5 Ways to Sell Your Art This Holiday Season
Welcome to the 4th quarter of 2022! Did you know that retailers aren’t the only ones who make the bulk of their sales in the 4th quarter? That’s right—the end of the year is the most profitable time for artists, too. If you’re an “artrepreneur” like me, I hope you’re cooking up a plan to make some art sales during the upcoming holiday season.
But how does one go about that? Here are 5 ways you can sell your art for the holidays:
Make Unique Christmas Tree Decorations
Don’t you just love Christmas tree decorations? Ornaments make an affordable and memorable holiday gift. And many of us go to holiday gatherings where an ornament “secret santa” takes place.
What could be more unique than a piece of art that hangs on the Christmas tree every year? I’ve perfected a few techniques for painting contemporary designs on ball shape ornaments with some special embellishments. These are a big seller for me every year! This year, I’m sharing my techniques with you in a step by step instructional guide for only $19.95. Get on my email list to be the first to be notified as soon as it's available. Then you can create your very own, completely unique expressive art ornaments to sell and to WOW your friends with as a special gift!
2. Be a Vendor at a Holiday Market
November and December are big months for holiday markets, from school and church bazaars to downtown outdoor events. You may think that it’s too late to be a vendor this year (and for a few of these events, that may be true), but in many cases you’ll find that the organizers are looking to pack the market with a nice variety of vendors. Get your application in ASAP and get planning!
You’ll want to be sure that you have an ample supply of goods to sell in time for the market. You’ll also have to determine what methods of payment you’re going to accept, whether you need to bring a table or tent, and more. You’ll also want to come up with a way to gather new email subscribers at your booth—those subscribers may end up being loyal customers in the future!
3. Create a Commission Idea
If you have the skills to draw or paint an image of a home, this is an excellent commission idea. Create one or two as examples and share them with your audience. People are proud of their homes and they have strong emotional attachments to their homes (and the home they grew up in). These commissioned artworks can be sold as framed art as well as printed on holiday cards (especially if a wreath is added onto the door).
Many people want to give the gift of art but struggle with how to select the right piece for the recipient. The shopper knows what they like, but they may worry that the recipient has a different opinion. This can be solved with an art gift certificate. This way the recipient can shop your inventory and make their own selection. If you are open to commissions, you can offer a commission gift card experience.
4. Sell Your Work Online
Whether or not you’re already selling your work online, this can be a great part of your holiday sales strategy. Perhaps you want to sell via your own website, or on Etsy, or simply by posting work on Instagram and soliciting sales that way. Consider whether you want to offer a holiday discount to incentivize shoppers. Look how well that works for Black Friday sales!
5. Sell “Gifty” Gifts
There are a rare few holiday shoppers who are looking for $2,000 paintings. But for the most part, folks are shopping for more affordable gifts—and they have quite a few people on their lists! The more affordable and “gift-like” art you can offer, the better.
For example, mini artworks are affordable and easy for the recipient to fit into their decor. Prints are less expensive than original art. You can also have your art printed onto items that are perfect for gifting: tea towels, mugs, greeting cards, and more. Your art will bring beauty into the everyday life of the recipients, and the gift givers will feel good about their purchase.
End the Year on a Profitable Note
I hope this list has gotten your gears turning—and I hope you will make good sales this holiday season! Next week I’ll discuss how to put together your holiday sales strategy. But for now, I hope you dive into research and planning!
Which type of holiday art sales seems best for you? I’d love to hear in the comments.
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