Applying my artistic skills.

[Mr. R]

Hi all,

I recently salvaged some old dirty timber ornaments and renovated them. I sanded them down and drew an intricate ink design on them. The results are really nice and I hope to sell them for a small profit, hopefully a process I can repeat.

I am good with my hands and enjoyed this activity - working with the timber got me thinking about learning some wood carving techniques and translating my drawing skills into a carving/engraving sideline.

What are the potential business start-up applications of this:

Furniture renovation - intricate hand drawn patterns - intricately carved wood?

I was thinking that potential clients could be property developers looking for unorthodox decor?

Does anyone have any ideas about how I could apply all of these skills as a business?

Thanks.

 

I would punt your stuff around upmarket galleries and see what response you get.

They will take at least 50% of the sale price,but if your work gets known.

Property developers tend to be a bit on the tight side.IMHO

Arts a funny thing people pay a fortune for bits of junk that other people tell them is a work of genius.

 

[Esk247]

You can go down the art route but it may take some time to get noticed or get in to any galleries as they're very picky, they want the whole package, the theme, the brand, the image.

You could look at supplying garden centres, furniture suppliers/wholesalers etc. Trying to be as commercially minded as possible, time is money etc.

Anyone supplying shabby chic garden furniture may be interested in these types of items.

 

[hamperco]

Check out sites like Etsy too - there are a few sites like this selling artists' work. It's a bit like Ebay shops you can get your own gallery etc.

 

[Berkshire Business]

There are a whole load of sites where you can sell your work and get your work noticed. I'd recommend you look around, also I agree with the eBay gallery. Good luck.

 

[crystalballltd]

I 2nd Etsy.

Also take a good look at notonthehighstreet.com
You might be able to do smaller pieces at scale to offer unique gift ideas.
They are also marketing on TV at the moment so you benefit from their own marketing drive. Again it's a commission based approach I believe.

 

[VLAHAKISA]

I have been testing Etsy (http://www.etsy.com/shop/TaylorTwoShop)and considering how little time I've had to invest in marketing my shop (close to zero time), I've still made a number of sales over the first year, I find that very impressive of Etsy considering it's very very low cost.

Not On The High Street is very expensive to join (£700 minimum I believe) and I've heard some sellers there reporting sales not any greater than those people are gaining at Etsy, which makes me wonder if it's worth the investment. I'd seriously research this option before proceeding with it over and above Etsy.

Amanda

 

[WolfStores]

Hi There,

How about your own online shop complete with a 'Gallery' feature to enable you to show all of your work to the world, including pieces that you have already sold?

PM me if you would like more free advice on this and access to an example art online shop

Best Regards,

Tim