It’s coming up on a year since the gallery first opened its doors (and since I took the plunge from having a reliable paycheck to betting on this grand idea), and it’s been quite the ride. Business consistently gets better each month, but not by leaps and bounds, and that’s a bit (read: a lot) scary.
In my second year of business, I’m going to try a slightly new direction and a modified approach. Last week, good friend (and Artist Guild of Greenville member) Kevin Henderson sent me this article, “6 Reasons Why Artists Fail at Business.” It rang true for me, as I’m sure it probably resonates with any artist trying to make a living by creating.
It’s hard. It’s hard because I don’t want to do the “business-side” of the operation. I want to make things. And for a long time I believed that, “If I make it, they will come.” It’s not that simple. So I’ve sat down with Sara and we’ve come up with a short-term and long-term plan.
First thing, the gallery is going to carry more jewelry artists. We’re maintaining our relationship with the non-jewelry artists we currently carry, because frankly – these are amazing artists and amazing people. To get going, I’m going to venture into Kickstarter, which is designed to help artists raise funds for special projects – in my case, that project will be multi-pronged: I need to make more pieces (and materials cost a pretty penny), I need to participate in shows around the southeast (also costs money), and I need to redesign my personal website so that I can get the product to market in a way that makes sense (mo’ money, mo’ problems).
And that’s the 30-day plan. You’ll be seeing more jewelry – exciting pieces from around the upstate and the country. You’ll be seeing more of my own work, and specifically, themed lines that have a cohesive feel. There’s a great need for custom, artistic jewelry in Greenville. My store will carry that.
It was time to blog again for two big reasons: First, because it should be a regular thing, and it will be a regular thing with more on technique and specials and bouncing ideas off the reader, and secondly, because I’m going to need your help. I need you to tell me what you love, what you don’t, and how I can better serve you. And to everyone who has stopped by to shoot the shit, grab a cup of coffee, drop off a repair, or pick up something new – you have my thanks. You really do.
Tags: jewelry in Greenville, jewelry store in greenville