Labelling Prints for Sale?

I need advice on labeling prints that I will be attempting to sell in a small town "crafter's mall" type setting. These are photos of local popular spots or places of historical interest to this area. I am considering some kind of adhesive label on the back of the photo frame for the framed pieces, but I am also considering offering just prints in polypropylene sleeves.

I need advice as to what type of content the label should include (obviously description, my name, date? etc?) and in what type of format it should be typed. Examples would be great.

Also, will regular adhesive labels such as the type made by Avery eventually damage a photo print if left on over several years? I am having prints made at Costco and NPL.

Any advice with this would be greatly appreciated!

Dont stick anything directly onto the print, even the back. There is the possibility of acid leach from the adhesive plus if they decide to mount the print on a board the sticker could emboss. If you labeling the back of a framed print thats not such a big deal. Any information you want to include is fine, although sometimes less is more. If the potential purchaser isnt sold by the image, the label isnt going to make any difference.

If my wife is any indication of the 'art buying public', I'd skip the frames. She typically has very particular tastes in frames and often complains about having to buy a framed print only to have to replace the frame later at additional expense. And more often than not will pass for that very reason.

Plus it allows you to lower your prices which might be beneficial to sales.

Best of luck.

I've seen sleeves used to good effect in a few places for prints that were on sale. Basically either a long strip of paper that gets folded over and pasted together into a band that slips over the print, or plastic covers. Lets you clearly label price details and such for a print in a way that the customer can see both the information and most of the image at once. Identification info gets stamped onto the back, but not the price.


What kind of venue are you selling at, and what kind of setup are you using to display stuff?

Good questions, and ideas here. One thing I have run accross, is that for my inventory, I may have a completely different price point depending on the venue (to cover overhead costs, different clientelle, etc). One thing I tried was placing a proce sticker (on the clear plastic cover) a price letter such as "A" or "B". then posting the price list for all the letter prices in a conspicous place. Effecient, but many of your customers may find this irritating.

I like the "slip-over" band idea. If it is tight enough it should stay on, and yet can be removed easily . . . hadn't thought of that one . . . may give it a try . . .