Increase your art sales.
You can increase sales at your art gallery by increasing your gallery's name recognition and getting your artwork out on display at venues other than your gallery. Hold raffles, gallery tours, open houses with the artists and classes open to the public to generate more viewings of your art and keep name recognition up throughout the community. Barter your art with local restaurants and caterers for gallery events.
Instructions
1. Display your gallery name at different events.
Increase your name recognition. Get your art on display at art fairs, restaurants, hotels, high-end retail stores and other high-traffic areas with affluent clients. Contact each venue and ask if you can bring some of your pieces by and do an exhibit for their customers free of charge. Offer the exhibit as free entertainment for their business while increasing your name recognition throughout the community. Bring business cards and brochures for interested customers. Display your gallery name for the passing traffic to see as well. Meet each person who seems interested in a piece and give them background information about the art and a card from your gallery.
2. Sell raffle tickets to an event at your gallery.
Hold a raffle. Raffle off a piece of your art for a cause that is close to the art community or your local community. Ask other vendors to participate in the raffle to draw more attention to it. Make the raffle tickets affordable to the public at large. Hold the raffle drawing event in your gallery allowing people to spend time with your art and enjoying food and drinks. Create buzz around the event with press releases to the local papers, websites and news organizations. Feature your gallery's name on all advertisements. Donate all funds from the raffle tickets to the cause. Ask every guest to sign your guest book, which will then become part of your mailing and email list for future advertisements.
3. Offer food and drinks at your open house.
Host an open house. Advertise an open house at your art gallery with food and drinks. Invite the public into your gallery through community publications, websites and local advertising. Send invitations to those on your mailing list allowing them to attend the open house as VIP guests. Have a meet-and-greet with an artist to draw more attention to the event. Offer gallery tours with background information about the artist and each piece to generate interest in the art. Ask every guest to sign your guest book which will then become part of your mailing and email list for future advertisements.
4. Trade art for business expenses.
Barter with local business. Trade one of your art pieces to a local restaurant, wine bar, or catering company for their services at one of your events. Don't spend cash on food, advertising or business expenses if you can trade art for less. Get your agreement in writing so that all expectations are met.
5. Offer a class in your gallery.
Offer classes. Invite future artists and interested art collectors into your gallery for a class. Pay a nominal fee or barter with a local artist to teach a drawing or clay class in your gallery. Ask the artist to supply all the materials for the class. Advertise the class in local publications and websites. Ask every class member to sign your guest book, which will then become part of your mailing and email list for future advertisements.
