Donating work, attracting new clients?
Timberwerks
| Posted in General Discussion on
I am thinking about donating a carved mantel to a bank in my area that will be remodeled in the near future. The reason for this is to get my work noticed by more people. The bank is in a very wealthy area and has a large number of customers that appreciate craftsmanship. These are the people I want to attract.
Has anyone here done something similar? Do you feel it helped you to bring attention to your work and attract new clients?
Dale
Replies
make sure that you have your business cards or a sign plainly visable so that interested parties know who to contact.
I donated a large project to a non-profit organization called Friends of the Library for the remodel/expansion of a local city library. I built the project out of an elm tree that had to be removed for the expansion. I can point to a number of jobs that directly resulted from that project as it did get some press coverage. Well worth my time and it made me feel good donating it to a non-profit org as the tree would have been sent to the chipper had I not done it. I would under no circumstances donate my skills to a for-profit organization like a bank. I would consider reducing my rates if I felt that it would attract other customers. Unless there was something extremely unusual about the project, I doubt you'd get media coverage and the mantle may go largely underappreciated and you may not get any business as a result of your work.
Dale,
I have not donated any of my work, however Ithere is a local bed and breakfast in town where they are going to let me display a piece and put up some information and business cards. They regularly have clients wo could afford my work and are more than happy to let me display it at their business.
Befor I would give anything away I would see if I could display something first. You never know what type of return you will get from the mantle if your only allowed to set out a box of business cards. On the other hand if you have a free standing piece that would draw peoples attention to itself then I think that would be a better way to pique some interest.
Of course, if the bank will let you put a 4' banner above the mantle, then go for it.
Another consideration is a silent auction. There is one locally for the hospital coming up that I am considering. The tickets are $250.00 each so the clientele is what I would consider my market. Look around for something like this. At least you will be getting something for your work, even if it is not market value.
I would think a bit longer about the bank. Seems like a long shot since you cant really be sure if your target market will even have a chance to see your work. Unless the bank will let you use them in an advertisement for your work. That way you could tell prospective clients you do commercial work and they can go see for themselves.
As you can tell I am not one for giving away my services. At least not until I could be certain of at least some sort of return. I don't see that in your situation.
J.P.
Timberwerks,
Did you just say you were considering donating a carved mantel to a bank? Do you see the irony in this situation? The bank has a moral and ethical obligation to pay you a fair market price for this work. People viewing your work will assume they paid for it, thus reflecting positively on them the same as you. Charge them full price, and don"t apologize.
Here is a little more info on the situation. I have had my work in local shows and art galleries but each show is only a weekend and gallery showings only last about six weeks. The biggest night at a gallery is the opening night of that given show perhaps 75 - 100 people. The bank in question has roughly 250 visitors per day and new clients and accounts every week.Sure the bank could afford the mantel, but a custom mantel is not part of the remodel. I'm the one sparking their interest. This bank over the last three years has remodeled 5 other branches and this is the last branch left for the re-do. Each branch had a week long grand opening with special invites and promotions. These invites brought in a large number of people to check out the transformation. All the branches have fireplaces and is one of the key features and focal point of the remodel.I fiqure at lest a few people each month will take notice of a carved mantel. The mantel I am propsing would have a value of $1,500 - $2,000. A one time add in a high end local magazine would cost that alone, plus I would have to come up with the cash. Donating my time and material is a lot more affordable. I estimate 30 - 40 hrs for the carving and perhaps $100.00 for material.I think it would be worth while doing. I know the cabinet shop who's work is seen at the other branches has increased their client list. Plus it would be a nice portfolio piece for me.
Perhaps the correct term would be (gifting) the mantel. There are items in the main branch that have been donated/gifted. Each of these have a nice sized engraved brass plaque on it's donator/gifter.
I'm still in the thought process now, I strongly feel it would bring prospective contacts.
Dale
I donate a piece for a fund-raising auction each year for a children's home / school called Youth Home. This is an organization that takes kids whom are not likely to be adopted, or whom the courts may have incarcerated the parents. They are doing a great job of taking kids that are in need of help, and meeting their needs, and preparing them for life.
When I and the other artist donate our work for the auction, we are there partying and with the people who can afford to make a monetary contribution, and my donation makes it a little easier for them to make their contribution because they are getting a nice piece of my work for their generosity also.
I tend to think of this as a form of advertising expense, although it really isn't.
If I were you, and you choose to do this, I would require the bank to donate a certain amount of money to your favorite charity. They will get to claim it as a tax exemption, and the charity can take care of getting you some publicity. Your work will be visible, and people will think better of you for your charity.
I would be afraid that people would think I was touched in the head for doing work for a bank for free.
Keith
That is a great idea. I know are local humane society could use some help.
Dale
I share the hesitation of others; there's some something faintly distasteful about contributing a piece worth $2000 to a for-profit entity -- especially a bank.However, there is an undeniable appeal to putting your work in front of a stream of people that can afford it. So, I would go with your instinct and do it. But -- as far as I'm concerned the deal should hinge on the bank's willingness to let you put up a decently sized sign that advertises your wares and has contact information. I'm thinking of a small poster that has pics of your other work, etc. If they insist on a small 3 X 5 plaque that's only visible when you walk up to the mantle, I think I'd pass. I think this (the poster) is more important than asking them to make a donation to your favorite charity. It's a nice idea, but I would rather see you use whatever leverage you have for gaining a stronger marketing advantage from your own contribution.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
I think you might find a better venue for your investment. There's nothing wrong with donations like this, but the bank doesn't sound to me like the best place to do it. Here's some options that I have done over the years:
- donate kitchen cabinets and work island to a cooking show on TV. If you can find the producer of a local show, this is great exposure (you get a line in the credits every show)
-donate a prize to some photography contest. I gave a dining table away as a prize for the best amateur photo of interior decoration. Pictures were in the local press as "news".
-sponsor a craft show. My shop has held pottery, sculpture, photography, and other exhibitions, where we provided (temporarily) the tables, bases, shelves, etc. If the show is "art", you can sometimes get free media announcements, and the clientele that comes is different than those who would come to a furniture show. And of course, everyone gets exposed to your work as well.
and so on... brainstorm with some friends and come up with a better idea.
DR
Thanks for your input everyone. I'll keep you posted on what I decide. I just ran the idea by the bank, chances are they could even turn down the offer. Sure there could be better venues to have my work displayed but I strongly belive this could be a great place to gain more attention to my work. I also live in the city where this bank is located and I have banked with them for years. They have always been there when I needed help and always treat people right, it is locally owned as well.
I will still display my work in a local gallery when the opportunity comes. I like the bank idea because a sample of my work would be on constant public display for many years to come.
Dale
You got it buddy,
There are much better options. First of all most every church has fund raiser auctions and these are great oportunities. You don't have to donate a mantle to attract attention, try something smaller that shows your talent. My wife is a glass artist and we participate in "Art festivals" Where you rent a booth for $75 to $300 for the weekend. These are very, very effective venues. People come to buy, and designers come looking for talent. The pieces my wife makes are all over $500 most closer to $1,000. In the smaller shows (lower end) we might only sell 2 or 3 pieces, but in the nicer shows we usually sell out of all the interesting work. But all the shows generate sells later for comisioned work.
Last weekend we had a show in Fort Worth, TX and the guy in the booth next to us had very nice wood sculptures ranging from $1,200 to $ 8000! This was not a very "high end" show, few big spenders show up. Yet he sold THREE pieces. He was very happy. He told me that the shows really generate a lot of comission work later. Art galleries work for some and not for others. The going comision for the gallery is 50%. My wife keeps a couple of pieces in a gallery in the area, but only to be able to tell clients that her work is "on display there". Selling directly to the customer is a lot better. Plus Galleries get very little traffic. Even the smaller art festivals attract tens of thousands of people over the weekend.
If you want to donate a mantle think about libraries and court houses. Wealthy people are always involved in these things. I seriously doubt that people at the bank are going to ask who made the mantle. I am very cognisant of these things and would never think to ask. I would assume that their designer contracted it out.
Good luck,
Mike
I'm going to have to go against the consensus. If you can get a well displayed example of your product in front of a steady stream of viewers on a constant basis, who cares where it is? If you get 400 people per day wandering by the mantle, five days a week for a year, that comes out to roughly 100,000 viewers per year. Now figure your mantle will be there for 10 years, and it becomes phenominally cheap advertising. A bunch of these viewers are repeats, so they will notice different things each time they come in the bank. Even if they don't see the mantle the first time, they may the fifth. If they have an aquintance looking for a mantle, I bet they will remember your piece.
I'd say go for it. Advertising is a nescesary evil of business, and I think this is good bang for the buck.
Steve
I agree, to me any place I can have my work visible to the public is great advertising. A fireplace always seems to attract attention no matter if it is in a home or buissiness. Since the fireplace is in the waiting/greeting area I'm sure it will get noticed. I would rather give up my time towards advertising than money out of pocket. This bank also has a monthly news letter so I'm sure I would get a mention in there as well. It still may be a long shot but I have a good feeling about it. Hopefully they accept my offer.
Dale
I agree that it makes sense to display your work, but I agree with an earlier poster who would have the bank contribute the cost to a local charity. I would have a plaque as you intimated previously and have it worded to the effect "Custom made by Dale ______ Proceeds donated to _______ Charity."
Remember it is only advertising if the viewers know you made it and how to find you. Imagine a television comercial for tooth paste that mentions no brand. I have to wonder how many people will really think of it as an advertisement. WHen I think of all the times I have seen nice work in a Bank or high end shop it never occured to me to ask "who made this, and how can I find him?". Will the tellers know you made it? Will they know next year?, in 5 years? Are they going to keep your cards around.
I applaud your willingness to build something with your business, and you are on the right track. I think that you should look at some old posts in the business categorry. THere have been numerous posts showing lots of very creative, and effective ideas for getting your name out there.
Mike
What you say makes a lot of sense. You have a good feeling about the bank so go for it. The donation is not going to cost you a lot of money, you have the time available, and the bank venue will provide you with exposure equal to or most likely greater than any local gallery will. Having the carved mantle on continuing, open display in the bank is a good credential which can be listed in your PR materials and is an easy place to send prospects to see your work. Having your hand-carved mantle in the local bank carries a nice cachet.I strongly agree with the suggestions that you be sure to talk to the designer and architect so that they know the quality of your work; also do whatever you can to get some newspaper coverage of the mantle, say a photo of you and Laura Bush admiring your mantle on opening night.
Our bank actually provides space for business customers to show their stuff. They took pains to mention that to me, but I don't remember the exact particulars. You might ask.
SWMTMH Dad was on a bank's board. I can't quote him exactly in this place, "Banks are like CENSORED, first they take your money and then they CENSORED you."
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled