Who are your customers?

Robert Szabo January 25, 2011 at 8:58pm

Ive only done 3 art fairs but I have noticed my buyers are professional types in their early to mid thirties. What marketing? Guess I need to work on that.

Cant answer the other questions since I'm so new at it.

Paul Flack January 13, 2011 at 1:07pm

Paintings, inspirational...two years ago it was female, one in hand and one in the oven. Redoing a room. Gone now. New demo is some piercing, w/tatoo, in for a whole lot less... And, professionals who can pop for a decent piece of art. Also, have noticed an up tick in people buy art as gifts.

Noteworthy, when homes were appreciating people invested in them. As the value of homes declined, people felt less good about their declining assets. Ergo, weren't going to invest in new art for something they felt trapped in. Also, people are not using their homes as ATM's any more.

Connie Mettler > Paul Flack January 13, 2011 at 1:16pm

Two excellent points, Paul...

Ruth Frasier January 13, 2011 at 8:52am

Buyers come from all income brackets I find it is the ones that really want that particular item no matter what the cost. The ones that enjoy that one piece that will follow them through their lives and their children's lives. It could be the man or woman in the street.

Also, the browser usually never purchases a thing, they love to look and then tell you I'll stop back. They never hardly do. You can usually tell who is interested by the way they look and ask about the piece of artwork. They put themselves into that piece as you have done and imagine where it will go. Even a small percent off will draw the interest of the public as they feel they have made a deal. Everyone loves to bargain, you don't bargain you don't sell. Items that were once five hundred dollars are now half of that. taking another ten off does not hurt you but helps you in the long one as you have made a sale and they walk away happy with the fact that they own a piece of art.

Now a collector is a different story, he knows what he wants and how much he will pay. He knows what it is worth and he will obtain it in one way or the other as it is his life's dream to own as much as he can. I hope I have helped you a little. The buyer is anyone.

Munks > Ruth Frasier January 13, 2011 at 10:43am

This question has truly vexed me and I have struggled to identify my customers for quite some time. I've tried looking at this from several different vantage points and I just seem to get bogged down. Sooooo, I thought I would try the process of elimination. If I can eliminate who my customers are, then I will be able to focus on what's left and become a successful millionaire. Here are 15 groups that I know are not my customers - your observations may be different and results may vary . . .

1. Chimney Sweeps
2. Prison Guards
3. Communist Guerrillas
4. Dog Catchers
5. Most Coyotes
6. All Mollusks
7. Snowplow Drivers
8. Dictators
9. Australians
10. Hermits
11. Canadian Lobstermen
12. Almost all Quakers
13. Salvation Army Bell Ringers
14. Strip Bar Bouncers
15. Meth Lab Cooks

That's a good start, I'll try to identify some more throughout the day today and keep you posted - as I said before, this list may or may not be helpful to you - but this is an observation I've made regarding my previous sales.

Suggestions are always warmly welcomed and appreciated.
- Lynn Alldrin > Munks January 13, 2011 at 4:02pm
  
  More laughs from you today! Thanks.
  
  I'm good with your list, excepting Australians and Quakers. Sold $100 of my jewelry to an Australian last summer, in fact.
- Connie Mettler > Munks January 13, 2011 at 11:13am
  
  This is an excellent list. I will be sure to reference it in my upcoming seminar as it will be useful to many. You left off: starving artists and narcissists, although I believe that term has been dropped from the DSM recently.
  - Munks > Connie Mettler January 13, 2011 at 11:58am
    
    I haven't checked to see if narcissistic tendencies is dropped from IV, but I wouldn't be surprised since it fits well under Borderlines, but ----- I think a good lobby effort could be made under Obamacare to include starving artists and pollyannas that are not borderlines - there's probably 4 or 5 out there - in the DSM V that I think is coming out in a couple of years. Maybe lobby for AFI Syndrome? No, that's too generic - call it, well, hmmm. Who could we name it after? Hmmm.
    
    I have to edit #11 on my list "Canadian Lobstermen". It should read "Straight Canadian Lobstermen" because I just sold a painting to a gay Canadian lobsterman. Shows to go you - you just never know what will lead to a sale...
    - Melanie Rolfes > Munks January 13, 2011 at 12:19pm
      
      I have sold to a San Quentin Prison Guard a few years ago, so #2 in your list is a potential client for me. I have also sold to a club bouncer, but it was more of a night club then a strip club. In the last few months even the stroller crowds have been buying. I still try to do shows that will attract more DINKs then strollers, but don't discount those prison guards or bouncers.
      - Munks > Melanie Rolfes January 13, 2011 at 12:27pm
        
        Duly noted.
        
        Let's keep Strip Club Bouncers since he was a bouncer at a night club. I'd be happy to drop Prison Guards and replace it with "Evil Broom-Riding Witches" - since I for one, have never sold to one of them.

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Who are your customers?

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