Comments on: Organize Your Art Biz Now for 2007 Holidays

By: Tommy Thompson

Tommy Thompson — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 10:58:23 +0000

This year I am painting miniature landscapes for my most faithful collectors. It is time consuming but I believe that it is worthwhile. On the back of each mini, I am pasting a Christmas greeting to the collector.

By: Laura Tyler

Laura Tyler — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 15:28:26 +0000

Mary, Thanks for the inspiration! These are great ideas. Laura

By: Mary Richmond

Mary Richmond — Wed, 06 Dec 2006 10:53:26 +0000

Hi Laura–I print cards from my paintings to sell in my shop all year long but do a special card for my clients, wholesale accounts, people I’ve met through the year. I have been doing humorous ink drawings depicting my family since my children were born (they now feature my new grandchildren!!!) and they have been such a big hit that I do a similar thing for my holiday cards and my clients seem to really like them. They definitely remember them. One year I also had mugs made with my company (I’m a tile artist)name and logo, filled them with candy and sent them to everyone on my list or hand delivered them. When I visit people I see that they still use the mugs! It never hurts to keep your name in front of your clients….and the holiday cards are well worth the effort, I think. It takes an hour or so to do the drawing, another to take it and have it copied, another to hand color them (I do the drawings in black and white and highlight a simple area with red watercolor), and a night to address and stamp them but when I send them out into the world it makes me happy and it seems to make them happy, too. Long time clients remark on the cards all the time and new clients mention them when I see them again, too. In my business building a relationship with my clients is as important as the work I do in my studio.

By: Laura Tyler

Laura Tyler — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 15:40:23 +0000

Ah, Christmas cards. This is something I stumble over every year. As an artist I always dream of making my own cards. But since late summer through the fall is my busiest time of the year the holiday card project always ends up on the back burner ’til December. And then I find myself (as I will this year) two weeks out from Christmas, cards from friends starting to pour in, without a card of my own to send and zero time to embark on an ambitious cardmaking project. Alas, I could really use some help in this area. Artists – what do you do for holiday cards? Do you send handmade cards? A print of your work? Store-bought? I’d love to hear your thoughts. HELP!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 00:36:28 +0000

Thank you Alyson for these great reminders and suggestion’s. I truely love them … I’m confused with “computer database” … what kind of program would this be? This is the kind of information that I lack. What kind of program do I keep this in. Can you offer some suggestions please?