How's business?

[NanaScores]

Curious how everyone is fairing up in the turn down were are going through here in the US. I went from can't keep up to nothing happening in a very short span of time. Not sure what to do about up coming shows. Hate just doing sun catchers, but don't want to produce to much in the higher scale and then sit on it. I am a home based studio, so I don't have the foot traffic that the brick and mortor shops have. I do not teach because I would never pretend like some do that I am a seasoned glasser. I will not expose furute glassers to poor teaching like I was. I was not taught about reinforcement of larger panels or the hing problems of designs. I learned that through some learned glassers at another site. I have found that far to many people who call them selves teachers should not be teaching, so that is why I haven't gone into that part of this art as a means of increasing my income from glass.
I do design most of the panels I do. I recently started using eye glass to produce my patterns/designs, but had done them by hand before. Would love to hear from other smaller studios to see what they are doing to fair this slow peak.

[Rebecca]

Curious how everyone is fairing up in the turn down were are going through here in the US. I went from can't keep up to nothing happening in a very short span of time. Not sure what to do about up coming shows. Hate just doing sun catchers, but don't want to produce to much in the higher scale and then sit on it.


Once you sit on it, you have to repair it! That's what I'm doing, repairs.

Rebecca

[dawnt]

I've been consistently busy with both public and private comissions. Those really don't seem to have dried up much. Gallery sales have been not-so-hopping though. This holiday season was pretty slow for all the galleries I work with and I don't foresee that improving any time soon.

Fortunately, I've been able to keep busy enough that I don't have to take repairs. ;) They are NOT my favorite thing....

Dawn

[Boris]

Doing repairs and restorations still, as a Hobby. Have not run out of work, still have about 6 months worth of work to do for others, and enough work of my own to keep me busy for a year or two, at least.

Seems that people who buy or collect Antiques, old Lighting, and Vintage Glass, are not really affected much by the economy. They already have theirs, and enough to continue on, same as these people did through every other reccession, or depression. We call it "Old Money" here, and its the best customer base one can have. They pay what you ask, and if its too cheap, they feel you do shoddy work. They also give the biggest tips, if they like your work. Life is "Grand."

[Planet Glass]

I'm going to go out on a limb here, feel free to criticize, I'm just speculating.

I do think that most sectors will experience near-paralysis. I remember the early eighties.

Demand is very elastic (demand sensitive) for luxury items. Yes, I would even put a $20 suncatcher as a luxury item.

For items whose demand is less elastic, you might want to think more in terms of custom pet memorials. A custom portrait and some place to hang or otherwise attach the container of ashes to the panel. Truth is, the bereaved don't think about dollars and cents, and people are wild about their pets. People will want a portrait of their pet before one of their kid.

Or maybe something for the garden. People enjoy spending money on their gardens, recession or not. Don't make trinkets like the ones that are done cheaply in Mexico. Something tastefully done. Windchimes, windchime toppers, or dream up some idea!

[NanaScores]

Thanks for the suggestions. They are sound ones and give a lot of food for thought. Been trying to come up with a nitch that would help weather the clouds of the economy, NanaScores

[Boris]

I'm going to go out on a limb here, feel free to criticize, I'm just speculating.I do think that most sectors will experience near-paralysis. I remember the early eighties. Demand is very elastic (demand sensitive) for luxury items. Yes, I would even put a $20 suncatcher as a luxury item.For items whose demand is less elastic, you might want to think more in terms of custom pet memorials. A custom portrait and some place to hang or otherwise attach the container of ashes to the panel. Truth is, the bereaved don't think about dollars and cents, and people are wild about their pets. People will want a portrait of their pet before one of their kid. Or maybe something for the garden. People enjoy spending money on their gardens, recession or not. Don't make trinkets like the ones that are done cheaply in Mexico. Something tastefully done. Windchimes, windchime toppers, or dream up some idea!


Good points. The main thing one must keep in mind, as noted with "Luxury Items" is that your clientel set the stage for your business or lack of business. In my particular venture, the clientel I have are not affected by this countries slow down. They have the money to do what they want, regardless of the economy. The demand for what they "want" is still there, where with others, the needs to just maintain their lifestyles, outweighs the ability to purchase items . Since they did not purchase "Luxury" items to start with, only the middle of the road glass businesses suffer.

Anyone can start and maintain a business, for a while, but to be a success, you just can not say, I want to have a glass business. You need to say I want a glass business, and then pick who, as a client base, you want to appeal to, and what you need to have for them, to attract and keep them. Its like hunting. You don't just take a gun, and shells and go out in the woods, with no idea of what your going after, and how to get it. You arm yourself for your specific target, and then figure what you need to either draw them, or seek them out. Prepare yourself.

I do think Garden ornaments are appealing, and you see more and more of them being sold at Lowes and Home Depot, and such. One may be able to still jump on the bandwagon, and get in on the last half of the craze. It has to be "different" and not cheap looking. People look at items and think "This is me, and I want people to see me." If its not, they will not buy.

[Dennis Brady]

Curious how everyone is fairing up in the turn down were are going through here in the US. I went from can't keep up to nothing happening in a very short span of time. Not sure what to do about up coming shows. Hate just doing sun catchers, but don't want to produce to much in the higher scale and then sit on it. I am a home based studio, so I don't have the foot traffic that the brick and mortor shops have. I do not teach because I would never pretend like some do that I am a seasoned glasser. I will not expose furute glassers to poor teaching like I was. I was not taught about reinforcement of larger panels or the hing problems of designs. I learned that through some learned glassers at another site. I have found that far to many people who call them selves teachers should not be teaching, so that is why I haven't gone into that part of this art as a means of increasing my income from glass.
I do design most of the panels I do. I recently started using eye glass to produce my patterns/designs, but had done them by hand before. Would love to hear from other smaller studios to see what they are doing to fair this slow peak.

Times have changed. What happened in the past is irrelevant. The future market will be radically different than anything before. The degree to which you succeed will be directly proportional to the degree to which you despecialize. Train yourself and position yourself to take advantage of every income opportunity. I suggest the most important aspect of despecialization is accepting that stained glass is a much smaller part of the glass art industry than it used to be and it's likely to continue shrinking. You'll benefit considerably by diversifying into kilnforming, torching, sandblasting, casting, etc.

Times aren't slower. They're just different. I know dozens of glass artisans that are so busy they're booking work they can't start for months. Without exception, these are artisans whose work combines stained glass, kilnforming, and sandblasting.

[Kara]

You talk about successful artists. Do you know of any links that these artists may have to their websites.

And have you noticed whether where they live making the difference?

[Dennis Brady]

You talk about successful artists. Do you know of any links that these artists may have to their websites.

And have you noticed whether where they live making the difference?

http://www.illuminatiglassworks.ca/
http://www.kilnartglass.com/
http://www.thegardengallery.ca/

Here's a quick few that are full time pro artisans. I can easily supply 20 or 30 more. Whether or not they chose to call themselves "artists" is irrelevant. It's a term I, and many other pros, carefully avoid. Too often, "artist" is a term one applies to themself as an explanation for why they can't make a living selling their work. Here's my feelings about the term:
http://www.debrady.com/about/artistsstatement.htm

Where they live is also irrelevant. What you make, how you sell your work, and where you sell it is what makes all the difference. Most of your work will sell somewhere other then where you live, so why not live where you most want to live? That's why we have so much talent on the Canadian west coast.

FWIW, I've helped dozens of individuals become full time pro artisans generating the same income a trades pro (carpenter, plumber, electrician, mechanic) would expect.

[krauskiartglass]

We have been in business for almost 40 years, Yep, since I was 20 and now I'm 60.
We have survived all of this time by being flexible.We started out doing repairs and making small pieces. We did church work through various liturgical design companies. We learned to sandblast.
We did lots of restaurant stuff. Had stuff in galleries. Made awards.
Joined american Craft council. did their shows and others all over the country.Lots of shows. good ones, not "shit on a stick" shows. At one point 26 shows in a year and we did quite well at them.
Now we are doing comissions again.
Lsst year we had three of the best commissions of our career. but I am frankly worried here because the phone is not ringing.
It IS the economy. People are worried about food and gas. I never remember it being this slow.
I think my husband is one of the best sand blasters in the country. We are extremely versatile and adept at both stained and etched glass.
But I am thinking about teaching classes until things improve if they ever do.Literally hundreds of people have asked if we gave classes overe the past ten or fifteen years, but we were always too busy. I am hoping some of them are still interested so I can keep paying my bills .
I used to think it would be okay because we would be respected as master craftsmen. but I'm not sure that theory was correct and I am wondering if we are merely obsolete. Any thoughts?

[iaff84]

Mary,

It does seem it changes as we go along. With the beveling I have drawn back, do the "regular" jobs but now spend more time just trying different things on different glasses. I must say I have never bought into doing it all, jumping from one discipline to another, but to each his own. Seems this just keeps one going to supplier to buy more equipment and more of different supplies. After 30 years I still have not mastered grinding glass. Always different things to try with equipment I have.

I would answer yes that things have slowed down. Still standing and doing more interesting work than I have in years, that is what it is about to me anyway.

Would I do it again, yes, would I change things allot, not really, would not be where I am and who I am if I messed with history.

The few project I have been involved with you on have always been interesting. Wish you and Bob continued success, you both have been here for the long haul and I am sure you will weather this bump out.

Dennis