August 2010 Visiting Artist Program Schedule

Monday, August 23rd, 8:30am- 5:30pm

Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD

he schedule for the Visiting Artist Program is specifically designed to provide participants with the necessary information to prepare for wholesaling their work.

IMPORTANT: Visiting Artists ARE NOT PERMITTED on the Buyers Market show floor except for during the designated tour time on Monday at 4 p.m. Artists are required to stay with their tour group until its conclusion at 5:30 p.m. and are invited to attend the American Craft Week kick-off reception at 6:00pm. Because exhibitors are at the show to conduct business, we ask that all visiting artists refrain from interrupting sales presentations, and leave booths when a buyer enters. Unless offered, visiting artists should not request printed materials from exhibitors.

Cost: $75 (includes an individual portfolio review)

Design, Display and Sales

8:30am-10:00am
Identify your NICHE with Stacy Simbrom and her seminar on the nuts a bolts on developing and selling your products, what you need and why. You will walk away with the knowledge to create your booth, promotional materials, and methods that will improve your salesmanship.

Why Wholesale?

10:30am-11:45am
What benefits will wholesaling bring to your business and your quality of life? Join craft consultant Bruce Baker for this session that will debunk the myths of wholesaling, and address the questions artists need to ask themselves about product line, production costs, and studio time before making the transition to the wholesale marketplace.

Lunch (on your own)

11:45am-12:45pm

Wholesale 101

1:00pm-2:15pm
Now that you know the benefits of wholesaling, Bruce Baker will lead you through the basic steps to prepare your business for the wholesale marketplace. This session will cover the basics of building a production schedule, staffing, designing a dynamic booth display, and how to create contracts and order forms.

Individual Portfolio Reviews

2:30pm-4:00pm
Each pre-assigned time slot is 10-15 minutes. While you are waiting or after you have finished, address your questions generated from the Q & A handout or not covered by the handout by joining The Rosen Group staff for a lively Q&A session about the Buyers Market of American Craft. From how to apply, to move-in and move-out procedures, to how the show is marketed to galleries nationwide, get the insider answers to your questions from the professional staff that produces the tradeshow.

Guided Tour of the Buyers Market of American Craft

4:00pm-5:30pm
Join Visiting Artist program leaders for a guided tour of the Buyers Market of American Craft, featuring interviews and Q&A sessions with select exhibitors.

American Craft Week Kick-Off Reception

6- 7:30 pm

*** Wednesday, an open invite to Visiting Artist program attendees***

Facebook or Blog? Tweet or Friend?

8:30-10 a.m.
Free Retailer Seminar (open to Visiting Artist participants)
Use the Internet's social-networking tools strategically to improve your store traffic and boost your sales. Let a retail marketing expert guide you through the do's and don'ts.