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  Frances Fontaine September 28, 2013 at 10:59am

  I like the 10% discount for repeat customers. Don't have time to party...working at festival until 9:00 or 10:00 pm and don't live there anymore. Keeping it simple!!! Thanks so much for input.
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  Kathleen J. Clausen September 28, 2013 at 4:41am

  Good for you, Bob!   I can feel the positive energy coming through your post.  It added some happiness to my home today.
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  Bob McGill September 27, 2013 at 10:38pm

  Well, I have to disagree with just about everything everyone else has said on this subject, and the subject of discounts overall. I love for people to own my art. For me, that is what it is about. The more people who have one of my paintings, the happier I will be. So I keep my prices REALLY low. In addition, if someone has ever purchased any piece of my art at any price, for the rest of my life I give them a 25% discount on future purchases. I guess that is why I sold over 100 paintings last year. And that is also why I have to limit the number of shows I do each year ... I'm constantly running out of work to sell. Gee, what a great place to be.

  I will never fill my bank account with lots of money from doing this, but that is not why I do it. If I did this for the money it just wouldn't be so much fun ... and I sure do have a great time. Imagine how many people out there go to work every day simply hating what they are doing, and they just continue doing it. I get to do something I love and share it with the world. Heck, when someone purchases one of my paintings, they are helping me with my dream of putting a little happiness in everyone's home.
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  Colin Murray September 27, 2013 at 8:54pm

  I love my repeat customers. I give a discount with smile ... a little good karma never hurts either!
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  Kathleen J. Clausen September 27, 2013 at 5:38pm

  I offer a 10% discount if paying with check or cash to customers who buy 2 or more items and to returning customers.  They like it, and as Jacki says, this sometimes leads to an extra sale.  My husband started offering discount to pairs (ie. if each buys something they each get the 10% off) of prospective customers which has been equally successful.
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  Aureal Williams September 27, 2013 at 10:20am

  Frances, what about a party for those repeat buyers instead of a discount? Not talking about extravagant, a wine and cheese or coffee and dessert gathering where the buyers can come together, meet one another and spend time with you. Maybe they could write questions for you on a card and you could have 20 minutes or so at the event when you do a little education and sharing. People long for community and coming together opportunities and this is a way to honour your repeat customers.
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  Deborah Bohren September 27, 2013 at 10:18am

  I struggle with this too but I do offer a discount to my clients who come back and who are "collectors" -- 10-15% depending on how large the subsequent purchase.  I have found they don't expect it but greatly appreciate it and, for me anyhow, it just feels like the right thing to do.  Conversely, I don't offer discounts when people by more than one photograph because as I said to two different clients this past weekend, each image takes the same amount of work (and they bought the pictures without any discount!).
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  Frances Fontaine September 26, 2013 at 3:16pm

  @S. Brian Berkun, I am not talking about giving just anyone who asks a discount. I am talking about my clients who already own several pieces and should I offer a small discount as a reward for them being such great collectors of my work. I think those are two completely different things. Thanks. ff
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  S Brian Berkun September 26, 2013 at 3:02pm

  For recent discussion on discounts, or lack there of, see my previous post...

  http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/oops-i-did-it-again
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  Frances Fontaine September 26, 2013 at 6:04am

  Thanks, Jacki! That sounds good to me...