WarmGlass.com

My website has an article on Consignment Selling you might find helpful. It includes a PDF downloadable sample Consignment Agreement you will DEFINITELY find useful.

http://www.debrady.com/technical/articl ... onsignment

Just as not all artisans are professional, neither are all gallery owners. For many it's a hobby more than a business. There are only 3 reasons galleries insist on consignment only. 1. They don't really know what sells so are unwilling to buy outright. 2. They don't have any money to buy stock. 3. T...

It might be just what it appears - or it may be the hesitation is more about you personally then your work. One of the realities you must accept is that gallery owners have learned to be cautious taking on a new artisan. The reality is that the majority of artisans are so non-businesslike, they're f...

There's no advantage to making it complicated (for you or your customer) and every advantage to adopting a formula that's simple and straightforward. For almost 20 years I've charged 10% on top of the wholesale price for all inclusive packing and shipping. All my 120 customers are happy with that sy...

Not only is the CM a great solution for anyone with carpal tunnel, tendonitis, or arthritis- it's a terrific time saver for production work. Nobody on our crew has any physical afflication, but all use the CM for routine cutting. Best tool development since the grinder. The CM company has also produ...

Maybe that's an idea the US Government should adopt. It wouldn't be possible for Bush and Cheney to sign that many receipts that fast, but if nothing else it would give them something constructive to occupy their time.

Here's another scam - but from China not Nigeria. Email offered to sell me art glass at appealling low prices. They sent an impressive collection of photos of their glass that looks almost exactly like a mix of Bullseye, Uroborus and Youghieghenny - but at about 20% of the cost. They propose sending...

Another variation is a request to buy with the proposal to direct depost the payment to your bank. Just give the customer your bank account no and they'll wire transfer funds. The transfer of funds will be from and not to your account.

I've had this request from several different countries.

Three possible solutions: 1. Find some wholesale accounts that operate on the opposite season. For example Australia and Hawaii - and to lesser degree CA & FL. My Hawaiian accounts don't order anything until Xmas. Australian season starts mid Nov. 2. Learn to operate like a farmer. Use the winte...

I've been exchanging emails with several U.K. glass artisans interested in accessing a greater variety of supplies then currently available to them - and hopefully at even lower costs then they've been paying. I'm wondering about the feasibility of creating an artisan's buying co-operative to put to...

I agree it's hard for newcomers to break in. I think that applies everywhere and believe it's primarily because the prospective buyers are so tentative about working with someone new. The solution for newcomers is to do everything they can to present themselves first as professional businesses - sec...

Although the increased cost of bringing everything to you is a disadvantage, it's balanced by the marketing advantage of being able to claim your product is locally made. The tool and materials cost is a very small percentage of final cost. It's mostly your labour that determines the final price. If...

We've had consistent success with bisque-fired ceramic or porcelain for slumping and casting molds. Either sculpt raw clay into the desired shape, or slip cast into whatever shape you want. Most ceramic supply retailers sell clay in blocks or liquid slip in gallons. Easy, cheap, dependable. Some of ...

You might consider exhibiting at one of the commercial shows that gallery owners frequent. That's where they expect to make most of their supply contacts.

Agreed. If you hope to make a living selling your work, you must produce something artistically original. Something the customer believes is worth spending money on. If you're making coasters, vases and sushi dishes, it's unreasonable to claim the public doesn't support glass art. They support it ju...

Don't confuse willingness to learn with expectations of immediate success. If you're in favour of the later, I'm pleased you'll not be shopping with us. We provide extensive technical and business support to our artisan customers. I'd hate to needlessly waste effort on someone with unrealistic expec...

As saturated as the market has become with product, it's worse with instructors. Many people teaching introductory fusing and slumping have just recently finished their own beginner classes. When people inquire about our classes (whether it's cold glass, warm, or whatever) we always ask WHY they're ...

I agree that the entire market is increasing. An ever increasing variety of product has generated an increase in interest in glass art. However, my impression (based on 20 years selling into and observing the market) is that the increase in supply of simple fused and slumped glass has increased much...

Sales of some things are up, while others are down. Some places have increased sales, while others decreased. As a whole I think it's fairly stable. Maybe the main reason sales for warm glass are declining isn't reduced market demand, but increased supply of product. There's a steady flow of wannabe...

I think if your goal is to "get your name out there" you'd be better off doing some retail craft shows where people will have a chance to see your work up close and personal. You'll sell a few things and make some contacts for commissions. You'll also make contact with store owners interes...