Home from Baltimore and re-centered, having had a couple weeks to absorb the whole experience, recover and do some follow up – ready for some good news?
My booth at the 2015 ACC Baltimore show
Better Results this Year
We learned so much last year that there’s stuff I’m sure we don’t even realize we learned that helped us have a much better show this year.
Attitude, Experience, and Rest are everything: Going into it, I was prepared, relaxed, and ready – ready to enjoy it and meet new people. And I mean really be present in the moment with people for the whole 5 day show (a challenge for us introverts) and not so tired and distracted as I felt during much of last year’s show.
Another view of my booth.
I received an order for my scarves from a new luxury goods online store even before the start of the Baltimore show.
My wholesale orders were triple the number of last year. Soon my work will be in new galleries and stores in CA, DC, MD, TN, VA and online too (I’ll be announcing the stores here on my blog and adding these to my News section of my website, once each store has my work in stock.)
Although a huge winter snowstorm put the big kibosh on attendance on Saturday (which is usually the best retail sales day of the show), I still had a 30% increase in my retail sales this year over last year.
Thank my lucky stars for scarves, pillows, and small art. While there was lots of interest in my larger wall work, my wall art sales only included several circular blocks and very few personal badges – all small art – along with many scarves and some pillows.
Even Better
The editors of American Craft Magazine stopped by my booth and asked if I’d be willing to do a video interview for the American Craft website (yes!), so on Saturday morning, we did the video shoot. I’ll let you know when it’s done and posted on their site.
I met a number of great people – artists, gallery owners, museum store managers, arts center/arts council professionals – all good connections that could possibly lead to greater things.
After being the very last artist to get packed up and leave the show (at 1am) on Sunday night last year, we hired 3 wonderful local artists to help with tear down this year and were done packing and out of there by 8pm, in time to actually go have a nice dinner.
Bottom Line
Did I make a profit? Short answer – No. My expenses to do the show still far outweigh my sales and orders. I am working on ideas for both growing my sales and shrinking my expenses – plan, implement, learn, adjust. Plan, implement, learn, adjust….
Am I happy with this year’s results? Yes. It feels good, and I think the increase in both orders and sales was significant. Had it not been for the Saturday storm, it may have been a really great show.
Would I do it again next year? Yes, definitely. Its going to take time to build this art business and I’m encouraged by the improvement in just the past year. Learn, adjust and try to make next year’s show even better. With each show, I’m getting more comfortable and experienced in building my art into a successful business, while still having fun along the way.
It’s good to hear that your experience at ACC is improving each year. It’s such a huge and daunting show and only seems to grow.
We spoke for a bit on the snowy Saturday, but I doubt you remember. Your work is wonderful, especially the personal badges which are captivating.
Congratulations on a successful ACC. Enjoy! Jennifer
Thanks Jennifer, so great to have met you there, truly one of the highlights for me at these shows is meeting other kindred spirits.
Hello Ayn, So good to hear of your success in Baltimore. I learned of your work from Lisa Call and enjoy seeing the playfulness of your lines and how they intersects with the natural dye colors. I’m also glad that you spoke about success within the context of building an art business. Its important for all of us who are doing this to hear that its a process; something to enjoy, because there aren’t easy or quick results. Thank you.
Thanks Hannah, one of my favorite things about doing the Baltimore show is getting to hang out and spend some fun time with my friend Lisa….funny that even though we’re both in CO, we seem to get more time together while at the show in Baltimore. Doing shows like Baltimore is a constant reminder that building one’s art business is a process and a journey to be explored and enjoyed.
Yes! I go to Baltimore to hang out with Ayn and Barbara! One of the best parts of the show for sure!
I am just so chuffed for you reading this post. I am reading it out loud to James who is similarly encouraged for you and hopes you don’t end up having to buy a factory or something (j/k). The aesthetics of your booth are beyond sublime, and I see our work at Bodhi Manda shining through in terms of planning to get through a whole week of an intense, alternative existence! Much much love to you from Sydney, Australia, where the guest room still awaits.
Ah Kimberella, so good to hear from you…i think of you guys often and have been meditating on a plan to visit you down under, it will happen. Sending much love to you and James.
Just have to “chime” in here – So proud of my daughter Aynie! she never ceases to amaze me! Early on she absorbed so many life lessons that were not always easy. Her approach to creativity is beautiful and yes, Kimberella, indeed the work at Bodi Manda is very Bright and powerful in her creating.
Such great memories of our gathering at Bodi Manda and the friendships borne there. Would be fun to beam Kim and James over the pond to come for a CO visit.
I’m so impressed! and inspired! My favorite bit was reading that your work will be in galleries in 5 states. Wow. That could more than make up for the financial bottom line.
It seems like you have so much more figured out and that you were able to be present. I will have to bookmark this post when the time comes for me to grow in this direction. Thank you for sharing the detail of what sold well.
Your art is really gorgeous and the way you hung it all in this setting really shows it off well.
Well done you!
Thanks Kathleen, yes, for me right now this show is about so much more than achieving the bottom line profit number. The sales are also important, but I recognize that as a building process and things are moving in the right direction. With each show, I’m changed and I see and learn more, and adjust for the next. I happy to share my experience and glad to hear you may find it useful as you follow your path – your work is wonderful!
A real achievement. Your work so deserves the exposure that it is getting.
Thanks Maggi, it was a good show in many ways and I’m especially thankful given the bad weather that resulted in 50% less attendance than usual on Saturday which is normally the busiest day of the show.
Wow- just read this. It does sound like a great leap forward.
In the display, in having things ready to roll, in limiting your booth to a more focussed body of work and products, and in being rested.
I think the colors and the patterns in your dying (the latest scarves) have become clearer and perhaps even more vibrant, which is also very appealing.
Congrats on the wholesale connections!
2-D wall art is always going to be a harder sell- but people will always want to adorn their bodies with unique accessories and their couches as well!
Thanks Nanci, its so true that even when art lovers have run out of wall space, they generally will still buy functional and wearable art to decorate their spaces and themselves. These shows also have such a different feel from one year to the next, its hard to predict what’s going to be of most interest to majority of attendees at a given show.