Small space to display/sell my work... Need Help

10/14/2010 06:48:44 PM · #1

So I have this nice place that is renting 10'x10' space monthly and I am going to display/sell some of my art. So here is my problem. I don't want to spend a ton of cash and the sprints not move so I am trying to decide what to display.

I know I want a 16x24 thin wrap of this

right in the middle of the wall as an eye catcher. I am also thinking of doing 4 metal prints 8x12 and have 2 of each on either side. So I am already at $200 for costs. I am also considering some 4x6 post cards (my cost is $2 each) and 2-3 8x12 matted prints (about $10 each after matting) or should I just crop the photos down to an 8x10? Then there is also the idea of a calendar, book marks etc... What do you think and what would be your suggestions?

You can see the prints I will be showing here. I am going to be starting out with mostly just the peaks stuff since that is what sells around here. The shop is located on the way to the peaks and a lot of tourists come through.

10/14/2010 07:09:04 PM · #2

I am not a "real" photographer yet , but as a tourist, it turns me off to see the same print in a million different sizes. I like a lot of variety and "little" extras so I can pick up souvenirs too.
Mom
Marynate.blogspot.com

Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LX100

10/14/2010 08:42:19 PM · #3

Thanks for your input. Anyone else?

spiritualspatula

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/14/2010 08:55:28 PM · #4

Seeing this made me think of another thread, similar experience in some ways...
thread
related thread
thread about bookmarks

Personally, I think the bookmarks are a great idea as well. I think having some smaller fare like that is nice. I have a friend who does painting and other 2D art, and I've picked up several of his smaller pieces like that. Another thing of his that I bought and thought was totally sweet were magnets. Not sure on cost of production for him, but I didn't even think twice about snagging one of those.

Message edited by author 2010-10-14 20:56:30.

10/14/2010 09:05:07 PM · #5

Spiritualspatuala, that is waht I'm talking about!! :) This was at a craft fair, and he had a lovely tent and table, but EVERY size picture was of the same print. Huge. On canvas. Small. Postcard.

IMO the print wasn't that great and I moved on.

But if there were more choices of prints. And postcards that weren't $5 each. If there were bookmarks, magnets, lightswitches, christmas ornaments, and not everything at $5 and more. Like the lightswitches and ornaments yes, but not a bookmark (unless it was laminated with tassel.)

There's a LOT of people that I would pick up little things to put in their Christmas Card or give them when we visit at Christmas. I might easily spend $50 on a few things, but not on one print, esp if I wasn't crazy about it.

Mom

10/14/2010 09:20:44 PM · #6

Excellent stuff, thank you both. I am now thinking the one large 16x24 thin wrap, four 8x12 metal prints, some matted prints, book marks, magnets, calendars etc...

Now my stuff is 2x3 aspect ratio but I am wondering if i should crop to 8x10 for the matted stuff since that may be easier for people to get frames for. The metal and thin wraps will stay 2x3

10/14/2010 09:35:02 PM · #7

jminso,
are you sick of my input yet? I hope not. I would offer A LOT of easy to find frames for sizes of prints. May-be have a few empty frames so people could pick, cheap, less expensive, and expensive frames to buy from you.

But imo, with this economy, if you offer people ways to shave down your price for prints, by offering them unfrmaed, or an easy to frame size, you will sell a lot more prints.

EVERYONE still wants to splurge, but at the same time, people are trying to reduce their costs.

mom
marynate.blogspot.com

10/14/2010 09:42:24 PM · #8

I appreciate your input very much and you have been quite helpful. Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to my questions.

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

10/15/2010 06:55:58 AM · #9

Morning bump if anyone else has any advice

WriteHeart

Canon EOS-40D

10/15/2010 10:23:26 AM · #10

I agree, I buy small things when we are site seeing and traveling. One reason is the money, but also the traveling and size of stuff to pack or bring it home. I love magnets, journals (I have a gorgeous wolf pic on the front of a journal from Yellowstone), card sets (4 or so in a pack with different pics),Calendars (12 gorgeous pics). From people I have talked with at arts and crafts fairs, the smaller items are their bread and butter sales.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

10/15/2010 10:38:24 AM · #11

This is all really helpful but now I have another question

Where do you order stuff like good calendars (the problem I am seeing is that to get a good cost for me I need to order 100-250 pieces then I will eat the cost if they don't sell) magnets, journals, cards, etc... I see that vistaprints has stuff like that but it also appears that they charge $5 per uploaded image just to use it.

Beetle

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/15/2010 05:47:11 PM · #12

I agree with a lot (all?) of what Mom Mary said.

Here is another thought. Speaking as a traveller and tourist, I'd also be unlikely to buy prints, or only very small ones.

However, I might be tempted to buy a CD of local images, especially if they include things I can't photograph myself, for example because I am there in the wrong season or at the wrong time of day, or simply don't have the time to see it all.
I'd want to see a proof sheet of thumbnails and perhaps one or two big prints to see what the full size looks like.
If you couldn't be there to sell it to me, I'd grab a brochure/card that contains a link and buy it later (although that takes away the impulse buying opportunity).

Kelli

Canon EOS-D60

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

10/16/2010 05:03:03 PM · #13

No advice, but congrats Joshua!

10/17/2010 04:53:53 PM · #14

I'm sorry that I can't give you a heads up on where to get calendars printed at a reasonable price, or less of a quantity.

I think, if you ever decide to go the calendar route, you need to start selling them in the middle to late summer, and utilize Ebay and Etsy to move them too. Also, maybe? You could go to the areas Merchants Association. I'm sorry, I can't think of what their name is, but most towns/villagges have them. And offer a discount to them so they can use them as fundraisers for the Lions CLub, Rotary Club etc.

I don't think I would do very many calendars because they ARE that time sensitive.

Browse Etsy. Maybe you could find a button/badge maker there that would take your pictures and turn them into little pocket mirrors for a nominal price. They make a little money for their parts and work, but not as much as if they had to provide the pic for the button too.

Maybe some baby/toddler t's and onseies that have one of your pics and the saying "My Aunt went to _________ and all she bought me back was this lousy t-shirt!"

Aunts, god mothers and grandmothers can NOT resist buying their kids little things from here and there. (Fathers, god fathers and uncles usually can.)

Mom

michaelmonn

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

10/18/2010 09:03:07 AM · #15

i havent looked at the price for calendars and other nik-nicks BUT i use MPIX for all the printing i do. you get bulk discounts too.

www.mpix.com

smardaz

10/18/2010 09:48:38 AM · #16

Originally posted by jminso:

I know I want a 16x24 thin wrap of this

may be a dumb question but are you going to remove that big gaudy logo from the print? i know i would not purchase a print with a logo on it

10/18/2010 09:57:01 AM · #17

Originally posted by smardaz:

Originally posted by jminso:

I know I want a 16x24 thin wrap of this

may be a dumb question but are you going to remove that big gaudy logo from the print? i know i would not purchase a print with a logo on it

Yeah the logo will be gone that is just for online viewing. I will be signing the prints though but no where near that large.

11/01/2010 01:58:04 PM · #18

Well I have my stuff setup. Today is day one. Will have to wait to see how it goes but I did get great feedback just in the little time I was there. Of course liking a photo and buying it are two different things so we will see.

11/01/2010 05:07:22 PM · #19

I'm wishing you the best of luck!!! Only 24 days until Christmas!!!
Mom

kleski

Canon EF 28-135mm F/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/01/2010 05:33:14 PM · #20

Originally posted by jminso:

Regardless if they buy, you get your name out there. Good luck with the sales!!

sfalice

Canon PowerShot SX60 HS

11/01/2010 05:35:25 PM · #21

Originally posted by jminso:

So? Got Pictures? It would be fun to see your new sales arena.