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As a wholesale artist, creating a web site can present an awkward situation between you and your wholesale buyers. Before you begin developing your web site, it is important to understand the implications of your business decision, and how best to create an online presence that allows you to nurture your wholesale relationships, not compete directly against them.
Follow the following guidelines for Success on the Web, and you'll be well on your way to securing a positive and profitable web presence that markets your work and the galleries that represent you!
SUCCESS ON THE WEB:
POINT! POINT! POINT!
Don't compete with your wholesale buyers by incorporating a shopping cart on your web site. Instead, cultivate your wholesale buyers by redirecting
(or pointing) visitors to the various galleries that represent you.
LIMIT YOUR RETAIL
Consider creating a password for established retail clients or for those who see you for the first time at a retail show. Print labels with this password and affix them to your booth handouts. This method will allow you to track where the customers saw you, as you can create a password for each retail show you attend.
ONLINE PORTFOLIO
Presentation is everything. Allow web visitors to view your latest work. Consider uploading images of works in progress. Or simply cut your catalog costs by making your web site home to every piece in your line. Be sure that your image quality is excellent and at a low enough resolution for even a
dial-up connection to load quickly.
PASSWORD PROTECT
Send a postcard, whether via regular mail or via the Internet using an e-card service, to your galleries allowing them access to the wholesale portion of your web site. This asserts your site as a sales avenue for your most valued customers—your retailers!
PROTECT YOUR IMAGES
Protect the digital images of your artwork on your web site. Be sure to include copyright and trademark notices on each page. One hazard of the web is the availability of your designs to everyone—including design infringers, knock-off 'artists' and competitors.
Look for the February 2007 issue of Market Insider featuring the Ten Common Web Design Mistakes.
ARTIST OPPORTUNITIES:
Women's Jewelry Association Grants
The Women's Jewelry Association extended the deadline for submission of 2006 member grant applications to December 31, 2006. MJA members may qualify for one of a limited number of grants with a value of up to $500. Grants can be applied to classes and/or materials that include industry related studies, as well as financial, business, marketing and other courses that contribute to making us better employees, managers, and business owners in this industry. To download the application form, please visit http://www.womensjewelry.org/awards/member_grants.htm.
Deadline: December 31, 2006
Call to Artists: Sculpture Park, Long Branch, NJ
The Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts(SICA) in Long Branch, NJ, is creating SCULPTOURE—an "urban sculpture park" throughout the downtown area of the city of Long Branch, the promenade along the Atlantic Ocean, and in Pier Village. There will be over 50 highly visible outdoor locations for the installation of outdoor sculpture, such as parks and open spaces, downtown sidewalks, and the sides of buildings for relief sculpture. There will be a limited number of stipends available for the selected artists. The grand opening of this urban sculpture park is being planned for May 5, 2007, and is to be in conjunction with a sculpture festival called SCULPT! For more information and for how to apply, visit www.sica.org or call 732.263.1121.
Deadline for submissions: January 5, 2007
The Mid-Atlantic Crafter Expo, Annapolis, Maryland
The Mid-Atlantic Crafter Expo is an expo for crafters to gain access to craft industry resources pertinent to growing their craft business. The one-day event will feature 30 exhibitors including insurance agents, personal/home business organizers, web site designers, art and craft shows, guest speakers such as Mary Reed of www.ABCcraftevents.com and Louis Marquette of www.craftlister.com, seven mini-seminars on arts business topics and raffles for door prizes.
The Expo is at the Sheraton Annapolis Hotel in Annapolis, Maryland, from 9:00-4:30 p.m on Saturday, January 13, 2007. Admission is $25 if you pre-register and $30 the day of the event. For more information visit http://www.midatlanticcrafterexpo.com/index.php.
Call for Artists: A Woman's Hands: An Exhibition and Sale Celebrating Women's History Month
Exhibition Dates: February 24 - March 24, 2007. Open to all local and national artists and all visual media. Work may not exceed 54" in width. Sculptures weighing over 60lbs must be delivered and installed by artist. Organized by Smithtown Township Arts Council, St. James NY. To apply send SASE to STAC, 660 route 25A, St. James, NY 11780 or visit www.stacarts.org for a Prospectus. 631.862.6575.
Deadline: January 18, 2007
ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES:
Advertise in the BMAC BUYERS GUIDE
If you are exhibiting at the Philadelphia Buyers Market of American Craft, February 16-19, 2007, don't forget to reserve your space to advertise in the special 25th anniversary Buyers Guide.
Space Deadline: December 15, 2006
Materials Deadline: December 20, 2006
DECEMBER BLOG HIGHLIGHTS:
http://buyersmarketblog.typepad.com/wholesalematters/
Check out Wholesale Matters, the new blog from the Buyers Market of American Craft and enjoy the candid discussion topics and wholesale tips offered by the staffers of the leading wholesale show in North America.
http://www.funkyutopia.blogspot.com/
Read interviews with independent designers and artists, learn about sales and fundraising events, and check out new handcrafted goodies in the Funky Utopia Shop.
Quote of the Month:
It's not enough to have lived. We should be determined to live for something.
-
Leo Buscaglia (1924-1998)
Market Insider
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