several hours, find accomodations for three nights and then the return travel. There seemed to be a good crowd and there were sales happening.
An enjoyable way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Statistics...
For the artistic soul numbers and business are almost dirty words. However, if you don't know where your customers are coming from and how they are finding you it can cost you resources...time and money. By having a simple tracking system in place to record how your customers found out about you your efforts in marketing and business development can be concentrated in the areas that are giving you the best results. For example if 80% of your customers heard about you through your agent, then that agent is doing a good job for you. If your customers saw your work at a recent trade show or exhibition then that is an event that would be good to attend in future years.
Knowing what is giving you results can save you the time and energy of repeating less effective initiatives. Learn from the past to make a better future.
Knowing what is giving you results can save you the time and energy of repeating less effective initiatives. Learn from the past to make a better future.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Thoughts on Becoming Great
Be willing to risk
Be a constant student
Be a consistent performer, even in a losing cause
Be a value provider
Be friendly and likeable
Be passionate about your product or service
Be willing to dedicate the time it takes to become great
Be a constant student
Be a consistent performer, even in a losing cause
Be a value provider
Be friendly and likeable
Be passionate about your product or service
Be willing to dedicate the time it takes to become great
Where is the Buyer?
Many artists have asked me "How do I find people who appreciate my art? Where are the buyers?"
Potential buyers are often where you least expect them. Sometimes they are surfing the internet and will place an order for a piece of jewellry they see on a website. However, to get a loyal following a website must be easy to find, easy to navigate, and be attractive and informative. If you have a website and use it to showcase your work, please make it easy for people to understand the costs, the shipping and the pricing. Are you showing pricing only in US dollars? Will that be attractive to a Canadian purchaser?
Sometimes your potential customer is the festival organizing committee that wants thank you gifts for a dozen or two. Maybe as an item in a goody bag to be presented to performers, entertainers, judges or other visiting dignataries. Do you have a list of festivals that will be happening in your area? Have you approached the organizers?
Finding a buyer is not luck, it is the result of careful planning and hard work. Have you created your plan? Are you using the resources that are available for you?
More about this topic in future blogs.
Potential buyers are often where you least expect them. Sometimes they are surfing the internet and will place an order for a piece of jewellry they see on a website. However, to get a loyal following a website must be easy to find, easy to navigate, and be attractive and informative. If you have a website and use it to showcase your work, please make it easy for people to understand the costs, the shipping and the pricing. Are you showing pricing only in US dollars? Will that be attractive to a Canadian purchaser?
Sometimes your potential customer is the festival organizing committee that wants thank you gifts for a dozen or two. Maybe as an item in a goody bag to be presented to performers, entertainers, judges or other visiting dignataries. Do you have a list of festivals that will be happening in your area? Have you approached the organizers?
Finding a buyer is not luck, it is the result of careful planning and hard work. Have you created your plan? Are you using the resources that are available for you?
More about this topic in future blogs.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Tall Ships and Art
The Tall Ships are visiting Nova Scotia this summer. They are always a crowd pleaser and attract attention. This year, as in the past, they will visit a number of the smaller communities in Nova Scotia. Some are visiting Lunenburg on the South Shore. Lunenburg is an UNESCO Heritage site and showcases the local art and craft with several galleries and shows. Visitors to Lunenburg expect to see the unique and the unusual. They want the opportunity to wander through quaint shops and select one of a kind gifts for loved ones. And Lunenburg delivers. But so do each of the individuals who are benefiting from the atmosphere and the excitement of the summer events.
What event is coming to your town this year? Is there an opportunity for you to display your work during the event? The crowd is already there all you need to provide is the venue and the art.
Business people sometimes miss opportunities. A well developed business plan with a strong focus on marketing can help you design and develop a strategy that will showcase your work so more people will see it.
What event is coming to your town this year? Is there an opportunity for you to display your work during the event? The crowd is already there all you need to provide is the venue and the art.
Business people sometimes miss opportunities. A well developed business plan with a strong focus on marketing can help you design and develop a strategy that will showcase your work so more people will see it.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Senior Games Events
Every province in Canada has a senior games event. The one for Manitoba just finished and included an arts and crafts competition. What a great way for the 55+ crowd to get art and crafts before another audience. The Nova Scotia competition will be held in September in Yarmouth and it too has a section featuring arts and crafts.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Finding Customers for your Art
Artists are creative, they make beauty from ideas. However, sometimes the creativity stops just short of business development and marketing. And unfortunately for art to sell, for customers to find you, there needs to be some business principles in place.
Who do you see as your customer. Is it the owner of a home, or the apartment renter? There may be a difference in buying habits of these two groups which makes it essential for you to identify the person you see as your customer. If you paint murals on walls for example, the renter may not want to invest in that type of art. They might prefer to have moveable art items.
The first step in finding your customers is to develop a profile of the potential client. The profile is simply a listing of everything you know about them.
Who do you see as your customer. Is it the owner of a home, or the apartment renter? There may be a difference in buying habits of these two groups which makes it essential for you to identify the person you see as your customer. If you paint murals on walls for example, the renter may not want to invest in that type of art. They might prefer to have moveable art items.
The first step in finding your customers is to develop a profile of the potential client. The profile is simply a listing of everything you know about them.
- Where do they live, the area of town, urban or rural.
- Career, profession, type of work
- Sex, age, background
- Associations and organizations supported
- Interests
If you see professionals, doctors, accountants, lawyers, engineers as your main customer base, you may want to arrange a showing of your work in the building that houses a lot of these offices. Maybe in the lobby, if the landlord will co-operate. Or hand deliver invitations to a showing at a local gallery. If you are participating in an arts and craft sale posters or hand written invitations notifing all the professionals about the event may draw them to your site.
HINT - whenever addressing mail, invitations or cards make sure you have the name, title and correct mailing address. Spelling errors leave a bad impression and the item without a name goes into the garbage or never leaves the mailroom because no-one knows where it should go.
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