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SUMMER FOR SUCCESS
Ah...
Summer's here. Iced tea is being poured and BBQ's are in the backyard;
it's a season associated with a "sit back and relax" mentality.
So what are craftspeople across the country getting so serious about?
Taking their business to the next level!
If
you are considering the wholesale marketplace, or the opportunity
to learn from successful business models, then participate with
other serious artists in the Visiting
Artist Program at the 2005 Summer Buyers Market of American
Craft, Aug, 5-7. Reflect on the nature of your business, the milestones
you've reached, the goals you've set, and keep challenging yourself
to grow and network.
The Visiting
Artist Program is designed to immerse professional artists in
a weekend of educational programming where their expectations are
far surpassed. From a one-on-one mentor session and portfolio review
with a business advisor, to a selection of seminars in a dynamic
Artist
Lecture Series, to hobnobbing with industry professionals, visiting
artists are given an array of opportunities to learn and layout
a blueprint for success.
Seminars
include a Media Café (sponsored by Yellow
Sky Agency), PR Pow-Wow, Winning Web Sites! Part II (sponsored
by C.R.A.F.T.), and a special Web Resources mini-session (sponsored
by Michael Campisi Creative Services).
Educators are also invited to take part through private tours offered
for high school and college instructors and their students, as well
as guilds. Click here
for more info and to download registration forms for the Visiting
Artist Program and Educator Program. Questions about our educational
programming can be directed to DebraA@Rosengrp.com
or 410.889.2933 ext. 222.
Mark your calendars! –Deadline for
Pre-registration is July 18.
BMAC SPREADS ITS WINGS
In 2004, the Buyers Market of American Craft introduced an expanded
Rosen Business Resource Center, offering helpful business
assistance to exhibiting and visiting artists.
In 2005, the Rosen Business Resource Center expanded to offer lighting,
display, and point-of-sale software resources to attending buyers
– galleries, gift shops, and craft retailers.
Anticipating 2006, plans are already underway to grow the Business
Resource Center in a different direction – a separate exhibit
room for suppliers that will serve the needs of both galleries and
artists. Offering practical business growth solutions, this new
area will feature booths from software companies, packaging and
freighting suppliers, arts manufacturing equipment companies, and
MORE.
Help us to help you have the most high-impact show experience possible.
Click here
to take our quick Supplier and Demo Area Survey.
What can we do to bring you the resources, supplies, and materials
you need? Can you recommend any suppliers with whom you have an
established relationship for this new area? Please contact news@rosengrp.com
with additional questions or suggestions.
HAVE
YOU HUGGED YOUR FATHER LATELY?
Last
month we highlighted Mother’s Day as a huge American holiday
which is accompanied by great sales opportunities for craftspeople.
Now, what about those Fathers? Did you create a new product this
year that is just for men, or have you been keeping this
sales opportunity in mind?
So, one final round of questions: Knowing this is likely a great
sales group for you to target, how have you met these mothers halfway
this year? What have you created to appeal to these women? Have
you looked at their purchasing habits or their buying profile?
Father’s Day actually originated in the 1900’s as a way
for one proud daughter to recognize her widowed father’s incredible
feats as a single parent of six children. In the 1900’s and
still today, there is a need to thank men in meaningful ways that
they will embrace. And this is no easy challenge… walking the
fine line between being overly sentimental and appropriately loving
makes it hard to design cards or gifts to reach the widest margin
of America’s dads!
A few facts from the U.S. Census to help you incorporate popular
Father’s Day sales item into your line next year:
Neckties and tools top the list for Father’s Day gifts, and
there’s no wonder… with over 11,000 men’s clothing
stores and over 14,000 hardware stores in the U.S., we bet you’re
scratching your head wondering how you can even get one product
into these stores!
- There
are 22,468 sporting goods stores across the country. Hmm…
Don’t you imagine many need point-of-sale items near the
register, simple gift enclosure cards, or even unique sports-related
merchandise?
- The
dinner table seems to be the best place to present dads with a
gift and the U.S. Census has even focused their research energies
in this area. They found that 60% of children in married households
eat dinner with their fathers on a daily basis and that 88% of
these children praise their fathers at least once a day. Why not
develop creative ways for that praise to turn into a ‘thank
you GIFT’ on occasions outside of Father’s Day?
- There
are about 110,000 stay-at-home dads in the U.S., all in need of
recognition and pampering, and many with working wives who already
frequent handcraft galleries and gift shops for unique presents.
BRING MORE TO
YOUR BUSINESS
Interested
in buying or selling a used booth display? Looking to hear artist
feedback on a specific show? Want to know what gallery owners really
think of mark-ups and exclusivity? Want to read an exclusive interview
with a Top 100 Retailer of American Craft and ACForum Member-of-the-Month?
Find this and more on American
Craft Forum. With over 1,600 members and hundreds of active
topics, AC Forum offers the largest free craft community
discussion online! We’re available when you’re available
- 24 hours/7 days per week. Log on and join the discussion: www.americancraftforum.com
SPOTLIGHT:
ART AS A CATALYST
What do you do when you have achieved the goals you once had for
your craft business? More importantly, what do you do when you have
raised the bar and met goal after goal after goal? For craftsman
Gary Rosenthal, the answer is simple – Art
as a Catalyst.
Formed in 2002, Art as a Catalyst empowers special needs groups,
pulls businesses into community service, and, as the title implies,
uses art as a bridge of communication and opportunity between individuals,
businesses, foundations, and nonprofit organizations.
What
makes this organization so unique is not only the innovative work
they do or the inclusive way they involve such a wide variety of
groups. What is truly unique about Art as a Catalyst is the man
behind the vision, Gary Rosenthal, a 30-year veteran of the craft
industry. Still bringing his metal and glass sculptures to homes
through his craft company, The Gary Rosenthal Collection could have
been Gary’s legacy – a successful business. Instead, he
took even more risk and built upon his dream for social responsibility.
If you would like to support Art as a Catalyst or the Gary Rosenthal
Foundation, please contact them at info@artasacatalyst.org
or 301.493.5577.
To share how your company gives back to the community or to see
your organization profiled here, please contact us at news@rosengrp.com.
ARTISTS IN THE NEWS
Congratulations to the following BMAC exhibitors:
- Louis and Christine Colombarini of Cosmic
Clay are featured in the July 2005 Artist-to-Artist section
of The Crafts Report.
- Lori Bugaj of
One-Eyed Collie celebrated with other artists this month for
Benicia, California gallery Studio
41’s 15th anniversary party. Here’s to 15 more years,
Studio 41!
OPPORTUNITIES
KNOCKING
Interested
in promoting your work outside of the traditional craft fair,
festival, and trade show scene? Consider these avenues…
Judy Raiford Gallery is offering a full-time sales position.
Skills required include: schedule flexibility, willingness
to work weekends and holidays, strong work ethic, interest in learning
new skills, and computer knowledge. Prior sales experience is a
plus. To be considered for an interview, include your resume in
the body of the email and send to raifordgallery@mindspring.com.
Strathmore
Hall Arts Center celebrates the 20-year anniversary of the very
first kaleidoscope exhibition in America with an International Kaleidosope
Exhibition held Sept 8-Oct 15, 2005. "Kaleidoscope Reflection:
20 Year Anniversary," is open to artists in all media. To participate,
download a PDF
application form here, or contact The
Brewster Society at 301.530.0540, or via email
for more info.
Artist
Mentors Needed: Pam Corwin of Paper
Rock Scissors is looking for artist volunteers to mentor artists
taking a craft business class and ready to take the next step. Artists
will be matched with one mentor who would be available to answer
questions and offer advice via email or phone. If interested e-mail
Psrock@comcast.net.
New
BMAC Exhibitors who register for the Media Café seminar,
a part of the Rosen Business Resource Center Artist Lecture Series
at the Summer Buyers Market, will be eligible to receive the following
courtesy of Yellow Sky Agency: A stylized photo shoot on-site at
the Buyers Market with an exclusive publicity component (a value
of over $750!). One artist will be selected and notified by the
registration deadline of July 18. Download
a registration form today! Fax completed registration form to
443.451.7915.
DO
YOU HAVE ART SUPPLIES TO DONATE?
| Karen
Lloyd Pillot, Art Teacher of Halifax Area School District, is
looking for art materials to replace those damaged due to a
serious mold overgrowth problem in the school (caused by an
air conditioning malfunction). If you have any of the following
items to donate, phone 717.896.8851 or email pillotk@hfsd.k12.pa.us.
Click here
to view a full list of needed materials. |
 |
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MISS A THING!
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WHY
NOT...
Take
a moment to sift through our archive? Remember, great craft tips
don't have an expiration date.
Market Insider
Archive - MI newsletters from previous months. |
