Crafts Report: Public Opinion

WHAT'S YOUR OPINION?

Each month, The Crafts Report invites readers to respond to the Public Opinion question. Responses are published in the magazine.

This month’s question is: Do you think artists who employ assistants should be allowed to exhibit in handmade shows?

Please respond by Mar. 8, 2002. Responses to this question will appear in the May 2002 issue.

E-mail:
publicopinion@craftsreport.com; or CLICK HERE

Send responses to: “Public Opinion,” The Crafts Report, 300 Water St., Wilmington, DE 19801; fax: (302) 656-4894.

Anonymous responses will no longer be published.

We buy most of the work in our store outright, but do have a few local artists’ work on consignment. One artist pre-prices her work with a 60/40 split in her favor. The others tell us what they need to make on each piece and leave the pricing up to us, since we have a good feel for what the perceived value is. The average retail comes close to 50/50.

We have only had one artist who had a problem with this (they thought they should receive 70 percent of selling price). After explaining we are paying to advertise (television and print), house (rent, utilities, gift-wrapping supplies, etc.) and promote their work in the store, they had a clearer picture of the partnership.

A new local artist brought in her work for us to consider for consignment. She had never sold her work anywhere before, so we tested the pricing with gradual increases. The first pieces were priced at $17 (50/50), and flew out of the shop. We raised them to $27 each and they still sell well. In a sense, we are her test market and she provides art our customers just love.

We charge a 40 percent consignment fee for a three-month trial period for new artisans. If sales warrant, [we offer the] option of a wholesale agreement or continue the consignment agreement at the artisan’s discretion.

I arrived at the 40 percent commission on consignment crafts [because I] have sold work in the past on consignment [and] strongly feel anything more than 40 percent is taking advantage of the artisans. Due to lack of quality with many new craft artisans, I turn away more work than I accept on consignment these days!

We used to charge 30 percent for consignment, but found that we couldn’t afford to promote the work in the gallery as much as we would like to. Now, we charge 40 percent on consignment pieces and feel that everyone involved is happy.

We just started doing consignment contracts that spell out what our responsibility is to the artist. We strive to promote their work while it is in the gallery, and hope that they will promote our shop in return.

We charge a 20 percent rate in my store. I think the 20 percent covers staff time and overhead these products take up, with a little extra left over. But the other crafters advertise through craft shows for me (no cost to me) to further sell their products, which often adds extra sales for me. It’s a win/win [situation] for me and the other crafters.