Stacy Stimbrom is a veteran exhibitor and faculty member with the Arts Business Institute. She presents her work and talks about the program.
Producing handmade boxes, mirrors, hooks, lamps, jewelry holders and more, Stacy Simbrom of Angels with Attitude has sold her work wholesale for over twenty years. We asked her to share what she does to help other artists get started in the business.
ABI: How did you get started in your business?
SS: About fifteen years ago, I was doing wholesale shows that were directed toward the American Country Market. During that period, my (now) husband and I eloped in Newport RI. While staying in a Bed & Breakfast, I found some issues of ‘American Style’ magazine lying around the room. I had never seen that magazine before and I was stunned by the art I saw. I had never realized that there was actually a venue for my “dream art” – the stuff I really wanted to create and develop, but there it was! I told my husband that my dream and new goal was to have my work shown in ‘American Style’. And so it began.
ABI: As a faculty member with the Arts Business Institute, how did you provide help and support to other artists?
SS: I truly believe in ABI. It provides participants with the best tools and support to succeed in wholesale. If I had had access to a program like ABI when I was starting out, it would have shaved years off of my learning curve! As a member of the ABI team, I was able to assist in providing information on product development, branding marketing and presentation. Not to mention at lot of very necessary moral support.
ABI: What are your best suggestions for other artists interested in wholesaling their work?
SS: My best advice for new artists would be to invest just a small amount of time and effort into your business by taking the ABI workshop if it is at all possible. ABI will provide you with the best foundation for success, not only with the information that it provides, but with the network and community of artists and professionals in the arts and related fields.
Also, never rest on your laurels. I know that seems obvious to some, but being a successful artist in this field depends on you being able to create continued interest around your evolving work. This involves continuously staying on top of your marketing and presentation. I try to always give my clients a reason to come back and to discover what is new and different.
ABI: Tell us about the New Exhibitor Mentorship Program at the Buyers’ Market.
I am a new artist/designer and need more information about the New Exhibitor Mentorship Program at the Buyers’ Market and all courses related to the jewelry and retail business. I am also interested in how to utilize my business to help disabled veteran women that are in need of a job or just an art to make. Also, have some questions in how to structure my business to fit the sales of my products and services to non-profits organizations.
Thanks
Nasly,
The New Exhibitor Mentorship Program is for exhibitors who have been accepted to the Buyers Market of American Craft in February. If you are not currently accepted as an exhibitor there, you most likely would benefit from an Arts Business Institute workshop. The next ABI workshop will be scheduled for February 16-17, 2013 in Philadelphia. It takes place at the same location as the Buyers Market, and includes a tour of the show floor.
We don’t have the signup information for the February workshop online yet, but it will be upcoming this fall. Stay tuned.