Blog

This is my first blog post here. Many of you have heard of the storm that hit the Columbus Arts Festival. This was my first time in the show, and the first show I've done alone since my last spine surgery 5 months ago. I really wasn't supposed to be lifting more than 20 pounds yet, but we artists must do what we do to make a living. Am I right? So off I went to Columbus with the hopes of sunshine and solid sales. Here's my report:

Fifteen minutes before the storm hit, a show person rode up in a golf cart and said "we had the possibility of some rain soon." Full disclosure here: I got a text message at the very same time from home telling me some heavy winds were going to hit and I'd better find some rope and something to tie down to. I immediately told my neighbors and started pulling everything inside the booth. Then I began the task of attaching my flimsy side walls of my EZ-UP tent knowing that the rain would KILL my pastels hanging on the outside wall of my booth. Yes, I'm not using my Craft Hut anymore. Three back surgeries will do that to an artist. (Ever notice how many of us are using pop-up tents these days?)

Just when I had one side wall on, all hell broke loose. I struggled to get the other two sides on while the rain blasted down at a 45 degree angle. I'd get one side wall on and another would "rip" off in the wind. The booth was starting to move, swaying and listing forward, Pro Panels were popping away from their moorings, paintings were falling and glass was breaking all over the ground. The rain was so fierce that within minutes my booth was filled with over a foot's depth of water. I ran to the front corner of my booth and pushed against the force of the wind. I knew I didn't stand a chance and was yelling at the top of my lungs, "help me, please, somebody help me!!!" I was terrified. A small break in the wind came and I lunged for the small original pastel paintings soaking in the water on the floor. My credit card machine was floating. All my LIVE electrical wires and breaker bar were floating! The wind kicked up again and more paintings came crashing down around me. I just kept yelling "no! no! no!" The booth gave one last kick in the wind and the upper bars smacked me in the head, snapping my neck to the side. This is where I had my surgery and the bone is not yet fused. It was a bump on the head that took me over the edge. I started crying....

I'll save the rest of the details. They involve many hours trying to pack up all my damaged artwork and equipment into my van. No one saw I needed help.....until......around 9pm Mikel Robinson's (2D mixed media photography) beautiful wife ran over to lend a hand to a fellow artist who just couldn't lift another thing. She whipped a couple of show people off their golf carts to help. Mikel came and helped, leaving their own mess of a booth and darling 2-year-old safely in their dry vehicle with the babysitter. They were so kind and compassionate. As for my neck, well...my fingers are numb again and I will need to go back in for another procedure.

So here I am today, a business destroyed and no money to pay the bills and no artwork to sell. It's a tough, tough place and I have no idea yet when or if I'll recover. But I'm not taking it lying down. I'm fighting. I've created a site where fans, friends and family can pre-order a calendar (first time I've ever done one), original artwork at discounted prices or simply offer a donation to my "PAY IT FORWARD" Save An Artist Relief Fund. I've reached out on my Facebook personal page and Fan Page, and had many good responses. I plan on reaching out to my customer base through an email newsletter blast. And I'm asking folks that if they believe in me, my work, and the arts, to please pass along this story to their friends and families. As one artist said to me, "Reach out to your fellow artists. They are the best people in the world." 

On Friday I leave for my annual mission trip to Peru where I take art supplies and teach the extremely impoverished children how to experience freedom and empowerment through the creation of art. When you have a great pain in your life, you need a greater purpose. This is mine, and even though it makes me very uncomfortable leaving in the midst of chaos, I know it's God's perfect timing. As it is written, "Give and it shall be given unto you."

For other artists who have lost their livelihood in the storm, hopefully my ideas will help you rebuild your businesses too.

To see my sales and "Save An Artist" donation page, visit: shopartworkbymeredith.bigcartel.com

To read more about my art mission trips to Peru, visit my website.

 When I look at other peoples work, it feels as if everyone has narrowed thing down and their work covers a small part of the spectrum of art.  It feels clean and focused.  

When I look at my work, I feel that it has many different styles and levels.  I have cheeper wearable things, expensive one of a kind things, and artwork.  In those categories, I feel like my work covers a wide range as well. From texture to humor.  I kind of like not doing the same thing all the time, I also like to show to people that I can do a wide range of things (I do custom work).  I also still want to explore and not feel penned into one thing only.  I'm also a younger artist, I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

I would like to know if people feel it is important to be a bit focused in your work that you display, or if a range of things is ok.  I'd love it if people could tell me if my work is scatted or if there is a focus that I don't see (website www.caz-designs.com), but I do understand that people are busy.  Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated!

-Colette A. Zilka

Today I posted a fun video on my website. See the largest street fair in Palm Springs CA. It was done the weekend before Christmas. It definitely will make you laugh. Enjoy and happy holidays to all.  http://ning.it/fIlF8R

This is a recent commissioned painting I did. I am a painter of animals, mostly pets, and mostly dogs. I maintain a full-time blog at http://dottiedracos.blogspot.com/, and my website is http://www.dottiedracos.com. Currently, I live in the Pacific Northwest, Oregon; but I'll soon be moving at least temporarily to Florida.

I am sure those of you reading this are either a Gen X or Y or knowsomeone who is through family relation, friends or workingrelationships. Most don't understand Gen X and Y's or have a hardtime relating to them. There is no denying though, they are a forceto be reckoned with when it comes to shopping. I have been reading agreat book called Gen Y Buy and it is a most fascinating read. Ifyou are curious about what direction today's society is heading,especially when it comes to retail and shopping, do check out thebook. This leads to Question 15 and want to touch on it because GenX and Y's do have a huge influence on how art fairs are run and howwe can learn from them when it comes to managing our own artbusinesses.

Question 15 – How have Gen X and Y's affect how people shop at art fairs?(How can we capture their attention too?)

Instead of going into depth about the “nature and behavior” of Gen X andY's, as I am a Gen X myself, I am going to highlight some key pointsthat I feel best answers Question 15.

1. Full Steam Ahead. We can thank the today's generation for pushingartists to create new pieces of art. With Gen X and Y's drive forseeking new and improved stuff, this carries over to their parentsand even grandparents especially when it comes to technology, homeimprovement, and decorating one's apartment or home, or evenvacation home. It isn't enough to offer one size 2D art, but postcards, note cards, even coffee table books are just one of ahundreds of examples that can be attributed to today's youngergeneration need for variety.

2. Credit Cards. If it weren't for credit cards our sales at art fairsconsiderably lower than what they are today. It is not the norm anymore to carry cash with a few exceptions. When it comes to artfairs, it is now more important that ever to accept credit cardsbecause show patrons expect it. The benefits of bringing in moresales far outweighs the minimal monthly fees or possibility ofrunning into a declined card.

3. Computers and The World Wide Web. Computers are here to stay and since theybecame mainstream, it has opened many doors for artists. Someexamples range from digital art mediums, email – an instant formof communication, social networks to keep in touch with customers orpromote ourselves at upcoming art shows, software for trackingsales, access to better raw material suppliers, to the NEW businesscard – personal art business websites. The value computers haveis immeasurable and if you don't agree, try living without one for24 hours, on a work day.

4. Word of Mouth. Granted word of mouth advertising is nothing new.However, Gen X's and Y's have taken it to an all new level. All ittakes is one Gen Yer to fall in love with something that they haveto take a photo of it and show their friends or blog about it.Within minutes that thing the Gen Y loves is now apart of a viralword of mouth advertising campaign to her friends and family. Themore art fairs and artists harness this power of free advertisingthrough social networks and other word of mouth advertising, theeasier it is to attract new customers and art fair patrons.

5. Developing Personal Relationships. There is a strong desire for those whoappreciate art, with the help of Gen X and Ys, to want to learneverything they can about art. Due to art funding in schools havingbeen cut and combining that the desire of being connected topeople, there is more of a push for artists to be more willing toeducated and entertain show patrons. Don't confuse this withcarnival type of entertainment. What I am merely saying is thepressure is now on for artists to shine revealing theirhumble/personal side, through humor or through demonstrations, aswell as uncovering the veil of what it is like to be an artist. Theone on one experience can be long lasting and turn a looker into abuyer once they learn more about you, and vice versa, and your art.

6. Charity and Causes. Charities such as breast cancer awareness, HurricaneKatrina Relief organizations and the local Humane Society are alwayslooking for donations and volunteers. Helping those who seekassistance makes us feel good about ourselves, and this plays a bigpart in building Gen X and Y's self esteem, often being the drivingforce behind these organizations. Their desire spills onto theirfriends and family members trickling into the art fair world. Thishas crept into art fairs because patrons are more likely to attend ashow knowing if there is a discount off admission if a personbrings in canned goods to support a food drive, for example. Someartists are even support their own choice of charitable organizationby donating part of their sales to that organization. This is a winwin for everyone.

I can go on and on about this topic, but to keep these blog posts “quick”I don't have all day. While there are issues artists have when itcomes to hiring Gen X and Ys and how to make items that appeal moreto them, I am hoping towards the end of this blog series I can tacklethis questions. If any of this interests you there is moreinformation in books, magazines, and other resources. Did I missanything you think is worth sharing – let us know and use thecomment button. Next I will be review the past 15 questions and thentackle the question, what does it mean when a customers says “___”? Have a great weekend !

- Michelle Sholund, www.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.com. Check out my craft business' website –www.bythebaybotanicals.com.

I think I beat the topic of product development to the death. So lets moveonto a topic that is more lively: customer service. I don't thinkthere is a time we don't talk about customer service – good or bad.However, have you ever really thought about what customer serviceis all about and how it impacts craft artists who sell at shows?Well, now is the time.

Question #13 What is Customer Service?

How would you define “customer service”? Think about all of yourretail and restaurant experiences. A simple definition might be theattention and activity that is intended to ensure thatcustomers receive the goods and services they desire to satisfy theirneeds or wants in the most effective and efficient manner possible . However is it really that cut and dry? When you see a sales personcommunicate with a customer there is one thing that is clear –customer service is all about language, both body language as well asverbal communication. The way you stand, the tone of your voice,your facial expressions and energy level all plays into itty bittycues that signal to customers what a pleasant place to shop and wantto come back again. Don't forget that customers judge you and yourbusiness based on how you carry yourself when interacting withcustomers, its just human nature.

Although most people think of customer service as what happens during a sale,but really customer service occurs before and after the sale too.From the greeting, to interacting with the customer in identifyingtheir needs, to packaging their purchase and asking if they wouldlike to be on your mailing list before they leave is all apart ofcustomer service. It is essential to recognize that withoutcustomers we have no business. The sooner craft artists realizethis, the easier it is to transition oneself from being an artist whocreates great work to a sales person who can also sell your own worktoo. It is also important to ask yourself if you think you wouldmake a great sales person. Sales people should be bubbly, open,outgoing, helpful, insightful, and enthusiastic. If you don't seeyourself as a sales person, then you will need to hire someone orrecruit friends or family members who exhibit these qualities.

The topic of customer service is a big one, and since this is a “quickcraft artist tips” blog, I intend to devote a great deal of timeto the topic with this blog series. I'll be answering questionssuch as what do customers want, how have Gen X and Y'ers affected theway people shop, why do some customers buy while others don't, doeswhat customer say mean more than one thing, what are some tips ondelivering good customer service, and much more. If you have everwondered why sales are lacking, you can't afford to miss the nextseveral posts as it will shed light on how to improve your customerrelations skills to increase profits. Michelle,www.quickcraftartisttips.blogspot.com

40 Questions Blog Series: Question 1&2 – Developing your Booth Display Style

To kick off the Blog Series called 40 Questions, the first several questions will cover the area of boothdesign. Booth design covers style, function, cover/protection, andso on. The following questions are all about finding your ownpersonal style which should flow into branding your art/craftbusiness. Do follow along, using a piece of paper or journal andwriting down the questions and answer them as honestly as you cantaking your time when answering them.

Question 1: Picture yourself with a limitless amount of funds to spend however you want.Using that money describe how your ideal booth would look like?Think about color, texture, fixtures, what you have seen atshows that stood out, whatever...

Question 2: Because we all budget our money, are there still ways you can make your dream booth become areality?

I first did this exercise when I worked for Starbucks. I was goingthrough a management program and in efforts to attract more peopleinto the store we were asked how would your ideal store look. Withworking with others in this exercise ideas ranged from having agarden like courtyard cafe seating, aesthetic aquariums, messageboards to promote a local dating service, live entertainment areas,and funky furniture. I still use this exercise and have applied itin designing my own booth display. My current booth design beganwhen I looked at my logo, a dew kissed green leaf with a light bluebackground – tranquil colors. The name of my craft business is Bythe Bay Botanicals and focuses around products that promotetranquility. Staying with this theme it was clear the design neededto be natural, showing off my craft, but still be true to theme. Ishopped for natural pine shelving displays and incorporated two tables, whichI already had. I bought white table coverings that went to theground and a short table covering of ocean blue as well as covered the pine shelves with patio furniture fabric that matched my theme colors. With the additionof some silk flowered vines and lighting I created a display thatmatched my products. This new display not only allowed customers to shop freely and allow more room display my craft, people remembered my business name better and could easily find me at shows at it stood out from the crowd - all that was accomplished through a little bit of change into my booth display.

As you look at your current display you may find you are happy withits design, but need to tweak it a little. Working with dimension, having your work visible at different eye levels can be a great solution. It is a great remedy if you find customersfeeling cramped in your booth. Shelving or stacked crates are just two ideas that can createdimension and doesn't have to be expensive. Think about color –customers are attracted to color and if every booth is acookie-cutter white booth with white table covering (one after another)you will loose to those that embrace color.You want to create an identity that is all your own. I have seensome great ideas where one used tulle in 1-2 colors wrapped about thepoles of their canopy or incorporated astro turf into their displayto sell garden art.

My final thoughts. In designing your booth, it is important to havea booth that regular customers will recognize, but at the same timecreates a buzz that your items are fresh and that you do offer newart/craft work at each show or it varies from season to season. Think back to past shows and booths you have seen. Are there booths that seems stale because it doesn't change.Don't you get the impression that they sell the same thing over andover, year after year because their booth display is the same year after year? Don't be the owner of the boring booth! The next question in this series divesinto developing a booth theme as well as how to find booth displayfurniture and what kind is ideal for each medium. Stay tuned...

New
Blog Series: Forty Questions - Identifying problems and issues and
tips on solving them.

With the start of festival season quickly approaching, you need to start preparing in order to make the most of every art event you attend this season. 2020 put a damper on our spring and summer markets, so you can bet the turn out for this year’s season is going to be great. You don’t want to miss out, and is here with some info on liability insurance and a few tips to help you make the best of 2021’s art festival season.

TIP #1: UPDATE YOUR INFORMATION

Is your contact information up to date? Have you checked to make sure your phone number and email are listed correctly online and on your business cards?

You’ll want to spend some time updating your information if anything has recently changed. If nothing has changed, be sure to proofread any new business cards or signage you’ll be using for the 2021 market season. You want your customers to be able to find your website and online store info as easily as possible.

TIP #2: STOCK YOUR INVENTORY

We’ve all had plenty of time to create and think of ideas for new products. Now is the time to make sure your signature pieces are fully stocked and prepped for your first show.

Most seasoned crafters and artists suggest you carry enough inventory to sell at least 8-10 times. the vendor fee. So if a show costs you $40 to get into, consider carrying anywhere from $360-$400 in merchandise. You know your business best, though. Maybe try looking at past sales from shows you attended a few seasons ago to see how much you sold and base your show inventory off that.

TIP #3: CREATE NEW SIGNAGE

New year, new business signage! Try amping up your signage by designing something new for your booth. Whether you want to create socially-conscious signs that remind people to be mindful of space or have a new color theme you want to use, new signage is the way to go.

You can usually design something online yourself or contact your local graphics or even UPS or FedEx store for help.

TIP #4: REARRANGE YOUR DISPLAY

In creating new signage for your booth you might also look into rearranging your booth display. If you’re currently keeping things basic and only using a few tables and tablecloths to display your products to the public here are a few ideas to step things up:

• Using shelves to elevate products
• Organizing items with storage cubes
• Try displaying larger art with table easels
• Hang items with clips and racks

TIP #5: FILL OUT APPLICATION FORMS

Have you signed up for the shows you know will start soon? You’ll need to fill out your exhibitor forms correctly in order to avoid any application mishaps that could result in your business not getting into the events you've chosen.

Be sure to read through your forms a few times and list accurate, up-to-date information. For the best outcome check to see if your show has an online application to avoid any complication.

TIP #6: GET INSURED

When filling out your forms and applications, you may realize you’re asked for proof of artist liability insurance. Event shows and promoters may even ask you to list them as an additional insured on your policy. Wherever you’re unsure in getting the right coverage or paperwork, ACT Insurance can help!

ACT Insurance offers artists, crafters, and tradesmen liability insurance that can protect you against financial loss associated with liability claims that arise out of your booth operations at a market, fair, or festival. Show policies start at $49 and you can also purchase annual policies starting at $265.

To learn more or get covered, visit ACT Insurance. today.