Art Fair Inventory

To Duplicate - or Not

When I first started doing art shows, I had taken the advice I had read that suggesting bringing along the same print in different sizes.

At the time, I was only displaying 8x10 and 11x14 matted prints, though I took the advice to heart. I dutifully had duplicates in each size.

After a few shows, then included 16x20 matted print in bins. (Previously I had only a few 16x20’s framed on the walls.

These too, were duplicated in the smaller print sizes.

My Experience - Lost Interest, Too Many Choices

Once I got a few shows “under my belt”, I noticed that this strategy of duplicate prints was not working, and I didn’t see a future with it.

The immediate problem was that people were expecting to see different prints in each of the bins, not duplicates.

Think of reading a book, each page and each chapter is different. It fits the total story, but nothing is duplicated. The book keeps your interest.

Same thing happened when viewing the prints. Once the duplicates were noticed they quit looking.

And, if someone were interested in a print, now they had a major decision to make.

Did they like the 8x10, 11x14 or 16x20 matted? Then the price came into play, and if they bought anything, it was typically the smaller prints.

I didn’t keep records, though I can’t remember ever having a duplicate in a larger size sell over a smaller size.

My Solution -Which may not be Yours

I immediately stopped selling 8x10 prints and 11x14’s. (Both were heavily discounted for 2 shows, and after that, I never brought them back).

More people were asking for larger (though not buying when there was a size choice), so I then only carried 16x20 and 20x24 matted prints.

No duplicates. Each print was the only one at the show. If it sold and someone else wanted it (the infamous “I’ll be back”, l could easily print and ship to them later).

With this inventory, each print was “new” to the viewer, keeping their interest as they flipped through the bins.

Next Question - How Many?

When I carried the 8x10’s and 11x14’s, I don’t remember the total number of each, but it was probably 55-70 each. However much fit into their travel bin, that was the number I showed.

Yes, it was a lot, and often was too much to maintain any level of interest.

When I switched and only brought 16x20 and 20x24 matted prints, I used two print bins for each, one for horizontal only and one for vertical only prints.

Within each bin, I tried to stay between 15-20 prints per bin, never more.

In a very unscientific evaluation, 15 prints seemed to be the magic number most people would look through. Those most interested view all, those least interested viewed only the first one or two.

The 16x20’s were the most favored size thus each of their bins were on the 18020 count. The 20x24’s were each around 15.

Wall Display

Originally I was showing framed prints, over time I only displayed Dura Plaq prints.

The framed prints were ready to purchase at the show - the Dura Plaq prints were “demos”, only for show purposes. If someone wanted one, they ordered it and would then receive a print printed just for them.

Fear of Selling Out?

From the shows I attended, I never came close to selling out of my inventory.

Perhaps that was a result of the shows I selected, but I never went home with an empty box.

I have to admit, it would have been really enjoyable packing up had I done so!