Online sales

I like being a shopkeeper / artist that sells their work direct to customers and get a chance to chat with them about the work and what I do and why.

However, as we are all conscious the pandemic has raised the use of online sales. I have a web based shop but I have never really found an enthusiasm for it. Maybe, in 2022,I can invest some of my quieter work days by developing this aspect of AndyKnillArt more.

There is so much to learn and so much chance with online sales, for people to find you in the first place to making your ‘online store’ accessible, E-friendly, clear charges etc. I am a small time artist in a very large field of choice.

I hear other local artists describing the number of online sales they have and visits to the post office to post orders. I do get some and they seem to work but I may need to get wiser to this.

This all comes back to what the aim of your business is to, and I find myself going in and out of comparing myself to others when I know that in my heart I have a different business model – retired and not seeking to make a living or pressurising myself with a full time job. My art sales need to cover the costs of my business which of course have increased over the different stages since 2017.

Initially my costs were to have public liability insurance annually, pay for event fees. Then rent for my bay / part bay at Purbeck Artisan Yard and since November 2019 shop rent, hills and insurance. These have obviously increased but I am able to cover them to date.

How have other artists dealt with this? Anyone who just sells face to face? I find myself split between trying to become more competitive / raising sales and just enjoying what I have, as you can tell I still haven’t completely found my balance point.

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