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February
2006
Leaping Onward |
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2005—a
trip to the Cape,
and a lesson in sales
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When I look back on 2005 the image that
comes to the fore is my marketing trip to Cape Cod and Martha's
Vineyard. I headed off at the very end of Spring toting a carpet bag
full of samples and a list of a dozen galleries to explore. By the
time I came home, the enthusiastic response of the galleries I'd
visited filled me with excitement for the rest of the year. It taught
me something, too—putting my work into someone's hands to see and
touch is its own best sales pitch!
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Upscale fairs and
catalog covers |
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 That
experience was sandwiched between two other great boosts. In February
my work was featured on the cover of a fine art catalog, and I juried
into the upscale Paradise City fair. That fair (in November),
like the trip to the Cape, outdid my most optimistic hopes. You can
see some of the positive energy people feel as they discover my work.
As icing on the cake, at the fair I
found out that I'd also juried into all three of the Spring 2006
Paradise City fairs. I'll only be attending two of them (Marlborough and
Northampton), but I expect to be back in Marlborough in November and have
just found out I'll also be in the November Sugarloaf Craft Fair in
Gaithersburg.
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2006 marketing and
production |
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I'm building on all that positive
energy as I enter 2006 by simultaneously expanding my marketing and
production. I'll be attending the Rosen show (Buyer's Market of
American Craft) in Philadelphia, Feb. 17-20, booth #3036 with the Mass
Style guild. Meanwhile, I've hired and begun training an apprentice.
He'll boost production and free some of my time so I can explore new
work. I'm excited about the
opportunities presented by these changes, and expect yet again a year
of tremendous growth.
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Invested in fun |
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 My
kids like to help out in the workshop now and then. In the Fall
my 9-year old was working with me as I assembled some frames when she
said "Dad, why do you get paid to do this? I thought you only got paid
for work you didn't really want to do." What a great opportunity
to educate her that yes, you can choose a career that's fulfilling and
fun! I do take enormous pleasure in the work I do, and it's wonderful
to hear that reflected in my daughter's perceptions.
I have to say that working in the
workshop is a lot more fun after investing in a nice new heater to
supplement the woodstove. I needed to clean up to make space for a
two-person operation and decided to take time to build lumber racks
and shelves and a few other shop improvements that have made life in
the shop still more pleasant. And a new booth display has made a world
of difference in my retail presence. So here's to launching into a
year full of promise with good feelings filling my sails.
Cheers!
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Next newsletter |
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2006 is shaping up to be a sensational
year. I'll keep you apprised of developments and give you a
picture of my production cycle. |
