As a consumer, I love to go in to a shop and buy artisan crafts. Maybe it comes from a secret desire that I have to be crafty or artsy, but just don’t have the talent. I am not alone in this, as I often end up conversing with other shoppers enthralled in the artisan crafts found in a local shops.
Artisan is a category that encompasses a broad range of products. A custom-made table, painted works, decorative tiles, and jewelry are all examples of artisan products. Since it is such a broad category, artisan merchandise gives shop owners a variety of diverse items to choose from and gear to your customers tastes.
In your area, consumers may be interested in buying copper products. Because copper is a product that can be fashioned into many items, this is one artisan product that you can use to create a niche market. To capitalize on this niche, you might dedicate an area in your store to copper products created by artisans for the garden. Look at items, such as planters or even outdoor tableware made of copper.
Indoor and outdoor furniture is another possible area that can help your shop excel in sales. There is a huge market for antique furniture, but maybe your area doesn’t have a lot of antique furniture dealers. Offer your customers handmade, hand-painted tables that look Old World.
In my personal opinion, you can never go wrong with hand-crafted glass works. Whether you choose to stock hand-painted glass, hand-blown glass or a mixture of the two, you will see increased traffic in your store.
I’ve spoken before in past newsletters about how important it is to know your customer base. This still rings true when choosing products from the artisan category. However, This is one category in which I recommend stepping outside of your comfort zone.
Take a chance, bring in artisan products that are unique, well-crafted and maybe be a bit different than your regular product mix. This approach tends to bring in shoppers that are out of your normal customer base, and new customers are always welcome!
We have few months before the new year starts, so think about taking advantage of a new year and a fresh start to incorporate some new artisan merchandise. View all the artisan products that FGmarket offers. Select a few, and send out emails or direct mailers to your customers telling them about the great artisan crafts you’ve added for the new year.
Below, we have selected a few FGmarket artisans to get you started. Artisan products can be the jump start your store needs for 2011.
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