Money - Naughty or Nice?

Sorry it has been 2 weeks since we last posted to the BLOG. We got really busy on some other projects here, and it got neglected, no excuses, just matter of fact.

So if this is a ceramic BLOG why is it about money? Because it is money that drives a part of the industry, but it is also money that dives a part of the industry into blind numbness.

The ceramic industry is what is known as a "Cottage Industry" made up mostly of small business people, most of them not even registered or licensed to do business, because at their level they don't need to be. Some people desire to draw a living out of their ceramic pursuits (I guess they never heard of the league of starving artists). Some want to grow and expand a business with employees and inventory and such. Most simply hope to make enough to cover the cost of their own addiction (that addiction being ceramics). And a few simply do it because it is their passion, and really don't care to make money out of it.

For the CAG it is all about passion of the art of ceramics. We are NOT a charity or a not-for-profit corporation. We are not a bunch of people thinking they should do something, but never acting on their thoughts. WE ARE a group or a league of people who share a passion for art. Everyone is a volunteer here. We want the most people to get the most out of ceramics, and so we are determined to do what we do for FREE. No gimmicks, no hidden agendas, no tricks, just a simple love for ceramics.

We are not saying that you should not endeavor to make a profit. Or if you do you are not showing your passion. this is our path, and it is different than yours. i had the fortunate opportunity when i was a young man as a manager in a major retail firm (FRED MEYER) to work directly with at times the owner and founder of the company, Mr Fred G Meyer himself. I will never forget one day sitting in the corporate office with a group of other managers and execs with Mr. Meyer. he reminded us all that profit was not a dirty word. in fact any intelligent consumer would not expect you to run your business without making a profit, it would be nonsense. But he also said "Do not take advantage of your customers, they allow you to stay in business."

One of the many purposes of the CAG is to help give you insight to building a sustainable business in ceramics that will last for years to come. We are sustainable through your support of what we do. We wish you well. And if someone says to you the CAG can't offer their services for FREE. Say "Oh, really? OK I'll take my chances and you wait and see." They wont listen to you anyway, and in the meantime your business and desire will surely grow!

FINAL NOTE: Did you see what the man did with his business in Portland, Oregon . . . he gave it away. Love those kind of stories.

The alure and profit of "FARMVILLE" for ceramicists

Our next issue of CERAKANVAS is themed "Down on the Farm".

If you go to gamezebo.com and check out FARMVILLE you may be surprised at what you see. Then again, you may say "Really, I thought it would be more than that." Can you believe that as of Oct, 2009 there were over 56 million people playing FARMVILLE on facebook worldwide! And FARMVILLE is only one of almost a dozen apps. that are based from a farm theme. Some of the other more popular ones include titles like; MY FARM, FARM BUDDIES, FARM TOWN and FARM LIFE. While these are created as "free" games for social networking sites, there is an aspect that lures people into spending money. But this BLOG is about the extreme popularity of living "down on the farm" in a virtual and often surreal world.

The rural country life has been an attraction for a very long time in America. From farm scene toille fabric prints to roosters in the kitchen. Even TV shows like Green Acres where city life crosses into country life, have become cultural icons. We took the concept of this popularity, and gave some advice to people who asked us how they might improve sales this holiday season. We gave them ideas on how to set up a FARMVILLE booth, offering ceramic pieces that directly would be loved my FARMVILLE addicts, I mean players. Here's what we heard back:

" I dug out my old Duncan animal dolls in the small sizes. I haven't cast these in years. I found some cute farm dresses and overhauls at the local craft store to dress them in. The outfits only cost me $2.99 each. Altogether I had less than six dollars in each one. I made a hundred total. I called them "farmies" and said they were to help you prosper on your farms, and have great harvests. My whole booth took on a farm theme with bales of hay and I wore overhauls and pigtails. It was a 2 day craft bazaar. I sold out before the end of the first day. I was smart and kept 1 of every style., I ran the second day on prepaid orders. I sold another 118! At $19.95 each I made $4,300+ of which almost $3,000 was profit for me. When I went back to the craft store to order a gross (144) of the costumes they offered me a nice discount too. I will admit I would have never thought of this on my own, Thanks CAG!" Lynae H.

" A couple of years ago I acquired the mold inventory of another ceramic shop that had gone out of business. There was almost a complete set of Byron Village molds. When you suggested turning some of the farm buildings like the barn and silo, the grist mill, and the farm home into banks it paid off for me. I made little signs to go above the coin slot on each bank that said "Save Here to Expand Your Farm", "COINS & CASH Welcome!" I made the booth real inviting. Lot's of yellow gingham and a kids John Deere green tractor ride-on toy for a prop. Just about everybody who stopped by complimented me on my fun looking booth. But more importantly I still can't believe how many of these banks I sold. They were the most popular thing I think at the whole fair, except of course the cedar door swags. I made more profit from my booth than I ever have in the last 12 years of doing this country fair." Chalice & Roy

The good news, FARMVILLE won't be going away anytime soon. So you might want to start planning for upcoming fairs and shows in 2010. Be creative, be attention calling, be exciting and you will sell stuff you thought was no longer marketable. Think outside the box!

The "Down on the Farm" issue of CERAKANVAS premiers February 1, 2010 at a farm, or computer terminal, near you! Won't you join us?