Marketing techniques

for visual artists & crafts people
6th October 2008

Run by an established and award winning contemporary craft gallery this course offers a practical guide to marketing and promoting. You will leave with the skills to increase the awareness of your business and therefore your sales.

What you will learn
How to price your stock at a profitable level that will also appeal to a trade buyer.
How to approach a gallery to sell your work.
What price a gallery will sell for, including SOR mark ups.
How to make your promotional materials stand out from the crowd.
How to design and source cost effective promotional material.
How to get free publicity.
How to write a press release.
How to make the best use of photography.
How to increase interest and sales.
How to make your customers work for you through excellent customer service.
How to assess trade fairs.
Where to find out about grant schemes and other sources of funding.

(Please note this course will not look at business regulations, finances or legal requirements. For this you are best attending a business set up course run by your local Business Link. This course is designed to be marketing specific.)

Why choose a craft business set up course run by the Ferrers Gallery?
Rachael Chambers who runs the course at the Ferrers Gallery is the Gallery’s owner. She has a 12-year career in arts, tourism and education marketing and has been the gallery’s owner for the past three years. Since taking over the gallery she has increased it’s turnover and profitability as well as public and press awareness of the gallery, securing several national magazine features and expanding a strong customer base. Rachael has diversified her business activities and now has a year round exhibition programme on two floors, a mail order jewellery catalogue and a craft business training course. Rachael was a judge for the 2006 British Craft Trade Fair Awards in Harrogate. Rachael was awarded Leicestershire’s Rural Business Woman of the Year 2006 and is Contemporary Craft Editor for Craft & Design magazine and writes regular features offering her expertise to makers and craftspeople.

The Ferrers Gallery was awarded Silver for Marketing Excellence in both 2005 and 2006, in 2006 we also received a Bronze for Excellence in Customer Service and 2007 a Bronze for Best Tourism Experience all in the East Midlands Tourism Enjoy England Awards. The gallery has achieved Investors in People Status and is a member of the Federation of Small Businesses.

The Course is run within the gallery space and gives a unique opportunity to use items on display as examples and inspiration.

What the day involves.
The day starts at 9.30am with refreshments and introductions. From 10am – 12 noon there will be short lectures, workshops and practical exercises. Followed by a one hour break for lunch and a chance to look around the gallery. From 1pm to 3pm there will be further short lectures, workshops and practical exercises followed by tea and cake at 3pm. From 3.30pm to 4.30pm there will be the opportunity for an open question session and personal tutor discussions. The course will end at 4.30pm.

At the end of the day there is the opportunity to look round the gallery and have a little spend! All course attendees will receive 10% off purchases while attending the course.

Maximum 12 people per course.

Cost: £95.00 payable in advance. Cost includes refreshments throughout the day and a buffet lunch.

If you are based in Leicestershire and Rutland then Creative LeicesterShire will help subsidise your place by £60, meaning you only have to pay £35.
Telephone: (01332) 863337 for more information.