Bambi in Flowers II
I sell my cards at the local Visitors Center – we are a tourist area. This area is geographically gorgeous and full of artists. People from Boston and New York City come and look at the prices that artists are selling our artwork for and they pull out their check books.
Bambi in Flowers II, Digital © Diane Clancy
The going price for artwork is much higher in the cities and often the people who travel can afford to take home beautiful paintings and quilts and sculptures and photographs. There are a lot of beautiful items that almost anyone can afford also! We in the area are working on building the creative economy in Franklin County.
The staff at the Visitors Center told me that the tourists want cards with deer and bears on them. So, I thought I would give it a try to see if my version of Bambi would be enjoyed enough by people to take Bambi home with them.
~ Diane Clancy
Technorati Tags: the creative economy, marketing, tourism
Hi Diane,
I live in a geographically beautiful area, too, with a high per capita ratio of artists. The county is aggressively marketing itself as an art mecca, but because the area is somewhat economically depressed, many artists are also actively looking for ways to get their art out of the county where residents have more disposable income. Besides selling your art online at outlets such as etsy.com, do you ever consider that?
~Sue O’Kieffe
http://sacred-circle-mandalas.blogspot.com
I think many of us here in Franklin County are trying to figure out how to get our work out of the county into other places. That is a big plus for the internet for sure – and partly why I started this blog.
Also, I want to be smart about what I do – it can time, money, energy (and carbon energy) to bring things places and such. I have had work in Boston, Vermont and Connecticut besides western Massachusetts … so I have some idea of how much time it can take.
If the right opportunity comes along (or if I go find it), then I will invest time and energy. But, again, I am working to do this in a way that works well for me.
How about you, Sue? Are you selling outside your beautiful region?
~ Diane Clancy
Hi Diane,
I have had card sales all over the United States and two sales overseas. Here is more food for thought, since you are a more established artist in business than I am at this point…have you considered an agent?
~Sue
Hi Sue,
How have you sold your cards across the country and overseas? Is that all from your website? How do you feel people found you to buy from you? I think our cards are priced the same, so price should not be a factor.
My website, http://www.dianeclancy.com, (as opposed to this blog) probably didn’t get tons of traffic. Also, I still need to get a shopping cart and such to make it more convenient for customers. Are your cards in a site that is part of a bigger network? I am just learning about all that.
I have considered getting an agent – talked to many people about pros and cons. My work is so diverse that I don’t think it makes sense. Also, they don’t take everyone. I am near the beginning of taking my business to the next level.
Have you considered getting an agent?
~ Diane Clancy
Hi Diane, I have another blog at http://www.xanga.com/dancingsun where I have developed a large following over the last year. When people at xanga have showed an interest in my art, I have asked to put them on my mailing list. IOne of the women I know from my blogging community lives in the Netherlands, and I have a longtime online friend who lives in the UK. In fact, he photographed one of the source images I use on my cards. I am asking people to help spread the word about my art. My greeting cards have my (yet to be developed website) address and email address, as well as phone number on them. I send out email updates about my art once a month, more at Christmas time. I want to be persistent without being too pushy. I read somewhere it takes about seven times before someone will consider a purchase online. I feel fortunate for the community following, and hope it will be the basis for a type of viral marketing success for me. Time will tell.
~Sue O’Kieffe
I have been working toward getting together a mailing list. I know many people use special software – which would mean another program to learn …
I have been doing periodic mailings the few years for exhibits or the annual home show we’ve had the last couple of years (3 I think). I just go through my email list and email to those I think would be interested.
I am not always sure how to be persistent without being pushy. In person I think I do a good job – but I think it is a little weird through email – so many people get annoyed by too much email. But I am glad for you that you have figured out what works for you.
I too am working to develop a marketing community online – but you are ahead of my curve on that one! It is helpful to me to be talking about these business ideas.
~ Diane Clancy
I’ve been reading these comments about how each of you market yourselves in the world.
It’s been makiing me think about what I can do to promote my artwork. Sue, you’ve mentioned two different web sites that have helped you sell your work – I’m going to research those possibilities. Thank you for your generosity.
~~ Susan Elkin