Vendors as Sponsors

Comment by Tanya Hahne Thornhill on November 26, 2011 at 2:51am

I totally agree. Also, at most markets we are told that we cannot distribute fliers or have giveaways. Those vendors are typically handing out some kind of paper literature and or giving away door prizes to attract customers.

Comment by Annette Piper on November 26, 2011 at 7:02am

You know, thats quite a good idea!

 

Comment by Jillian Cori Lippert on November 26, 2011 at 11:14am

I love this idea!  I'd be happy to have a bit of literature from a vendor in my booth in exchange for a free or reduced booth fee.

Comment by Corey Johnston on November 28, 2011 at 5:43pm

I used to be a costume designer in theatre, and many of our local small theatres use this idea to sponsor actors.  They make a big deal of soliciting donations from patrons, and funnel a couple of the larger ones to pay the actors stipends for doing the show.  They put it into the program, the patrons get photographs with the actors and a couple free tickets, and they're specially recognized at a special fundraising gala banquet once a year.  It's a win-win.  The donators know EXACTLY what their money is going to and they get a tax write-off as well as recognition.  The actors experience an artist/patron relationship that makes their work poignant and relevant.  The theatre doesn't have to pay the actor out of their ticket sales or grant monies.  

Seems to me that there are a LOT of ideas that could be exploited if fair/festival organizers would just take the time to think outside the box.  Creative thinking is what will save everyone in today's economy.  Doing things "traditionally" or "safely" (like raising booth and jurying fees) doesn't work anymore.  Mentioning artist "sponsors" in a program, or providing business cards at a booth, or meeting the sponsors themselves can only help draw communities closer together, strengthening the event as a whole...

Comment by Annette Piper on November 28, 2011 at 6:44pm

I've been asked to sponsor the local art/photography/ceramics yearly exhibition and competition.  In return for a $300 donation I'm offered tickets the preview evening, website exposure and a 1/4 page acknowledgement in the program.    I can't compete as jewellery isn't accepted (and as a rule its not classed as art down here in Australia) so this is an alternate way to keep a profile in the local community.  Most of the sponsors are local businesses and agricultural companies.

Comment by Mark Loeb on November 30, 2011 at 10:30am

As Warren mentioned- the Window Booth spent $2000.  A more typical sponsor/vendor fee would be $3000 at small shows and as much as $10,000 at large ones. 

 

Contrary to what the salesman told you Warren, the reason that these booths want to be in the shows is that they make money from them.  So, lets do the math-  At one of my shows I have 120 artists at $275.  Total $33,000.  That's about what I spend on advertising and promotions> add in tents, security, crew,  and more expenses of $60,000 are common.

 

There are not many companies out there dropping ten or twenty thousand on sponsorship anymore.  If I put in eight or ten commercial booths I can barely cover my expenses.

 

Other options? 

 

Cut the marketing dramatically?  I won't do that.  My surveys prove that the advertising works.

 

Double the artists fees?  Literally. That's what it would take.

 

I look forward to the day when I can find mega sponsors to help foot the bill.

 

So please, thank the home improvement sponsors for their support of the events.  Without them it's possible that none of us would be in business.

Comment by Warren Townsend on December 1, 2011 at 12:41am

Mark, good to hear from you.  You are one of the better promoters, in my opinion. Yes I know the window folks are there to make money, just like us artist.  The ratio of thousand of dollars in their sales to ours dollar sales is not even comparable. 

But as you mention it would be  great to have  a mega sponsor, and I think that has  become some of the problem.  Like I said the vendors are there making money off  of the crowd that the artist bring.  And it is not just the booth vendors that should  help sponsor.  Instead of the $10K sponsors, what is wrong with getting hundreds of $200 or $300 sponsors.  When looking up and down the street all of the stores and restaurants are doing more business then they normally do.  How many of those restaurants and stores help sponsor?  And it is not just the businesses on the main streets it is also the businesses within a few block radius also making money off of the art fair crowd and even the artist. (the mega sponsors are making their money not directly from daily crowds)

Getting off the original subject some, I was at a show and the 7/11 down the street had free coffee and donuts for the artist.  As I grabbed a donut I thanked the guy behind the counter and asked why does he do this?  He said that when the art fair is going on his sales are 10X more than any other day, and spending a couple hundred for donuts was his appreciation.  

Comment by Leslie Turner on December 9, 2011 at 8:08pm

If every store owner who stayed open special hours or had a special sale during a Craft Show put up a little money it would go a long way toward covering the costs of said Craft Show. Hotels, motels, gas stations, restaurants, gift shops, shoe shops; everybody with something to sell benefits when the Craft Shows bring in shoppers.

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