The nerve of some places.

There are prints for sale from a local photographer in a particular place (can't say where, sorry). I asked about putting some of my downtown Cincinnati shots in there to sell. I have shot for this organization in the past and they know my work. I knew that a portion would go to the organization and I was ok with that. However, what I wasn't ok with is that THEY set the price and want 60% of the proceeds. I also have to pay to have the print framed out of pocket. Has anyone else ever heard of such nonsense or is this common practice?

the ball is kind of "in their court" so i suppose tits actually not as ludicrous as it sounds

Sounds like they are testing to see what they can get away with. If they can get photographers to agree to it, then great.

So, basically... you could very well lose money and they are guaranteed to make money. Wow, what a deal. Where do I sign up?

photoguy6405 wrote in post #10616341
So, basically... you could very well lose money and they are guaranteed to make money. Wow, what a deal. Where do I sign up?

I'll PM you with contact info.

Doesn't sound too great to me.

photoguy6405 wrote in post #10616341
So, basically... you could very well lose money and they are guaranteed to make money. Wow, what a deal. Where do I sign up?

sign me up too! heh. Man that's insane. I would tell them in no uncertain words what to do with that deal.

Did you go back with a counter offer?

It makes sense that you pay for the framing, after all its your product your wanting them to sell. You don't send a semi-finished good to market.

But, you can offer a different split on the profits?
Generally when you sell something to a reseller you work out your costs, add a margin and they either buy it outright from you at that price, or they hold until it sells and pay you then.
What they sell it for is entirely up to them, they will set their own margin based on their own costs.

There are more complex models, like renting retail space etc, but you don't need anything complicated.

They have a picture hanging listed for $650. Now, I am not a nature photographer, but I think my 9 yo could take a better picture. It is horribly OOF.

asysin2leads wrote in post #10616644
They have a picture hanging listed for $650. Now, I am not a nature photographer, but I think my 9 yo could take a better picture. It is horribly OOF.

So frame up a better picture and offer it to them for $350 with a suggested retail of $600 and see what happens.

You might discover your a better photographer and sell more photos, or you might discover that the average person doesn't care about technical details and just buys things they think are pretty.

Moppie wrote in post #10616601
Did you go back with a counter offer?

It makes sense that you pay for the framing, after all its your product your wanting them to sell. You don't send a semi-finished good to market.

But, you can offer a different split on the profits?
Generally when you sell something to a reseller you work out your costs, add a margin and they either buy it outright from you at that price, or they hold until it sells and pay you then.
What they sell it for is entirely up to them, they will set their own margin based on their own costs.

There are more complex models, like renting retail space etc, but you don't need anything complicated.

Andrew,
There are various types of art around here. From what I understand none of it has sold because of the high prices. I asked about lowering my price and going w/ a lower commission rate. They pretty much told me to get bent. They set the prices w/ all the work and materials out of my pocket. I don't really have an issue w/ framing. I know a guy who does great work and is cheap (read: beer and pizza. The benefits of being a retired woodworker). Their approach to this is all wrong and for what the place is, they are off their rockers.

If they have an established business that is turning over enough sales to generate a profit, then they are doing something right.
If not, and you think you have a better idea, there here is an opportunity to go up against them in competition.

Or, if you think they can sell your work, then you either need to play by their rules (which may or may not work) or pitch a better alternative in a way they will be interested in.


Making money isn't about being able to take a good photo, that's the easy bit. It's all about being able to sell what you can do, and that is the hard bit.

Moppie wrote in post #10616676
If they have an established business that is turning over enough sales to generate a profit, then they are doing something right.
If not, and you think you have a better idea, there here is an opportunity to go up against them in competition.

Or, if you think they can sell your work, then you either need to play by their rules (which may or may not work) or pitch a better alternative in a way they will be interested in.


Making money isn't about being able to take a good photo, that's the easy bit. It's all about being able to sell what you can do, and that is the hard bit.

I agree with you. However, they have not sold one photo, sculpture or painting. If they were struggling to keep art on the walls, then I would say they have the market on, well, marketing. However, nothing is moving and it's cluttering the walls. I would play by their rules, if they made sense. I initially asked what I needed to do sell some of my work, because I know where the money goes and it is a worthwhile cause. However, I can't come to see how what they are doing is effective. Selling 10 prints at $100 is much better than a $1000 print sitting on the wall for months.

asysin2leads wrote in post #10616699
I agree with you. However, they have not sold one photo, sculpture or painting. If they were struggling to keep art on the walls, then I would say they have the market on, well, marketing. However, nothing is moving and it's cluttering the walls. I would play by their rules, if they made sense. I initially asked what I needed to do sell some of my work, because I know where the money goes and it is a worthwhile cause. However, I can't come to see how what they are doing is effective. Selling 10 prints at $100 is much better than a $1000 print sitting on the wall for months.

Absolutely, but are you sure they aren't selling anything?
Is it possible the examples on the walls of single prints from runs of 10 or 100?

Or it maybe they are making revenue in a less obvious way.

A number of shops here operate by charging artists for retail space to sell things. This covers the operating costs of the business. Any profit comes from taking a percentage of the sale price.

These models can be profitable for artists who have something people want to but, but have yet to prove profitable for the gallery/shop.

If they haven't sold a single photo off of their wall, why even bother? Seems like a poor investment and waste of time to try to sell your photos at a place that isn't selling photos.