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The Hourly Earnings Project: A Follow-Up


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I signed up for an online course hosted by Ben Carter and Molly Hatch. This week's topic is finding your target audience and there's been some discussion about best venues last year. It's all been timely information as I'm choosing my venues for the first half of the year and send out my applications.

Thank you Mea for being so generous with your information.

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Yes I agree that defining a "window of opportunity" for the online sales has made things much easier for me, without really having a negative impact on sales. Plus, keeping the online store closed puts time pressure on festival customers too, because they know they can't buy it "next week."

 

I'm planning to impose a similar "ordering window" on my wholesale accounts this year. No idea how that will go over, but I'm trying to cut back on wholesale work anyways. I'll blog about it after I know what happens!

 

Diesel, I'm curious to hear what the Carter/Hatch course is saying about best venues. Not that I expect you to teach us everything they're teaching, but is there some consensus about best venues?

 

My prediction is there is not ... I feel like I need to emphasize/repeat that my conclusion of "wholesale bad, retail good" pertains only to my business. I live in a region where art festivals are very strong, and I am good at dealing with the public. My larger conclusion is that every business owner should analyze their own business and figure out the best use of their time.

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studio tours are very popular in my area, there is one in WV and one in Maryland.  winchester va is in the second or third year of setting one up.  they are heavily advertised and set up for ten or so stops on a map.  seem to work very well for the folks on the tours.  fall and spring seem to be the times of year that are popular.  a drive into the countryside for city folks is an event they look forward to.

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Very important post.  Thanks for sharing.  

 

I remember something from a post you made a while back.   You replaced an item for a customer and while the customer was at your studio/home they purchased a $100ish vase for a wedding gift.   I remember seeing photos of your studio/home and seem to recall it being in an area with lots of foot traffic ... am I right?    I think you could do more retail from your location if you wanted to .... If your customers had an outlet to pick up gifts, I think more of them would buy gifts from you.   Even if it was a monthly event.   Of course you may not want customers intruding in your area?

 

Very encouraging success story you have.   You deserve your financial success and this should stand as encouragement for others.   What sell through rate do you have?

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Nah, outside of the Open Studio, I really don't like having customers in my studio. I consider it a private space. I'll let customers come over if I know them personally, or if there's a compelling customer service reason (like the above example, when customer needs a replacement). Generally I'd much rather do business in public places like art festivals. I do shows frequently enough that customers don't have to wait long for the next show. I also have enough gallery outlets for customers who are in a hurry.

 

My sell-through rate for 2014 was 96%. I have a almost no inventory right now, and a big show coming up in February. Busy stocking up now!

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  • 2 weeks later...

mea, the only bad thing about coming to florida for the winter is that i miss going to the Baltimore show!  hope you do spectacularly well.  i know how crazy the place is but try to say hello to a newcomer from this area, Ira Burhans.  he is in booth 2402.  

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