I have to agree with the artists on this one. If I buy something
outright, it is mine to do with as I please. If I take it on
consignment, I assume responsibility for it until it sells, but it is
NOT mine!
Even after buying the piece outright, though, it seems it would be in
my interest to promote the uniqueness of an item by referencing the
artist in some way. It makes for good relations with the artist, and
it makes each piece somehow more personal, and therefore valuable, to
the customer, even if it is mass produced to some degree.
It seems that Mark has a retail jewelry store, not a gallery. This
is a different offer.
If I sell my stuff to a retail shop I have to expect that they will
buy the pieces in exactly the same way that they buy their
packaging, chains, standard wedding rings and so on from a company
like Rio Grande. I wouldn’t expect them to retain the branding of
these would I?
I dont tell my buyers that the commercial chain I’ve used is from
any particular manufacturer.
On the other hand Mark, if you passed off my designs as "in house"
then I would criticize you.
I do repairs “to the trade” and find myself talking with my
customer’s customers quite often. Some of the retail clients even
have my cell phone number.
My customers know that I won’t steal their customers because they
know how much I hate to deal with the public and the fact that I
won’t allow retail people (or other unknown-to-me folks) to come to
my studio which is at my house. When dealing with my customer’s
customers I quote them retail and charge my customer as per our
agreed markup.
I’d do what others have suggested: Take your art to someone who
deserves to sell it.
And like David implied, sell your art, don’t consign it. And don’t
steal customers (not that you would.)
It seems that Mark has a retail jewelry store, not a gallery. This
is a different offer.
There’s a fine line between many jewelry stores and galleries. I
think saying something is artisan made will help the appeal and the
sale of the piece regardless of the venue. I think you mentioned
earlier that tagging each individual piece will make the case look
sloppy. And I agree. But you can have the artist’s name next to
their work, a nice name plate or a business card with no contact
info. Makes it more special. less mass produced.
If I sell my stuff to a retail shop I have to expect that they
will buy the pieces in exactly the same way that they buy their
packaging, chains, standard wedding rings and so on from a company
like Rio Grande. I wouldn't expect them to retain the branding of
these would I?
If you think your work is on the same level as Rio then yes. Rio is
mass produced in my mind. I don’t know what your work looks like,
but mine doesn’t look mass-made and the branding is different. You
buy something from Rio because it’s a nice design, a good price and
you know you’ll get a good markup on it. But it’s nothing special-
for the most part.
I dont tell my buyers that the commercial chain I've used is from
any particular manufacturer.
Because manufacturers and artists are two different things. There’s
nothing special about saying “this chain was manufactured (mass
produced) in a factory in XXX.” But there is something enticing with
“This was made by a local artist, he carves each original himself in
wax, and is inspired by the moon and the stars.”
I managed a retail jewelry store (and was the assistant buyer) for
years. We carried everything from mass-produced hoop earrings to big
name designers to one-of-a-kind artisan work. When I had a story to
tell about the artist it was a much easier sale then something from
Rio. Customers bought the Rio charms because of the price point.
They bought Saundra Messenger, Heather Moore, Hillary Druxman
because it was unique work with a nice story about the artist.
There’s some romance to it. A connection.