Nov 25, 2008

Arts Business Institute, Wholesalecrafts.com partner in artist education program

(Mooresville, NC) — The Business of Wholesale premiers May 31 and June 1, 2009, at the American Craft Retailers Expo (ACRE), Las Vegas Convention Center. ACRE University: The Business of Wholesale will focus on education for artists in the early stages of their wholesale career. Presented by Arts Business Institute (ABI) faculty and supported by Wholesalecrafts.com, ACRE University: The Business of Wholesale brings two full days of training, during the ACRE show, which runs Sunday, May 31 – Tuesday, June 2, 2009. In addition, ABI will produce two web seminars, which can be viewed online by Wholesalecrafts.com members and ACRE exhibitors.

The educational seminars at ACRE are designed specifically to educate artists on the business aspects of selling their work in the wholesale marketplace. The topics will include pricing, production costs, salesmanship, and gallery relationships, as well as feature guided show tours, individual mentoring sessions, and an opportunity to ask questions while networking with ABI faculty, ACRE staff and seasoned exhibitors.

“We are excited about partnering with ABI, an organization artists know and appreciate,” said Nancy Vince, President, Wholesalecrafts.com. “We believe the seminars will help artists fully prepare to venture into the arena of wholesale and to participate in ACRE in the future.”

ABI faculty member, BRUCE BAKER, is a well-known facilitator of art business lectures, having conducted over 300 workshops throughout the U.S. and Canada. Bruce founded Middlebury Jewelry and Design in Vermont and has sold his own jewelry designs to more than 120 shops, galleries and catalogs. Bruce is a regular contributor to national art and craft publications, including The Crafts Report, and his series of motivation, sales, and booth design CD’s continue to help creative entrepreneurs do more, ask for more, and achieve more. Bruce will be presenting “Wholesale 101” and “Salesmanship.”

NANCY MARKOE has walked a mile in the shoes of a designer, an artist, and a gallery owner. After a career in publishing and graphic arts in Washington DC, Nancy moved to Woodstock, NY in 1970, to find her muse. While there Nancy found clay. She apprenticed and lived as a studio potter for 11 years, selling her work at juried outdoor art shows and through galleries. In 1986, Nancy founded the Nancy Markoe Fine American Crafts Gallery showing her own work and the work of 14 craftspeople she knew from the show circuit. Nancy Markoe Gallery now represents 500 American craftspeople and has consistently been named one of the top 10 galleries in the country. Nancy will be presenting “Relationships with Galleries” and “Pricing.”

Seminars, panel discussions, and a show floor tour round out each day’s activities. For a full schedule of seminars and online registration, go to www.ArtsBusinessInstitute.org or call 877.ABI.5771. Early bird class discounts apply. Seminar fees range from $80 – $160 for advance registration.

About Wholesalecrafts.com
Wholesalecrafts.com is the premier web service for sourcing American and Canadian made crafts. The 10-year-old web service has 17,000 enrolled retailers and 1,300 artist members. Enrollment is free for retailers. Artists pay a service fee. Commissions are not charged on sales. Wholesalecrafts.com is the producer of the American Craft Retailers Expo (ACRE) show, held annually at the Las Vegas Convention Center, NV. For enrollment information, visitwww.Wholesalecrafts.com or call 888.427.2381.

About Arts Business Institute (ABI)
ABI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to offering practical business skills to working artists. The ABI faculty is composed of artists, gallery owners and small business professionals who are currently working in the arts field, making them aware of the challenges artists are facing. ABI’s curriculum offers courses on marketing, wholesaling, retailing, booth design and many other topics. For more information on ABI, visitwww.ArtsBusinessInstitute.org or call 877.ABI.5771.

About American Craft Retailers Expo (ACRE)
ACRE, in its third year, is a wholesale trade show featuring the work of American and Canadian artists. About 600 artists display their work which includes jewelry, home décor, garden items, fashion accessories, gifts and more. ACRE’s Emerging Artist program offers emerging artists the one-time opportunity to buy a smaller booth at a reduced cost if they are new to wholesale shows. Nearly 100 artists have participated in this program each year. For exhibitor and attendee information, visit www.ACRELasVegas.com.