Approaching a new gallery

I'm hoping someone might have some feedback / suggestions for us on how to best approach 2 new galleries we're interested in.

Today we have our pieces in 3 galleries, after deciding to drop out of one of the galleries we were in due to some inventory / bookkeeping issues. We're working to replace that gallery and perhaps add one more. The galleries we're in today are not ones we actively pursued, all of them were galleries owners / reps who found us at shows and approached us so we didn't have to make the initial contact.

Some artists friends of our have other friends who own a gallery on the Big Island in Hawaii where we are going later this year for vacation. Our artist friends are absolutely positive that these owners would like our work and they think we would sell well through that gallery.

The other gallery is one we wandered into over the 4th of July weekend while we were on a mini-vacation in a tourist town. We are now going to be back in that same town for a show in late August and are trying to determine when and what would be the best method to contact the gallery owner to see if they wanted to meet us on a weeknight instead of weekend which is their busiest time.

So, looking for suggestions, best method of contact, snail mail, email or phone?

How far in advance of when we have a planned visit? 2 weeks, a month?

Do you send any sample images or a link to your website?

Any suggestions or experiences on what works, what doesn't work etc. would be appreciated.

Thanks

I made a cd with all of my info on it. I was fortunate enought that one gallery I called on had the manager present with a few moments to look at the cd immediately. She loved the cd, and said it made it much easier for her. But, not five minutes later I showed up at another gallery and was told that the owner will only see work in person, and would throw the cd away. I have also left a card with my website address at a gallery, the guy working there was almost rude and dismissive, perhaps what I get for "cold calling," but I just wanted to drop off a card. I was contacted by them by email about a month later. It just seems to depend highly on the gallery. I like to show up in person with a card, and a cd.

Replies

- Ruth Finkenbiner > Jacki Bilsborrow July 27, 2011 at 9:55am
  
  Thanks Frances!
  - Kimberly Merck- Moore > Ruth Finkenbiner July 27, 2011 at 11:02am
    
    I made a cd with all of my info on it. I was fortunate enought that one gallery I called on had the manager present with a few moments to look at the cd immediately. She loved the cd, and said it made it much easier for her. But, not five minutes later I showed up at another gallery and was told that the owner will only see work in person, and would throw the cd away. I have also left a card with my website address at a gallery, the guy working there was almost rude and dismissive, perhaps what I get for "cold calling," but I just wanted to drop off a card. I was contacted by them by email about a month later. It just seems to depend highly on the gallery. I like to show up in person with a card, and a cd.
    - Ruth Finkenbiner > Kimberly Merck- Moore July 27, 2011 at 11:53am
      
      We thought about just showing up, but then we remembered how many times we have complained about web designers, marketing gurus, etc. that show up in our booth in the middle of a show with their sales pitch, usually when it's peak hours for attendance and decided we should probably contact them first. Plus, the Hawaii gallery will be while we are on vacation and if they aren't interested I quite frankly don't want to waste my precious vacation time.
      
      I like the CD idea, we'll see what happens.
      
      Thanks for the input.

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