Artists Alley Information Thread

Selling at Cons is best during the...

Spring	11.5%	[ 117 ]
Summer	29.4%	[ 300 ]
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Total Votes:			[ 1020 ]

[MidniteHearts]

So I've been reading this interesting thread for the past 2 days now, and it's very interesting to read about prepping for the AA at cons! Although I myself, personally wouldn't do it, seeing as how there are way too many expenses to factor in >_<, and I'd probably wind up broke just from the table costs alone! But hey, it's cool that you guys go for it. So I've read up to page 136, and thought I would share some input. So far I've seen other artists give each other advice about what to sell and not sell, printing services, table arrangements/display and everything else, but I've yet to read some post that involve packaging! I feel that's what can also draw in your customers. And if your packaging can trump that of another artist who only used a resealable plastic pouch, or nothing at all then that's a plus!

Here are some examples of packaging

buttons: packaging 1 packaging 2

bookmarks: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HMl7-JXlzkk/TV1CTViaU7I/AAAAAAAACpA/Fky--0THdPM/s1600/BOOKMARK+IN+PACKAGING.JPG

charms: packaging 1 packaging 2

Not only does packaging help your customers keep track of their items, but it also makes your merchandise stand out in an interesting and professional way, and it will incline people to buy from you, because they noticed that you took the extra effort and time to package your products!

[Kyousouka]

MidniteHearts

Never forget that ultimately it's the product that should sell itself, not the packaging. The packaging must never get in the way. If possible, you might even want to give people the option to buy without the packaging. For example, a lot of people who buy buttons want to stick them on their bag/whatever right away, and packaging gets in the way of that.
Also, if the packaging is too nice, people will feel bad taking the items out, and that's just sad (and making anyone feel bad is bad xP).

Another thing is that while packaging looks nice and that can help sales, some items sell better when a person can touch them directly. Touching things makes a sort of connection between the object and the buyer, so they'll be more inclined to buy it (don't ask why, I have no idea, but this is something I've heard from a number of others and have observed myself). Many kinds of packaging, especially protective ones, can get in the way of that.

tl;dr: Packaging has its disadvantages besides cost too, so make sure to weigh them along with the advantages when deciding whether/how to package something.

[MidniteHearts]

You're right about that. I guess for me it would help my art feel more complete, lol. It would be especially useful if you're selling your merchandise in sets like buttons for instance. haha I don't know, was just a suggestion. Also, have some of you considered putting up some of your stuff that didn't sell onto an online store like etsy or storeenvy and see how well they do? (that's what I plan to do since I don't attend cons). And that's what a lot of artists I know on dA do. I also know a wide variety of online printing services (also used by very popular dA artists) that will print your custom notebooks, pillows, bags, charms etc. if anyone's interested.

[Nerimeki]

I was accepted into Ohayocon! I've never been before and it'll be my first time at a no-fanart convention. Anyone been there before?

[MidniteHearts]

nerimeki

I was accepted into Ohayocon! I've never been before and it'll be my first time at a no-fanart convention. Anyone been there before?

I've never been there before, because I don't attend cons, but plenty of people on this forum have. It's nice to know that for once a con is no longer accepting fanart, because I know there must be plenty of artists that would like more of their original work to be noticed, but it gets overlooked by all the Naruto and Death Note being seen. It kind of gives people no choice but to at least take a look at your original art, and possibly buy unless that's not what they're there for haha.

[salvagedsword]

Just received my Tecre button machine and it is amazing! It's super fast and every button comes out perfect. It was super expensive, but I'm glad I didn't go with one of the cheaper machines like Badge-a-Minit. Right now, I have something like 75% original art button designs and 25% fanart, but I'm trying to come up with more fanart stuff because that will probably sell better.

By the way, has anyone here sold at ALA or Anime Conji?

[ninniku]

Has anyone ever tried selling wall decals? And what would your feelings be if you saw them in an AA?

[SoloAzume]

I was in my first AA last weekend, and boy what a blast!
unforntately I only had about 3-4 weeks to prepare all my items!

I made dozens of buttons, but I had not time or money left over for displaying, so everything was basically laid out on the table.

I found that this was both space-consuming and not as flashy as I wanted it to be.

I've read a dozen pages of this forum, but does anyone have any ideas on displaying buttons? Like a standing display sort of thing?

I suppose I could just get a stand and drape it in cloth or something if all else fails for next year....

[[Kako]]

Getting a stand and draping a cloth on it is definitely an option, but making your own stand would be even better. A quick, easy button display can be made as follows:

You'll need: 1 picture frame, no glass (whatever size you'd like. Space enough to display all of your buttons evenly spaced with a good inch of margin on the edges is recommended), 1 block of crafting foam or styrofoam 1" in thickness and wide enough to fit inside your frame, 1 yard of the fabric of your choice (I'd reccomend a faux velvet) in a neutral colour, a hot glue gun, and a sample copy of each of your pins.

Cut your foam to fit inside of the picture frame. Lay the foam on the fabric and cut around it, giving a 3" margin on all sides. Use your hot glue gun to secure the fabric to the backside of your foam, folding it up as if you were wrapping a gift. I recommend using a direct line of glue across each edge and applying some extra glue to the corners. It should end up looking more or less like this:



Flip it around and put it into the picture frame. If you'd like, you can hot-glue it into the frame so it'll be secure. Bend the pointy part of your pins until they're sticking straight out, and then just stab them into the foam. If you'd like, you can use a paint pen or a bit of white-out to mark the fabric ahead of time to make sure you have even spacing. This sort of display can work horizontally or vertically, but it'll catch the most attention if you can prop it up at an angle.

[salvagedsword]

[Kako]

Using foam is a good idea. I've made similar button displays, but without the layer of foam, and sometimes it can be tricky to get the buttons pinned on there.

[Seijaku_Ishida]

Nerimeki

I was accepted into Ohayocon! I've never been before and it'll be my first time at a no-fanart convention. Anyone been there before?

Oh, you're going to Ohayocon too? This is my 5th year selling there. I love it.

[AnimeJet]

How are sales at no fanart cons? i have to say i make almost no money off my original art so it seems like a bust to me D:

[Kaxen]

I want to try a no fanart convention sometime, but I don't know of any nearby ones and my insecure side says I'll lose my shirt.

[[Kako]]

I've never actually heard someone who isn't a totally self-sufficient professional artist talk about no-fanart cons, come to think of it.

[Seijaku_Ishida]

AnimeJet

How are sales at no fanart cons? i have to say i make almost no money off my original art so it seems like a bust to me D:

I usually make back my costs. My slant is usually fantasy, and the creatures(griffins, dragons, dragon-people) do really well at Ohayocon. I guess I have a reputation as the dragon artist now. XD