IS YOUR WORK READY FOR SALE?
Functional glazes should be Food Safe, fit well with no crazing or crawling or pitting.
Use your pieces to make sure they are not heavy or awkward. Lips and bases should be smooth.
ARE YOU READY TO SELL?
You cannot do everything.
Narrow your focus and define your style
What do you want to make?
What forms and designs could you enjoy exploring for years?
Full or Part Time? Wholesale, Retail or Consignment?
You can control your anxiety by determining your capabilities.
How many pieces can you produce in a month? a year?
When doing the math, remember to allow for time spent on your day to day errands, obligations and appointments.
GET A COHESIVE LINE OF WORK
Having a recognizable style is not the same as being in a rut.
Arrange your best pieces then study them to help you decide what direction you want to go in. Do they look good together? Would you know the same person made them all?
SETTING YOUR PRICES
If you do not want to take the time to do real costing ...
set prices by others work of the same style/quality as yours.
Galleries will at least double your price to cover their costs so you should calculate your costs before approaching them.
Your time is your most expensive cost ... do not underprice yourself.
FINDING GALLERIES
I suggest you start small, not with the gallery of your dreams. Make your mistakes, learn, then work your way up.
Visit Galleries in person if you can and note how they treat customers, what style of work they carry and their price range. Search the Internet to find more, check out their inventory to see if it aligns with your style of work.
Do not try to talk business if you have not called ahead. You will end up talking to someone with no power or someone with no time.
Find out how they want to be contacted for new work.
Make an appointment or prepare a submission.
Never take their time away from a customer.
Show up for the appointment on time, well dressed with inventory well packed, with two copies of an Itemized price list.
If the submission is online, submit great images and pieces that hit multiple price ranges
THE DREADED "NO"
Sometimes, this simply means your work does not suit their clients'needs ... it is not a comment on the worth of your pottery.
Ask them if they could recommend another gallery.
If they want CONSIGNMENT,
make sure you get a SIGNED agreement that specifies:
What pieces you left with them.
The retail price of the pieces.
The % of the sale price you receive.
The exact dates on which this will be paid.
They are responsible for loss, damage or theft.
How long the work may be kept.
The work is your property until sold.
If they do not agree to a signed contract, take your work home … even if they are “Nice” people.
In a friendly way, drop in from time to time to make sure they are still solvent and your work is on display ... not sitting in the back room.
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YOUR GALLERIES
DO NOT undersell them from your studio.
Give customers something extra rather than cutting price.
DO NOT undersell them from your website.
DO NOT sell to another nearby gallery without asking.
DO supply your best work and send it ON TIME,
packed with care, itemized & invoiced.
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
YOU have to decide who you are and what level of quality you want to commit to.
YOU must be RELIABLE in quality and delivery.
YOU keep your prices consistent.
YOU must fix mistakes quickly.
YOU will always be judged by your last order.
YOU should have a definite policy for refunds and replacements.
YOU only get one chance with some galleries, so do it right.
YOUR TIME is your most expensive cost, so choose to use it wisely.
PITFALLS
Get written signed contracts.
You cannot survive if you are not paid on time.
Jump on late payers quickly.
Repossess your consignment goods if the gallery is not paying promptly or looking iffy.