|
Karen Kireger Metals – just one example of a strong arts
business.
SHOW
YOUR MUSCLE
Americans
for the Arts is conducting research to determine how large of
a group arts and culture industries really are in the United States.
To have your business counted as an arts or culture contributor
you must have your own free Dun & Bradstreet (D&B) number,
or if you already have a D&B number, ensure that it is accurately
coding you as an artist or arts business.
Why? Because the legitimacy of our industry depends upon
accurate statistics and regular research. Results of this study
could help your state determine how much funding should go towards
the arts or how seriously bankers take your future credit applications.
This is particularly important as non-profit arts have traditionally
out paced the under researched FOR PROFIT ARTS industries, such
as craft makers or craft galleries.
Sign up and be counted. Visit www.dnb.com/us
or email research@artsusa.org
for more info. Act fast! The deadline is July 31.
HAVE
YOU HUGGED YOUR MOTHER LATELY?
It’s
widely recognized that behind Christmas and Hannukah, Mother’s
Day is likely one of the largest gift giving holidays in the United
States. And what mother doesn’t love something beautiful? Something
that will increase in value? Something that carries a unique story?
Sound familiar? For many craftspeople, mother’s (more specifically,
women) are the ideal target audience.
So, one final round of questions: Knowing this is likely
a great sales group for you to target, how have you met these mother’s
halfway this year? What have you created to appeal to these women?
Have you looked at their purchasing habits or their buying profile?
A few facts from the U.S. Census to help you in planning next year’s
hot Mother’s Day sales item:
- There
are 82.5 million mothers in the U.S., in all age ranges. This
is a very BIG target market!
- There
are 23,094 florists in the United States, all booming in business
during Mother’s Day weekend. Hmm… Don’t suppose
you make vases? Or gift enclosure cards?
- There
are 119 greeting card publishing companies in the U.S., making
about $5 billion dollars in revenue each year. Mother’s Day
is the third-largest card-sending occasion with over 152 million
cards given on that one day alone. So, you don’t currently
sell cards? We bet you’re scratching your head, thinking
of selling them now!
- There
are 10 million single mothers in the U.S. today. How about making
a product to soothe them, to pamper them, or to recognize the
incredible mountains they climb?
ACFORUM
FEATURE
American
Craft Forum administrators would like to announce our May Member
of the Month as Judy Balock. To view her profile, simply
login,
scroll down to 'Web Ring' and select 'ACF - Member-of-the-Month
or click here.
SPOTLIGHT:
ONTARIO CRAFT COUNCIL
How does an artist, or any small business owner for that matter,
do more than just stay afloat in today’s competitive marketplace?
They adapt. And this means utilizing the resources around them.
The Ontario Craft Council’s Craft
Resource Centre (CRC), now with a growing staff, is in the midst
of a planning a major space re-organization and the expansion of
resources is already underway. Bouncing back from decades of cuts
in funding, the CRC has evolved to provide an area for perusing
periodicals, portfolios, a bulletin area for exhibition announcements,
and calls for entry, just to name a few.
- Did
you know that by visiting these resource centers you're supporting
the craft community at large and limiting your own consumption
as a small business owner, which means more money in your pocket?
- Are
you a member of any craft
organizations? Do they have a resource center? If so, What
resources would you like to see available?
- Why
not contact your craft organization and request they set up periodical
exchange with a publication and bring the resources to you, for
free?
Click
here
if you would like to learn more about the Ontario Craft Council
Craft Resource Centre, or email Sarah Mulholland at smulholland@craft.on.ca.
Interested
in attending the upcoming OCC professional development seminar in
Toronto, June 17-18? Download a PDF of the conference brochure here.
ARTISTS IN THE NEWS
Congratulations to the following BMAC exhibitors:
- BMAC exhibitor Lori Bugaj or One-Eyed
Collie celebrated with other artists this month for Benicia,
California gallery Studio 41’s anniversary party. Here’s
to 15 more years, Studio 41!
- Rick Jarvis and Alison Baker of You
Can Kiss My Glass unveiled a new line of gorgeous glass jewelry
designs this spring. Called PIQUE, the new line will be on display
at the upcoming August Buyers Market and is currently being sold
to select galleries. You can view the PIQUE jewelry line at www.picqueglassdesign.com.
OPPORTUNITIES
KNOCKING
Interested
in promoting your work outside of the traditional craft fair,
festival, and trade show scene? Consider these avenues…
OR, WA, and CA Artists - The Flintridge
Foundation recognizes fine art or craft artists who have reached
a level of maturity within their own body of work. Flintridge Foundation
offers unrestricted grants of $25,000 to each awardee. For more
information click here.
Deadline: June 30.
Get Away from it All – Montana
Artists Refuge offers calm from the storm. Accepting applications
from artists working in all disciplines, their residency programs
offer serenity, reflection, and a neutral location to let your design
ideas soar. For more information, call 406.225.3500 or visit their
web
site.
Going
Public? -
Urban Arts Institute seeks artists for their national arts registry.
The Registry is a free service and open to all artists in all mediums.
The UrbanArts Institute's registry is the leading library of public
artists in the Mid-Atlantic. If testing the waters of publicly commissioned
art are in your future, be sure to connect with the registry today.
Contact Christina Lanzl, Project Coordinator at 617.879.7973 or
by emailing Chrislanzl@massart.edu.
January's
Market Insider is now uploaded! Why not take a moment to sift through
our archive? Remember, great craft tips don't have an expiration
date.
DON'T
MISS A THING!
Do you know a craftsperson who should be receiving Market Insider
each month? Do you know someone who recently changed their email
address and forgot to tell us to forward future newsletters to their
new address? Contact us at news@rosengrp.com
to be added on the Market Insider mailing list.
Market Insider
Archive - MI newsletters from previous months. |
