Get More Sales by Opening an Online Art Gallery
May 29, 2009 | By
Many crafters are too humble to admit that their craft is actually artwork. Getting past that mindset can be very beneficial to boosting sales. Arts and crafts actually fill different niches even though the product crosses over almost universally.
Recently, I attended a craft fair in Southern California. There was a booth set up by a gentleman who manufactures birdhouses in his home. Every one of them was an original design and is by any definition artwork. The kicker is, he didn’t even have an e-mail address. Suffice it to say he didn’t have a website or an Artfire/Etsy account either.
In this case, the lack of online marketing is probably not detrimental to his business as he usually sells the birdhouses about as fast as he makes them; however, this could be a sign that his prices are set too low. Along with a raise in prices, he could easily see some extra profit from opening both an ArtfireEtsy account and then properly marketing an online art gallery.
Let’s take a look into the two markets in order to define the need for an art gallery in addition to an online craft store.
Crafts: Crafts are purchased primarily by people who are looking for handmade products which are also functional. One might want handmade soap or a stuffed bunny for a child’s gift. They have purpose.
Arts: Arts are typically handmade products which do not serve any purpose other than being sensually pleasing. Music is art because it pleases the ears. Culinary is art because it pleases the pallet. And crafts are often art if they please the eyes. So, there is some crosss over in the craft field. Many crafts provide a visual benefit in addition to serving a purpose, which makes them arts and crafts.
That being said, there is a separation in the niches. Someone looking online at art is not likely to visit a craft website. Similarly, someone looking for a stuffed bunny is not likely to look in art galleries. So, if you sell stuffed bunnies, birdhouses or even one of a kind soaps, then you are selling art whether you realize it or not. Opening an art gallery is a great way to expose a whole other world to your products.
Marketing an art gallery is a whole other subject to tackle at a later date.
Image Credits: Valerie Everett, flickr.com
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