Participation in art fairs is a pleasant way to showcase paintings, sculptures under one roof, and earn. It is also an excellent way to get new customers and certify your art to a broader audience. The concept of an online art gallery has also picked up over the years. It is a modern way of selling art and has an edge over traditional methods.
Buyers bursting at the seams at an art exhibition is no new story. The challenge is to make an art booth stand out to win excellent clients and numbers. Booth presentation and customer handling give an extra edge over other art booths. Many participants may not have the right business acumen and experience in selling art. Frequent participation in an art fair can make one better equipped to handle the show. Let us find out what to do and avoid in an art fair to fulfill art fair goals.
Do A Good Presentation of Your Booth.
To lure potential buyers at art fairs is a tasking job. A nicely done up booth takes half the load and worries. A good company name and logo adapted into stall signage is the first step to attract eyeballs and draw traffic. Put up communication material like posters, standees, danglers at the booth to highlight art items and unique pieces. Put special items of display at strategic booth points for the convenience of the first-time buyers and repeat shoppers. Promote your areas of expertise in an art booth using easy DIY methods.
Do Look Professional and Welcoming.
Your booth may have an attractive design and presentation. What about you? Look dapper in your dressing and conversation skills. Your friendly nature and customer greetings are a positive sign for you and your art booth. Make the curious customer feel at ease in your space. Inviting guests to your stall by doing demonstrations or doing random painting at the booth’s front are small steps to encourage footfalls.
Do Know Your Art Audience.
Not all walk-ins at an art booth are sure customers. Do your research on art fair attendees. Get to know their background details, areas of interest in art, love for a particular art form, comfortable price point. When you have picked the relevant detail, invite your art buyers for a special preview by sending them customized emails and invitations. Also, ask them to pass the invitation to like-minded friends in their network. It is an excellent technique to tap and convert potential buyers into actual clients.
Do Use Conversational Language.
Exchanging common greetings and pleasantries with an art customer like ‘Thank you’ and ‘Welcome’ is fine. But it does not make you come closer to his shopping mindset. Start and engage in a meaningful conversation with a prospective art buyer. Share the story behind your art and the innovative tools you used. It will help strike an emotional connection with the customer and make him/her remember your thoughtful words.
Do Use Business Cards and Credit Cards.
A Visiting card is the first point of self-introduction to a walk-in customer and buyer at an art booth. It is also an effective way to start a long-term relationship with a client. Make use of the visiting cards you have got by sending clients thank you emails and personal invitation for your next art show. Since an art buy is of chief value, allow the customers to use credit cards instead of cash. There are easy-to-use apps like Square. Digital invoicing software will help you enjoy the seamless experience.
Don’t Clutter your Stall Space.
No art booth can function without the presence of furniture and art. Having an excess of them can ruin the ease of movement and impression. Avoid blocking the space assigned with unnecessary tables and random items of decoration. Customers prefer crisp and clean art booths with sufficient art pieces, not overstuffed stalls.
Don’t Overcrowd Regulars and Patrons.
An art booth attracts walk-ins and hard-core buyers. They have their mannerisms and way of choosing things. Stuffed art booths will give less time to these customer groups to decide and buy art. Allow them the benefit of choosing art at their own pace.
Don’t Eat in Front of your Clients.
A customer at an art fair needs to know many things about the displayed art. Chomping a burger or munching a sandwich may irritate the buyer no end. Reserve eating to a time slot when there are zero customers at the booth.
Don’t Sell your Art without Proper Packing.
Quite an amount of effort goes into the making of art. No customer will like to open a just-bought item at home in a damaged state. Packing makes all the difference. Follow all guidelines to make sure the art piece reaches the customers’ home safe. A positive impression happens not only because of an excellent product but the post-purchase experience.
Don’t Forget to Thank The Customers.
Close your deal with a customer by expressing thanks and gratitude. The customer will remember your kind words and will come back to you the next time. Humility goes a long way in winning a client for keeps.
Conclusion
The total number of art fairs makes it essential to command your presence at the fair. Get ready to put your best foot forward at the art fair with the dos and don’ts shared above.
