Hints & tips for Exhibitions & Sales
New to selling your work? We've prepared this handy checklist of things to think about when preparing and running an exhibition/ sale with CVAT:
Demonstrations - if you feel comfortable working with people watching then this is a great draw. Try not to sit or ‘hover’ around your display all the time – people often like to have a chance to look at things without feeling they are being watched. Be on hand for enquiries and to chat to people about your work. If you have someone else helping, make sure they know about your work and can be informative.
New to selling your work? We've prepared this handy checklist of things to think about when preparing and running an exhibition/ sale with CVAT:
- As a group we are all trying to support each other so please work with each other to enable everyone to be able to exhibit their work to the public to best effect. We want the events we run to be friendly and fun to attend. We will provide a CVAT badge and labelling, so we have a unified group identity. Make sure you welcome all visitors into your venue – perhaps take it in turns to ‘meet and greet’ people when they come in.
- CVAT will provide publicity material both printed and digital format. It is in your interest for this material to be circulated to as many people as possible so do put event details on your websites, social media pages, email your friends and family etc and print off and put up posters in your villages. Please distribute leaflets or flyers to local venues for people to pick up.
- At exhibitions / sales there are many different ways to display your material dependent upon the type of work you do. Chairs and one table are usually provided by the venue. It is commonly not permitted to hang or attach works to the walls so bring along table easels, easels, display boards, plinths, browsers etc but make sure they are fit for purpose as we don't want things falling down!
- Bring a plain tablecloth to cover your table. One that reaches to the floor at the front and sides is good as it hides all your packaging stored under your table. Haven't got a tablecloth? - plain sheeting material works well.
- Lighting - some venues have electricity so clip on spotlights are often useful. Make sure they are in good order so they don't fuse the venue! Fused extensions leads are useful. Tape down any trailing cables so they are not a hazard for anyone to trip over.
- Display - think about how your work looks as a whole eg. do frames match or does it look bitty? Do you want your work to be co-ordinated? Are you trying to fit too much on your table? - perhaps thin it out to show your work to best effect and keep any duplicates or extra prints hidden away and replenish your stand as needed. Think about which directions visitors will be viewing your work. Make sure visitors know if they can touch or handle your work and that breakages may have to be paid for (particularly if there are lots of children around!).
- How to engage visitors - Bring along your sketch books and have them on display for visitors to look through. Visitors like to see how you work and so books are a useful conversation starter.
Demonstrations - if you feel comfortable working with people watching then this is a great draw. Try not to sit or ‘hover’ around your display all the time – people often like to have a chance to look at things without feeling they are being watched. Be on hand for enquiries and to chat to people about your work. If you have someone else helping, make sure they know about your work and can be informative.
- Bring blue tack, gaffer tape, string, sticky labels, plain card, scissors, pins, Velcro tape etc all very useful when setting up a display.
- Do not under value your work - instead think about how you can provide a range of different prices eg. cards & prints of work will command a lower price than framed work. Local companies eg. Fosseway Press print cards in small print runs. Or you could try companies e,g sixprint.co.uk based down in Cornwall.
- Make sure someone is responsible for your work at all times. You are liable for any losses or damage to your work.
- Labelling: have prices clearly shown either by each item or have a list that visitors can look at easily. Make sure visitors know what is for sale or what is on display as examples. Let people know if you take commissions. Can you make something in a different colour or size? Offer the option of the same piece framed or mounted at different prices.
- Sales - have a float with suitable change for your prices. Make it clear how to pay – cash, cheque, card etc? Where is the nearest cash machine? Do you need to take a deposit to secure works that will be collected later?
- Packaging - have paper bags / packaging to wrap your work when you sell it. Decide if they can take it away straight away (and have spares to put up in their place) or if you want the work collected at a later time or date. Sometimes keeping up a sold piece (marked with a sticker) can encourage other people to buy works or ask about copies or prints.
- Keep a record of sales; this is useful in working out what type of work and cost of work sells best at different events and in future you can tailor your work. Also good as a record for your accounts.
- Contact details: make sure you have something with your contact details on for visitors to take away with them. Business cards are relatively inexpensive off the internet.
- Thinking of running workshops in the future? You can always have a comments book for visitors to write their contact details in which you can then use to email later with information. Remember you need your own individual insurance for anything that you take part it that isn't organised by CVAT.
- Most of all - have fun. If you are not selling much have a look around and see what is selling and learn. Treat the event as advertising yourself and what you do. Visitors may contact you after the event so be friendly and approachable. Some visitors may not come prepared to buy on the spot but will come back to you later on or search out your work at another event.