inventory - Forum - Art Fair Insiders2024-03-28T20:26:41Zhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/feed/tag/inventoryNeptune Festival Inventory For Beginnerhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/neptune-festival-inventory-for-beginner2021-07-19T11:17:24.000Z2021-07-19T11:17:24.000ZJeremy Gibsonhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/JeremyGibson<div><p>Good morning all,</p>
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<p>I was accepted into the Neptune Festival in September as an awards-eligible exhibitor, but as this is my first art show, I am a little overwhelmed as to what to expect in terms of inventory needed on hand. I see that the awards-eligibility restricts my numbered prints to 250 per, not that it should be an issue!</p>
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<p>What I am looking at in particular is if it's better to take more unique photos and a lesser quantity of papers for each, or, do I do the opposite and take less unique photos and more papers of each? And with that in mind, anyone who has done this festival or one of similar scope in the past, what was your weekend sales like? I intend to do 8x10; 11x14; 12x18 paper prints plus metals and acrylics of different images.</p>
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<p>If you have any other tips, please feel free to throw them out there, too! I'd appreciate any insight provided.</p>
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<p>Thanks so much, everybody!</p>
<p>Jeremy Gibson</p></div>What do you do with your inventory after you throw in the towel?https://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/what-do-you-do-with-your-inventory-after-you-throw-in-the-towel2019-01-27T21:55:20.000Z2019-01-27T21:55:20.000ZSheri Kowalskihttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/SheriKowalski<div><p>What do you do when you need to get rid of your artwork but hate the thought of giving it away after all the work and money you put into it? My stomach flips at the thought of donating the thousands of dollars in prints I had made up when I first started. <br/> <br/> I am a photographer and tried art fairs for two years with very little success. I got in great shows, won awards, but didn't make any money. I sold my tent and display last winter and still have bins of my photography full of packaged prints. I also have large canvases in boxes as well. I've moved to a small home with no garage and do not have storage for this artwork. My parents were storing some of my work, but they are now moving and can't do it anymore. I've tried selling on etsy, but it's very slow moving.<br/> <br/> I need and want to live more minimally. I don't want to have anxiety every time I walk into my laundry room full of photographs that didn't sell. Has anyone encountered this? Should I bite the bullet and just donate it all? <br/> <br/> Thanks!<br/> <br/> <a href="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/902311760?profile=original" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><img src="https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/902311760?profile=RESIZE_710x" class="align-left"/></a></p></div>Edition number trackinghttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/edition-number-tracking2018-04-28T20:46:17.000Z2018-04-28T20:46:17.000ZLarry Sohnhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/LarrySohn<div><p>Primarily photographers and possibly painters might have an answer.</p>
<p>ALL of my work is done in limited editions, for any one particular Art work.</p>
<p>I am looking for a system to track edition numbers, for my copies, in my inventory.</p>
<p>I already, hand sign EVERY print, with the edition #:</p>
<p>Example: 3/250 or 5/100 etc.</p>
<p>I also put this in the COA that accompanies the Art work.</p>
<p>This allows me to keep it with the art work. Then at point of sale, I can enter it into the receipt.</p>
<p>However, when working in my shop, I would like to know what the edition number, that I've reached, is. Then I can number the new piece accordingly. It is very important I keep this accurate.</p>
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<p>I know I can go back through the receipts to see what sells, however that is not efficient.</p>
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<p>Although I am not an advocate of Square, it is what I use at POS.</p>
<p>However I do not find a good way to input that data into the inventory, prior to shows.</p>
<p>Example: I might be bring 5 copies of one particular art piece to a show... 11/250, 12/250, 18/250, 19/250 & 24/250.</p>
<p>I would have to create new items, for every edition, instead of just an inventory count.</p>
<p>I am not proficient with Square, mostly because I don't like it, so I don't want to learn it better :-)</p>
<p>I've talked with the Square support people. Mostly useless.</p>
<p>Anybody have a good system?</p>
<p>In Square would help, however I'm up for other ideas.</p>
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<p>This is not a matter of just a few pieces. I have a fairly large inventory.</p>
<p>If the only solution entails they be in consecutive integers, I can handle that by just hand doing the, out of order ones, until I'm back to sequential.</p>
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<p></p></div>New to Art Festivals Photographer With Questionshttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/new-to-art-festivals-photographer-with-questions2018-04-23T18:53:18.000Z2018-04-23T18:53:18.000ZAubrey David McManushttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/AubreyDavidMcManus<div><p>I am a complete newbie to art fairs and have many questions. I am a photographer specializing in nature including animals, birds, land/seascapes, sunrise/sets and abstracts.</p>
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<p>My first show is May 12th in Oriental, NC</p>
<p>My questions are about printing and inventory.</p>
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<li>Do you print with a border (1 or 2” per side) or not to allow for buyers to frame their own</li>
<li>My ratio is 4x6 and I print as 16 x 24 and 24 x 36 both portrait and landscape. If I print with a border, what should the image size be? 24 x 26 including the border or 28 x 40 with the border?</li>
<li>Should I use a 3/8” foam backing or mount on a stiff backing and add a mat for the items in the bins?</li>
<li>How much inventory should I start with? I have no idea which images may sell. I have to balance inventory and costs as most people probably do. I was thinking no mare than 3 of each size. Is that enough or too many to start with?</li>
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<p>I appreciate any feedback or direction to other resources.</p>
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<p>Best regards,</p>
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<p>David</p>
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<p>David McManus Photography</p>
<p>Raleigh, NC</p></div>Road trip inventory Fine Art showshttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/road-trip-inventory-fine-art-shows2016-12-06T14:58:36.000Z2016-12-06T14:58:36.000ZLarry Sohnhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/LarrySohn<div><p>Trying to get ideas on inventory for a long road trip to numerous Fine Art Shows.</p>
<p>Medium: Photography</p>
<p>I shoot, print, cut my mats, mount, frame and cut my acrylic myself.</p>
<p>Therefore, replenishment while out on the road is not feasible.</p>
<p>Obviously I wont know which type of my work sells well, in advance.</p>
<p>Different shows and geographic locations may affect what type of pieces sell also.</p>
<p>I do not price my work in the thousands, therefore I must sell many pieces to be profitable.</p>
<p>How many pieces to bring?</p>
<p>I am planning on only 2 or 3 sizes. Any particular image will likely be in only one size.</p>
<p>If I bring many copies of the same work it is redundant, lessens value of said piece. Also if that piece is not the good seller than it takes up space.</p>
<p>More varied pieces / selection covers that but reduces room for repeats of good selling pieces.</p>
<p>If many patrons travel to the different shows, I would think having different pieces at the varied shows to be better.</p>
<p>I could teach someone to cut my mats and print my work however then it is no longer "my complete work".</p>
<p>How many prints do most photogs carry with them for extended trips?</p>
<p>*** Categorized by size would help ***</p>
<p>How many extra frames to carry? The frames are the worst problem. Bulky, prone to damage. They take up a lot of room.</p>
<p>I can precut many mats, and do up frames prior to the trip, then have someone overnight ship them to my location if I run low. Problems from this scenario:</p>
<p>1) Doing my conservation hinging & mounting in hotel rooms at night.</p>
<p>2) What size mats to precut as my pieces are matted to standard sizes for framing however the inner window is not. Each photo is sized (aspect ratio) dependent on what is best for that image. Hence each mat is cut for that image.</p>
<p>3) High costs of fast shipping.</p>
<p>--- I'm confident someone will state:---</p>
<p>A). I should try the shows, one way. Learn and change for next year. Very expensive lesson with no return travel for several months, all the expenses of the high end shows and loss of revenue due to making bad choices in advance. -- I'll learn enough with normal trial and error, research in advance is helpful.</p>
<p>B) I should make all my prints the same aspect ratio and size. -- I weigh my artistic vision against profit. I'm not a martyr but vision wins out. Also the better the artistic work, hopefully that will equate to better sales.</p>
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<p>Thanks for reading my long winded post ;-)</p>
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<p>One year I moved things around the next morning due to a good sales Saturday and people that came in the next morning were in a panic looking for their piece. The booth looked skinny and hate to make the same mistake again.</p>
<p>Oh last thing - what do you do with last years inventory...is it ok to bring it into the next year?</p>
<p>Thanks All!</p></div>Art Shows 2014https://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/art-shows-20142013-11-08T17:08:22.000Z2013-11-08T17:08:22.000ZHeather Jordanhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/HeatherJordan394<div><p>Hey Artsy Types,</p>
<p>I am asking all the well seasoned slightly smoking from this year vets of art shows. This is the time of year we are planning for next spring. I am a 2d artist-painter and want to know how many canvas do you plan for back to back shows? My dream is to unload in the garage and then just pick up and reload for the next weekend. Sounds peachy? Riiiight!</p>
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<p>I am trying to figure/plan ahead knowing I am going to be slap worn out from leaving Florida and then up to NC the next week...do you have any tips in order not to be staying up all night trying to play catch up due to not thinking ahead? Trying to do 4 shows in the spring and 2 in the fall.</p>
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<p>Does 120 units sound right for 4 shows...I am scaling down the size due to the economy. I am focusing on less than 24x36 (One) and more in the 16x20 to 12x12..(I sold everything that was $85 or less in the first 2 hours- made booth fee and expenses on smalls in the first 3 hours and was so not prepared for all the people- they were like chickens pecking at me. Want to pack the booth as much as I can due to voided spaces looking yucky Sunday.)</p>
<p>I am hesitant to bring big pieces due to them not moving...thoughts?</p></div>Artwork Database Softwarehttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/artwork-database-software2013-04-24T01:34:33.000Z2013-04-24T01:34:33.000ZCandy M Packhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/CandyMPack<div><p>Does anyone have a good suggestion for cataloging artwork into a inventory database. I am currently trying eArtist and Artist Butler. I was wondering if anyone had a preference as to what software to use? Also I wanted to get opinions on paypal POS?</p></div>Canvas \ Matted Print Inventory for First Showhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/canvas-matted-print-inventory-for-first-show2012-10-17T14:56:45.000Z2012-10-17T14:56:45.000ZJeremy Sterkhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/JeremySterk<div><p>I am a photographer gearing up for my first art show and I'm trying to figure out if I'm on the right track, so please forgive my "newbieness". I don't have unlimited funds, so I was intending to setup in this way: The walls of my booth will be arranged with an assortment of gallery wrap canvas prints--as much to attract people to my booth as anything else. I hope to sell canvases, but with them at a higher price point, I'm not sure how they will sell. To have several "price points I plan to have 3 matted print sizes available in bins. Therefore if someone can't afford a canvas they have the option of purchasing that photo in a smaller size at a lower price point as a matted print. </p>
<p>Two questions.... regarding the canvases--do you all have actual inventory of larger canvases for people to walk away with, or do you consider those canvases on the wall as your inventory and take on order on the spot for the canvas and ship it to them a couple of days after the show? This is what I've been planning to try because 1.) I can't predict what might sell and 2.) the cost of an inventory of canvas prints is so cost prohibitive. Thoughts?</p>
<p>Second question: regarding matted prints--does an initial inventory of two per "size" seem adequate for a two day show?</p>
<p>Thanks so much!</p></div>Inventory Softwarehttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/forum/topics/inventory-software2011-12-09T00:43:09.000Z2011-12-09T00:43:09.000ZRuth Finkenbinerhttps://www.artfairinsiders.com/members/RuthFinkenbiner<div><p>I've been resarching and comparing various inventory software packages and wonder if anyone has any they can recommend.</p>
<p>Here is what I'm finding - lots of options that if I enter our initial quantity of a finished product, track the sales, will give me the current quantity, most with the option to print bar codes which wil reduce my bookkeeping time. That's all that I originally thought I wanted in my inventory program, but my no, that's not enough, my husband has other ideas and that's where I'm stuck.</p>
<p>What I'm missing? If I decide to create a production list, something that will tell me what quantity of raw materials I need.</p>
<p>For example, if there is a certain style of bracelet my husband makes that takes 30 grams of 16 guage sterling, 15 grams of 18 gauge, I want 3 of those in stock before our first show in March, I can't find a program that will give me the needed raw materials after we input our current quantity.</p>
<p>Now, I've previously built the production side of this into my spreadsheet but I don't have the first part of the inventory (beginning inventory, current inventory, etc) all built into that.</p>
<p>So, before I go through the effort of massively rebuilding my spreadsheet and testing my somewhat rusty Excel skills (especially with the Excel 2007 version), I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on a package they use?</p>
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