Artist to Artist: Furniture
| INSIGHT allows artists to share their business insights with fellow craftspeople in the same medium. |
| Cindy Stalnaker, San Juan Capistrano, California | |
I started out making fused glass jewelry, selling primarily at craft shows. I decided to expand my line to include fused glass drawer pulls. The brilliant colors of dichroic glass attract both men and women to my booth. I provide a color brochure (printed off my computer) to booth visitors, which leads to subsequent Web site sales. Repeat orders come in as people replace dated hardware throughout their homes. I send press releases with photos to local magazines and newspapers, generating inquiries from homeowners and interior designers. Finally, word of mouth is a great source of leads. Happy customers can be your greatest marketing investment!CONTACT: Cindy Stalnaker, San Juan Capistrano, California, Gemstones & Bibelots, (949) 240-1446, cindy@gemsbibelots.com, www.gemsbibelots.com. |
| Bill Bolstad, Talbot, Oregon | |
Furniture should be displayed in galleries that have other furniture pieces and a staff that has been trained to sell furniture. A gallery should have enough work on display to attract buyers. Our small tables work well in galleries that sell art glass or bronze statues. When a customer buys a large art piece, they usually need some way to display it. My furniture is sold at wholesale shows and on consignment to galleries. I receive commissions to make special pieces. Because of the cost and time involved in packing and shipping furniture pieces, most of my furniture is sold in the Northwest where I can deliver it.CONTACT: Bill Bolstad, Talbot, Oregon, Bolstad Boxes Limited, (541) 327-2280, bolstad@cyberis.net. www.bolstadboxes.com. |
| Mark Levin, San Jose, New Mexico | |
The most potent advertising vehicle in my marketing plan is the five to seven postcard mailings that I do yearly. The postcard mailings are the least expensive advertising for me to execute but have the highest return on my investment and energy. The foundation of a successful mail campaign is the mailing list and the foundation of the mailing list is the big fish theory: If you’re going to go fishing, fish where you know the biggest fish live. I start with the list of the most affluent zip codes and purchase mailing lists within a few of these zip codes that fit a well-defined profile of clients that I’ve assembled over the years. This allows me to only do two trade shows a year, and very soon, none. CONTACT: Mark Levin, San Jose, New Mexico, (505) 421-3207, mlevin@plateautel.net, www.marklevin.com.
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| Rebecca Abraham, Lake Oswego, Oregon | |
Finding the most appropriate markets takes time and effort to research the possibilities. It’s an ongoing process as my work continues to evolve. What was a good market when I started out is no longer since my focus has changed from unique children’s furniture to one-of-a-kind custom designs. I find that a variety of exposures is successful for me and that includes advertising nationally, exhibiting in retail and wholesale shows, a Web site, donating pieces to auctions, word-of-mouth and sending out high-quality postcards displaying a new piece and show dates.CONTACT: Rebecca Abraham, Lake Oswego, Oregon, Alligator Pie Art Furniture, (503) 635-2353, becky.Abraham@earthlink.net, www.gatorpie.com.
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| Bryan Myers, San Antonio, Texas | |
The best way to sell our work is through shows, both indoor and outdoor venues. And it seems that the weather cooperates in Texas where there is a show every weekend. Festivals like the Pecan Street Show, which is held in Austin, is one of the best events in South Texas, and rodeos held in different cities tend to be great places for us to sell. Wholesaling is our next step, with nurseries and outdoor patio stores among places for us to consider. With heavy craftwork, going out of state is a chore to have enough on hand for what we think will sell. But it seems the further north we go, the more sales we have.CONTACT: Bryan Myers, San Antonio, Texas, (210) 337-2179, www.samscreations.com.
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| Tripp Gregson, Liberty, North Carolina | |
Having been on the “show circuit” for only a year, I may not have much insight regarding markets. Right now, a lot of my marketing is hit or miss. Since my materials vary quite a bit (depending on what I can find), I prefer to build spec pieces and then sell them. Last year, the retail market seemed fairly slow. I’m basing this on my own sales, which generally just covered my costs to do the show, and on what other seasoned artists tell me. Both last year, and this year, I did the wholesale market in Baltimore with the American Craft Council and found the market to be good. Retailers seem to be looking for something different and like the color and variety in my work. This year, I will continue to concentrate on both the wholesale and retail markets, mainly staying toward the high-end craft and furniture shows, and will try to find a combination of price and style that I can replicate to generate a steady income.CONTACT: Tripp Gregson, Liberty, North Carolina, Artisan Woodworks, (336) 622-5441, artisanwoodworks@intrex.net. www.artisanwoodworks.com
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