Our product is large pieces of high-end imported native art. We are
looking for a rep or company of reps who specialize in selling this
type of work to retail stores, luxury hotel chains and galleries.
These pieces are destined for "great rooms", hotel lobbies, public
spaces and the like. |
Request for Question Clarification by
digsalot-ga
on
17 Sep 2002 10:27 PDT
I once was part owner of a gallery in Los angeles called "Gallery of
the Dawn" specializing in works by the "people of the dawn," Papua New
Guina.
Is this type of work in any way close to what you are offering?
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Clarification of Question by
sailingtraders-ga
on
17 Sep 2002 11:11 PDT
Our product consists of large wood carvings carved in Mexico and then
beaded by the Huichol Indians. The bead work is done with Check. seed
beads.
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Request for Question Clarification by
digsalot-ga
on
17 Sep 2002 12:23 PDT
I don't want to repeat any steps you have already taken or redo any
research you have done. Could you tell me where you currently stand,
what information you no longer need or want, what publicity you
already have, etc? Are your arrangements with an importer and customs
already in place? Do you have exhibit space?
In other words, there are so many areas to cover, I do not want to
spend time to find I have just covered what you already know. That's
not beneficial to either of us.
Are you looking to approach a specific agent to represent your work or
do you want to create a situation where agents will come to you? (the
later was our philosophy at Gallery of the Dawn. We opened, did our
publicity number, signed reps to handle the sales, and sold off the
gallery at a good profit within a month.)
So, if you let me have some idea of what you already know, it will
give me a direction in which to research.
Cheers
digsalot
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Clarification of Question by
sailingtraders-ga
on
17 Sep 2002 12:27 PDT
Further clarification( I was out when your request came in and my
husband wrote the first clarification).
I am not familiar with the items you mention. To give you a better
idea of these items, we work with Mexican woodcarvers who create these
large pieces and then the Huichol Indian artists with whom we also
work put bead and yarn designs all over them. These are brand new to
the world---they've not been done before---they wholesale beginning at
$2,500 and up. That's why we're trying to find reps to market them
where they can be sold.
Does that help? P.S. In his original clarification, the correct
spelling of the beads is "Czech".
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Clarification of Question by
sailingtraders-ga
on
17 Sep 2002 12:37 PDT
Well we managed to cross requests for clarification and clarifications
within 4 minutes of one another---good trick!
In response to your most current request:
We've been importing the work of these Indians for six years--all
infrastructure is in place. We generally wholesale at national gift
shows, primarily in the west. We are looking for specific agents to
represent this new work to the right market. The overall work we sell
wholesales from $4 for beaded quail-size egg ornaments to these very
large pieces. Where we need help is in the marketing of these larger
pieces--we'd like to establish a business relationship with someone
who has the right contacts to sell them.
If you would like to get a better idea, go to our website
www.sailingtraders.com, go to Specialty Items and look at the 5' tall
St. Francis wood carving. It's the only item on the site in this
category.
Does that help?
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Request for Question Clarification by
digsalot-ga
on
17 Sep 2002 15:08 PDT
If anybody has a good immediate answer, feel free to jump in. An
unlocked question is fair game.
It will be at least a couple of days before I lock the question to
answer it. I need to know the background and marketing history of
some people in New York and I don't want to make any recommendations
without it. I have sent emails and waiting for their return.
cheers
digsalot
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Clarification of Question by
sailingtraders-ga
on
17 Sep 2002 15:58 PDT
I'm glad you love the iguanas. I do too. Prices on the website are
all retail. We have one wholesale customer in Las Vegas who sells one
of the big double beaded iguana posts about every 6 weeks to 2 months.
We will wait to hear back from you when you get your requested
responses.
Thanks for the feedback so far.
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Request for Question Clarification by
digsalot-ga
on
18 Sep 2002 09:15 PDT
I promised to pass on a question to you. Would you consider consignments?
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Clarification of Question by
sailingtraders-ga
on
18 Sep 2002 10:02 PDT
Good morning, digs. Preferably not.
My husband left for a show this morning and he may have more comments
about your question. If he does, I'll add them when he calls me.
Thanks.
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Clarification of Question by
sailingtraders-ga
on
19 Sep 2002 07:05 PDT
Good morning again. I spoke with my husband last night and he
confirmed how we both feel about consignment. It's not totally out of
the question but would be dependent upon the retail outlet and their
credit rating, location, etc. The Indian artists need to be paid even
before the work comes into the states and we can't afford to be out
costs for long periods of time. Also the shipping costs on these big
pieces are pretty high. So we would much prefer to sell them
outright--but consignment could probably be worked out with particular
retailers/galleries dependent on the above.
Does that help?
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Request for Question Clarification by
digsalot-ga
on
22 Sep 2002 09:21 PDT
Hello again - I had to be away for a few days for unavoidable personal
reasons and didn't want you to think I have forgotten your question.
Now that I'm back, I can start working on things again. I also need
to start from a new direction. The contacts I have in New York are
mostly consignment galleries but now that I know you are not overly
excited about consignments, I will look into art brokerages and other
direct purchase opportunities.
Thanks for your patience
digsalot
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