Finally, I want to discuss how having various price points for your arts and crafts and adding a witty side to your arts and crafts products will help overcome the cost conscious spending patterns expected to continue into 2011.
Cost Conscious Shopping Patterns for 2011
To deal with consumer spending patterns anticipated to continue in 2011, it's a good idea to create arts and crafts at many different price points. This way if the shopper has an emotional pull to your handcrafted item, they can fulfill that need without second-guessing themselves about spending the money.For example, artists can use different size canvasses, creating smaller, less elaborate artwork that take less time to finish. The shorter amount of time spent creating the work of art equals a lower price. Jewelry-makers can use gold-filled rather than karated gold for some pieces of jewelry.
Combining Functionality with Emotion
Going back to page two of this article, handcrafting arts and crafts that are functional help create a need for the handcrafted item. Giving the arts or crafts item an additional boost by playing the emotion card helps seal the sale.For example, you're selling beautifully crafted leather belts with turquoise inlaid buckles. These are functional because they hold up pants or cinch in a top. One of a kind and unique, your female shopper also subconsciously (or consciously) is considering the compliments she will receive from her friends or coworkers and maybe making that nasty sister-in-law jealous at the next family get-together.
The Importance of Wittiness
Finally, I don't think the importance of adding some aspect of wit into your art or craft handcrafted items, if at all possible, can be over-rated. Many shoppers are attracted to items that make them smile.Combining wittiness to eco-friendly construction will surely be a winner for your arts and crafts business. For example, the image on this page is Jack by Brenda Guyton. Winner of the People's Choice Award at Texas Sculpture Association NorthPark Membership Show, his nose is made from a discarded computer monitor coil, toes from a hard disk drive and a floppy drive and the insides of his ears are shiny copper sheeting. Go to her website for more information about her creative, appealing designs made by reusing and recyling raw materials.
Also recommended, check out this article at ArtFire.com: Adding Whimsy to Your Work.
