For People Who Sell Art Supplies
Summer 2020
Bestowing Wisdom Through Art Mural Artist Justin Suarez
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Turn and Face the Strange by Kevin Fahy Each of those businesses is trying to start up right now in some fashion, but it is hard to see how their model makes a profit. I have a friend who is a very successful public speaker, but it just doesn’t work without the public part. There are two industries that are even more familiar to nearly everyone, employ far more people, and are in almost equally bad shape. One of them is the restaurant business, which normally accounts for around 15 million jobs at 660,000 locations. That would be 10 percent of the total American workforce. Virtually all of those restaurants shut down their table service for several months beginning in midMarch, resulting in a 70-percent drop in business at sitdown establishments, in spite of an increase in takeout. The food and beverage industry suffered 60 percent of U.S. job losses in March. Reopening is especially tricky because restaurants have traditionally needed to be crowded at peak hours in order to operate in the black. If state governments restrict restaurants to operate at, say, half their previous capacity, it’s like saying, “You can run your business, but you can’t make any money.” The only viable options I can think of are either to raise prices, or find a way to spread business into other times of day. Both seem problematic, but necessity is the mother of invention, and without some original thinking we could lose a shocking number of our favorite eateries. As large and important as that industry is, the other familiar segment is much bigger. The retail sector employs about twice as many people, and represents 6 percent of the economy. Unlike the restaurant business, retail was already under a lot of stress before the coronavirus struck, having lost market share to online merchants steadily over the past 15 years. The shutdown pushed several teetering giants over the edge, including J .C. Penney, Neiman-Marcus and J.Crew, all of which will remain with us in some form or other for the time being. Their size might give the impression that large retailers were especially hard hit continued on page 6
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After 9/11, I remember hearing people say, “This changes everything,” and “Nothing will ever be the way it used to be.” It may have felt that way, but it wasn’t true. It certainly changed the way we boarded airplanes, and it did change everything for those who went off to fight wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and for their families, but that was a small percentage of Americans. Most of us continued to work at the same jobs in the same manner. We got to those jobs by the same means of transportation, and returned to the same homes. We continued to get paid, and to spend our money on the sorts of things we always had. Our leisure activities were pretty much unchanged. You could argue that 9/11 changed our national psyche, or that it didn’t. I’m agnostic on that debate, but I know that it did not change everything. The coronavirus changed everything. I don’t know anyone whose life was not altered dramatically by the pandemic. I can’t think of a single business, let alone an entire industry, that was not affected in ways great and small. That’s not to say that everyone has been affected to the same degree. If your business depends upon a large number of people being confined at the same time in the same space, then the effect on you is far more drastic than it is for a business that provides professional services one on one, for example. I wouldn’t want to be running an airline right now, let alone a cruise-ship line or a nursing home. They talk a lot about leaving the middle seats empty, but actually that wouldn’t bring them anywhere close to social distancing. On an aircraft designed to carry 200 passengers, you could fit about 20 if you were to keep more than 6 feet apart. Then there is the problem that no one wants to be locked up with any sized group of strangers for three hours. There is no restriction on flying right now, but I heard recently that Delta has more pilots on an average day than it has customers. I guess that beats industries which have no customers at all, like professional sports, plays, concerts, movie theaters, theme parks, museums, etc.
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For People Who Sell Art Supplies
About the Cover Using MTN 94 in a palette often dominated by earth tones, Justin Suarez transforms brick walls and abandoned water tanks in Rochester, New York, and elsewhere. To see more of his work, visit: aerosolkingdom.com. Photo by Mark Stash
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Summer 2020
3 Perspective
Turn and Face the Strange by Kevin Fahy
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Vital Signs are Good
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Advertisers report on the health of their businesses
NAMTA Members Connect with New Virtual Opportunities After the Plague, the Renaissance
People create art during the shutdown with inspiring results
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Retail Best Practices for a Pandemic and Beyond
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Industry News
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NAMTA’s new board and award winners, kits for kids and other product ideas, celebrating National Art Supply, mourning Pygmalion’s
Business Notes
Pandemic Risk Insurance, sewing machine sales, “Best of the Best”
New & True Index of Advertisers
About Art Materials Retailer AMR has been meeting the unique needs of a creative industry since 1998. It combines the latest information on art supplies with profiles of manufacturers and stores, artist interviews, and business advice from experts, to keep storeowners on top of trends and emerging markets. Publisher: J. Kevin Fahy, kfahy@fwpi.com • Editorial Director: Tina Manzer, tmanzer@fwpi.com • Graphic Artist: Christopher Cornett, Christopher@ fwpi.com • Advertising Director: Tim Braden, tbraden@fwpi.com • Ad Sales Representative: Ashley Cavanagh, ashley@fwpi.com • Enewsletter & Online Advertising Manager: Rick Kauder, rkauder@fwpi.com • Production Manager: Mark Stash, mstash@fwpi.com Marketing Director: Amy Colburn, amy@fwpi.com Subscriptions: Yesenia Rangel, accounts@fwpi.com Copyright © 2020
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“Perspective” from page 3
by the current crisis, but that would be misleading. There is general consensus among market analysts that the reverse is true. The shutdown was devastating to small retailers, which will ultimately devolve to the benefit of large ones, accelerating a consolidation that has been going on for years. Walmart, Target, Costco, Lowes and Home Depot all prospered throughout the spring in terms of sales and profits, as well as their stock valuation. Grocery and liquor stores also did well, but most other retailers suffered. In my home state of New York, and pretty much everywhere else, the merchants listed above were all deemed essential and allowed to remain open. Of course they were permitted to sell all their merchandise, not just the essential items, giving them a distinct advantage over the shuttered stores that carried those “non-essential” products. I don’t have any statistics on art materials retailers during shutdown, only anecdotes, but I think I can make a couple of generalizations. Virtually every store in the industry was closed to foot traffic from mid-March through at least mid-May, but most retailers encouraged customers to shop online or by phone. That effort probably worked well for you to the extent that you were already good at it before the pandemic. A company does not become proficient at ecommerce overnight, especially in the face of those who are very good at it indeed (Amazon). The most striking retail development of the shutdown though, was not that the big got bigger or that the internet merchants gained more market share. It was that millions of people adjusted to grocery shopping without setting foot in a supermarket. Like Zoom conferencing, curb service was not a new idea, and had in fact been growing rapidly in popularity pre-virus, but the lockdown made it a rocket. It became so commonplace that it was a part of the instructions for reopening stores issued by New York State. “Provide remote shopping alternatives for customers, including click and collect, delivery and shop by phone …” Sometimes opportunities arrive quietly in the night, and other times they roar up with lights flashing. I think this is one of the latter. You can provide a service that the internet cannot, and you can do it better than anyone else. Tick-tock.
You can e-mail Kevin at kfahy@fwpi.com.
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1. How did the global pandemic affect your supply chain? 2. Did your business close or remain open during the shutdown this spring? Either way, how did you handle it with your employees? 3. Did you fill orders during the shutdown? More or fewer than normal? 4. Are you fully back to business right now? If so, is your company operating differently than it did pre-pandemic? 5. How are you staying in touch with your retail customers, especially with the cancellation of Art Materials World? What would you like them to know about your business? 6. What is your plan for your business going forward and what is your expectation for the recovery? 7. Were there valuable takeaways for you from this experience? Will any of them change the way you operate in the future?
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“Pro Tapes is providing tape for medical use, and has established the Small Business Advisory Network.” Steve Espinal, Graphic Arts Market Manager Pro Tapes & Specialties, New Jersey “Pro Tapes has been supplying adhesive tapes to the fine arts community for more than 40 years. We have developed products that artists have grown to love and trust, from pH-neutral tapes to others in a wide variety of colors and substrates. Over the years, our tapes have been used for everything from crafts to fine art installations,” wrote Steve. “When the Covid-19 pandemic hit the U.S., we quickly made a concerted effort to provide • tapes for face shield fabrication; • clean-removing adhesive tapes to mark intervals for social distancing; • medical tapes; and • medical-bag sealing tapes essential for testing. “Our tapes are being used for indoor social-distancing applications in pharmacies, grocery stores, warehouses, manufacturing plants, and art-supply stores. Pro Tapes has tirelessly worked to market through our local trade associations and global partners as well, to offer any products required to restock hospitals and medical facilities. “Pro Tapes has also established the Small Business Advisory Network that provides access to resources and information about
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operational safety, cash management and finance strategies, sales and marketing strategies, and sourcing of material and services. We took on the challenge of creating such a network to help pool and share the collective resources of our customers, suppliers and longtime business associates. “Pro Tapes will help bridge the gap for the fine arts community and other markets, from closing to opening. We hope that we can expedite helping all our partners get back to work as soon and safely as possible. Please let us know how we can help you.” Visit protapes.com for more information. _______________________________________ “We filled more orders than usual.” Joan Kowalski, Bob Ross Inc. Virginia Joan believes the pandemic’s shutdown produced a heightened appreciation for Bob Ross as people stayed home and looked for ways to spend their days. “The company stayed open; closely following the governor’s
executive orders,” she explains. “In Virginia we could only have 10 people in the facility at a time, so during most of the day, our entire administrative staff switched gears and worked in the warehouse helping to get purchase orders out. The paperwork can wait! We didn’t have to furlough anyone, and we even withdrew our PPP application because we didn’t need the assistance, thankfully.” Contact Joan at info@bobross.com ____________________________________________________ “We delayed the May launch of our new Pearl Ex colors until July 1st. That said, we have been shipping the new SKUs along with the display rack add-ons. We’ve encouraged dealers to get them in before our official, public launch.” Asher Katz, President Jacquard Products, California Jacquard began to adapt to the shelter-in-place order on the day it was announced in March. The
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company remained operational with only skeleton crews working in rotating shifts in the production and shipping departments, and sent office employees home to work. In June it was still operating in shifts with a smaller number of employees, but at nearly full capacity. Asher noted that they were experiencing dramatically extended lead times from many of its suppliers, especially in the area of packaging. “We’ve also been hit with significant price increases for certain raw materials and packaging materials,” he adds. Most new-product launches were rescheduled for later in the year, with the exception of new Pearl Ex colors on July 1. “We are in this together and we will get through it together,” Asher wrote. “Thank you for your business and continued support during this scary time, and thank you for your patience as we continue to learn how to navigate the new environment we find ourselves in.” Email service@jacquardproducts.com or call 800-442-0455. ____________________________________________________
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“Our greatest concerns were for staff feeling whip-sawed by the constant changes, while also recognizing their concerns for their personal and families’ safety. Jodi O’Dell, Community Relations, Golden Artist Colors New York “Early on with the changes coming daily from the federal government, and state and local authorities, things were in constant flux,” Jodi explains. “They’ve resolved themselves somewhat to a more-or-less new, steady state. Thankfully, our Employee Owners have been incredibly generous with their understanding for flexibility during this time.” GOLDEN was able to remain open during most of the shutdown, but demand for products slowed. The company had to adapt to remain sustainable. “Domestic and international business partners were also affected by the crisis, so there were fewer orders than we typically experience,” Jodi explains. Like other manufacturers, the company put in place many new safety procedures. “Keeping everyone safe has been our priority this entire time,” she told us. Its first response to the shutdown was to reach out to its suppliers to make sure they were safe, and to see what conditions they were facing internally and with their own supplies, recalls Jodi. “We shared as best we could what our sense of business would be going forward so that we all might have a better vision of what was ahead.” When guidelines eased in June, the company continued to follow social distancing recommendations. “Almost all office and support staff members continue to work from home. Virtual meetings among staff and colleagues in the industry have become the new normal.” Frequent communication between staff and management has been instrumental in keeping employees abreast of necessary changes, including new working procedures and the state of the business. “It helps ensure that everyone is working toward the same business goals,” says Jodi. GOLDEN has begun new initiatives to stay closely connected with customers who may become disconnected from their communities because they’re required to stay at home. “At this time, it is more critical than ever to reach out to our retail community – even if the doors are closed – just to check in,” she says. “We continue to be in regular contact with retail customers via newsletters, digital assets, email correspondence and Zoom meetings, as well as oldtechnology phone calls! We need them to know that we are fully operational with normal staffing shifts and that we’ve instituted new safety protocols.” The significance of quickly adapting to change was a
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big takeaway. “Things were changing so fast! We needed prompt adaptation to remain relevant to our constituents. It ignited a drastic change in GOLDEN’s consumer outreach and education. We redirected a number of our communication strategies to live social media events and the response was strong. We will definitely continue that initiative in the future.” As it moves forward, things are still changing. As a result, GOLDEN will make plans for shorter timeframes, and reassess its position more frequently, possibly on a weekly basis. “Recovery for businesses all over the world is going to undoubtedly take time,” says Jodi. “What we all recognize is that things will not return to what they were previously. We will all be using the tools we’ve had to learn out of necessity after this crisis is over. “It is so important to keep the lines of communication open so that we can safely plan for the sustainability of our company and the art materials industry,” she adds. “This experience has strengthened our resolve to reach out to all our industry partners to let them know we are with them, and we will get through this together, no matter how vulnerable we feel right now.” For information about Golden Artist colors, contact Bill Hartman, Sales Director, bhartman@goldenpaints.com, 800959-6543 ext. 1204 _____________________________________________________ “I have gone VIRTUAL. Quite a change. I will be testing out my preparatory work very soon with an adult group class which will be taught via Zoom.” Belle Heppard, MD, Founder Artist Angle, Colorado In addition to being an inventor, Belle is an art educator who teaches private and whole-classroom lessons in communities in and out of her home state of Colorado. She compares the global pandemic to the parting of the Red Sea: “The current separated me from my potential customers. I’m looking for a bridge where we can find each other again.” During the shutdown, Belle created a business plan for the next three years and hired a marketing firm to help her promote the Artist Angle, a tool she devised a little over a year ago to help artists render perspective. “Belle Fine Art LLC was formed the week before the NAMTA convention last year,” she says. “I was taken
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aback by the warm welcome NAMTA members provided my invention.” Orders for the product were nonexistent during the shutdown so she worked to get samples into the hands of instructors, artists and architects around the world.
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NAMTA Members Connect with New Virtual Opportunities The Café
The Gallery
By the time the doors of their stores started to open again, art materials retailers had implemented sound solutions to keep their employees and customers safe from the coronavirus. Using social media and signage to get the word out, they reduced their store hours, limited the number of shoppers, and installed plexiglass shields at their cashwraps. In the meantime, they started posting their inventory online. Orders for art materials were accepted in every way possible, and with customers browsing and/or ordering from home, purchases and pickup remained speedy and safe. Retailers have posted successful solutions like these and many others on namta.org. By as early as March 18, the website had become a hub for COVID 19 facts and work recommendations to help its members make critical decisions about their businesses. Topics ranged from safety precautions and tips for customer communications, to facts from the CDC and W.H.O., the U.S. Small Business Administration, the U.S. departments of Labor and Treasury, and retail councils in the U.S. and Canada.
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The Theater “We included every resource we could find, including information from retailer and supplier members about their current state of operations,” explains Leah Siffringer, NAMTA executive director. “We continue to collect updates and post them each week on our website and social media platforms, and email them out to thousands of people.” A challenge for the association has been keeping up with how fast the world continues to change, she says. “But with a supportive board and a great staff we have been able – as they say – to ‘pivot.’ When we look back on this time, I think we will actually find that a great deal of positivity resulted.” Another challenge was coming up with a virtual concept to fill the void created by the cancellation of Art Materials World. For many NAMTA members, the annual tradeshow is the only in-person opportunity they have each year to present or experience what’s new in the industry. It’s also their only chance to network with their colleagues, and to conduct business and socialize. To help meet all those needs is “NAMTA Connect” with its three virtual “connection” opportunities available at namta.org. The Gallery is a forum for sharing, Leah explains. Members can post messages, ask for help, share their ideas and much more. The Café, available on the Zoom platform, is for virtual networking like roundtable discussions, and for social
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gatherings. For instance, plans are underway for a virtual happy hour for NAMTA’s Next Generation members, to replace the live version at Art Materials World. The Theater, also available via Zoom, is a series of one-hour educational sessions scheduled for every other Thursday afternoon. The kick-off was a session on how to safely re-open a store, presented by retail gurus Kizer & Bender. (Visit namta.org for the full schedule.) “A big need among retailer members is information on online selling, so we’ll be setting up some sessions for them through The Theater and Zoom,” Leah adds. The Theater will also present Demo Alley, virtually. “Demo Alley was set to debut at Art Materials World this year,” she explains. “It offered each exhibitor a three-hour time slot in which to conduct a live demo in a theater on the tradeshow floor. It had a great response from suppliers, and time slots were nearly sold out by the time we cancelled the show. Exhibitors can sign up now to present a virtual demo.” The good news for the industry going forward is the resiliency of NAMTA members, concludes Leah. “We have seen so many examples of how our members have found creative ways to keep their business going through the toughest of times. From our conversations with them, we see how positive they remain, and hardworking.
Zoom in the Time of COVID Zoom came to the rescue when face-to-face conversations were required but in-person was impossible. As a result, daily downloads of the app had increased 30 times year-over-year, by April. Today, as we maintain our social distance, many of us will continue to use Zoom for business meetings, church services, holiday gatherings, weddings, happy hours and online learning. Internet entrepreneur and broadcaster Mark Hurst suggests another application: talking to customers to find out what they need from your business going forward. “If you have the time, right now is the moment,” he wrote in his newsletter. Draw six to eight people from your existing customer base and invite them to join you for a 30-minute videoconference on Zoom, WebEx or another platform. “Don’t write a script with pre-baked tasks and questions that make assumptions,” Mark suggests. “Instead, focus on listening to each person. Based on your research, do what most teams fail to do: give them what they want.”
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Art Materials Retailer Magazine
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by Tina Manzer
People who have art in their life are never bored, even during a cold and lonely pandemic shutdown. This spring, often in isolation, folks all over the world created art, shared art, learned about art and just plain looked upon art with awe.
After the Plague, the Renaissance
Muralists around the world found a lot to paint about this year, giving boarded up stores, big buildings, and blighted streets a new life. (above) “Now and Forever” by Tristan Eaton, 34th Street and 8th Avenue, Manhattan, June 2020; (opposite bottom) Sao Paulo, Brazil, April 2020; (center) Portland, Oregon, June 2020
As billions of us turned to our connected devices for help with work and life, we also found artistic inspiration. Consider the thousands of Getty Museum Challenge participants in March and April who posted photos of their clever and amusing art recreations. Or the 1,600 6-by-6-inch artworks sold virtually by the Rochester (New York) Contemporary Art Center in June. The annual fundraiser featured 3,400 works in total, created and donated by artists from around the world. And how about the goal of the Santa Monica-based “Back to the Streets” initiative, which aims to create 1,000 murals by 1,000 artists in 100 cities? “Street art is the ultimate visual source of social commentary and the pandemic has lit a fire under the feet of muralists around the world,” says The New York Times. While most of us sheltered in place, it seems, artists crept out of their homes to create large, colorful messages of safety and encouragement. Phrases like, “You Can’t Quarantine Love,” “Cancel Plans, Not Humanity” and “If you’re reading this, go home,” joined images of healthcare workers variously depicted as saints, angels and superheroes. Images of everyone from the Mona Lisa to Baby Yoda were portrayed either wearing a face mask or washing their hands. “Murals add a layer of color and inspiration in these grim times,” Kathleen Rawson told the Times. Disheartened by closed and boarded-up businesses in her district, the chief executive of Downtown Santa Monica hired mural artists through Beautify to create art “that would give people hope.” Beautify is a technology company for Beautify Earth, a 7-year-old Santa Monicabased mural-making nonprofit. It began
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when a few local artists volunteered to “beautify” the city’s famously blighted Lincoln Boulevard with murals. By 2019, the nonprofit’s database of artists and owners of building with blank walls “had all the ingredients to create a street art explosion, but no technology,” Paul Shustak told the Times. A software entrepreneur, Paul built the Beautify platform to match up all the players with a few clicks of a keyboard. Property owners and businesses interested in having a mural painted can upload images of their walls to the site, along with their guidelines and budgets, says the article. Artists can upload their work, browse available walls, and express interest in projects. For the Back to the Streets campaign, corporate sponsors including Zappos, American Express and Lexus are being enlisted to sponsor artworks at $10,000 apiece. Artists who are hired receive 70 percent of that; 30 percent goes to Beautify to cover logistics, including insurance. The net profit flows back to Beautify the Earth for the nonprofit’s work in schools and underserved communities. Art materials retailers across the country reported sales increases in mural-making supplies, including aerosols and paint markers, beginning in February. “Some of our best customers are mural artists,” reports Darin Rinne of Wet Paint in St. Paul. “That’s always been the case. But have sales of spray paint increased during the pandemic? Absolutely. We are also ground zero for the
recent Black Lives Matter protests.” In the wake of George Floyd’s death and the violence that followed, hundreds of artists in the Twin Cities created messages of hope, healing and social change on boarded-up buildings. With funds supplied by The Graves Foundation, a local youth-support organization, and free brushes and discounted paint from Wet Pet, they got to work, reported the Minnesota Star-Tribune on June 8. “I think a lot of people have found themselves in this space of ‘What to do?’ and some of us went to art,” said one of the painters. “Art can be an expression of prayer, a hope for the future, and a way of dealing with systemic racism,” agreed Pastor Peter Wohler, whose faith-based organization sponsors the Fallout Urban Arts Center in Minneapolis.
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Born from necessity, fueled by activism Like murals, “pandemic embroidery,” a phrase coined by artist Emily Sies-Mandel from Wisconsin, is therapeutic for both its creators and viewers. Since the beginning of the shutdown, Emily has been stitching colorful sayings on repurposed flour sacks. “Don’t drink the Kool-Aid or the Lysol,” says one. “Oh, the places you can’t go,” and “I DON’T KNOW” are others. “Think of it as panic embroidery – or, rather, busywork to keep from panicking,” wrote reporter Molly Guthrey. Her article in the Twin Cities Pioneer Press about Emily and her “Pandemic Embroidery
Project” (@sice_and_dice) on Instagram, notes that the 35-year-old art teacher did not embroider pre-virus. She taught herself. Emily wasn’t the only furloughed worker who wanted to learn. During the COVID spring, the number of participants in online classes rose. Shannon Downey, aka “Badass Cross Stitch,” offered beginner sessions on Zoom for small groups. Listed on her website under the category “Pandemic Craftivism,” were a variety of stitching opportunities, along with a free pandemic embroidery pattern (“Wash your hands and don’t be a racist”). Allard’s Art, Framing, and Pens in Fresno, California, stocks embroidery supplies. So does Hyatt’s in Buffalo, including kits by Cozyblue. Recently, the store showcased the work of Pamela Koons, founder of Kitschy Cross Stitch, on social media. The Buffalobased stitcher started embroidering in 2017 and after earning her master’s degree in art history, started selling her designs on Etsy. With sayings like, “Don’t be a dick” and “No justice no peace,” they’re not your grandmother’s handkerchief kits. Wet Paint in St. Paul sells a range of supplies for embroidery. “We started bringing them in about a year ago,” says Darin Rinne. “The category is by no means a bestseller for us, but like watercolors and other all-absorbing techniques, it keeps people busy and creative.” Considered “an antique way to decorate fabric” and an “analog skill,” embroidery is experiencing a worldwide resurgence. Some say it began in the fashion industry, where its ability to make any piece of clothing unique and special has been embraced by young designers. “I think embroidery adds value people can understand,” said Rachael Proud, creative director of Raey, a label of the Matchesfashion chain of boutiques in London. “You can see the work and time in the finished item,” she told the Financial Times last October. Others believe the current embroidery renaissance is part of the revolt against mass consumption and its environmental impact. “Hand embroidery has the power to give a second life to old clothes that would otherwise become waste,” said freelance embroidery artist Nicole Chui. “Such upcycling has made me conscious of using and renewing the tools I have instead of buying new.” Millennials and Gen Zers, the environment’s newest champions, love the idea of embroidery’s sister
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From left, Emily Sies-Mandel’s Pandemic Embroidery Project on Instagram, worn-out jeans reborn with bead embroidery, indigo sashiko patches, old socks are visibly mended
ProTapes_AMR_March2020_v2.pdf
skill, “visual mending.” They buy their clothes in thrift stores and patch them up proudly to show the way their garments’ lifespan has been extended. “Visible mending has been taken up by those who want to protest fast fashion and disposable culture,” wrote The New York Times in March, under the headline, “Now Is When We All Learn to Darn Our Socks Again.” Adding decorative bona fides were articles in both Martha Stewart Magazine and Better Homes & Gardens this year. Darning, mending and repairing clothes (instead of discarding them) is not a new concept, notes The New York Times. Those who practice it, like software engineer and accomplished home sewer Tom van Diejnen in England, liken it to Make Do and Mend, the English rationing campaign during World War II. Visible mending’s artistic nature takes its cues from sashiko, the Japanese form of decorative reinforced stitching invented in the 17th century. The results are amazing, beautiful, and strong. “For centuries, people used hand embroidery to decorate, mark and mend their clothes, religious objects, household objects, and even shoes,” writes Tatjana Iljaseviciute on her handembroidery blog etmdesigns.eu. It’s also an inexpensive and portable hobby, she notes, and its variety of applications are both useful and artistic. The repetitive movements are also meditative and soothing – just what many of us need right now. “During World War I, recuperating soldiers embroidered to help them heal,” adds Tatjana. “The focus on one action and the flow of needlework calms the mind and reduces stress.”
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In April, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association announced the finalists for its Best Toys for Kids list. Among the 85 products nominated by independent specialty toy retailers were six in the “arts & crafts” category. • Creatto Light-Up Crafting Kits from Thames & Kosmos • Happy Monsters from DJECO • Make Your Own Tiny Camper from Klutz • Sketch Pals from Boogie Board • Spirograph Scratch and Shimmer Set from PlayMonster* • World Colors How to Draw Faces from Faber-Castell USA Four other products, in the “construction” category, may also be of interest to art supply stores. • Clipstix from Popular Playthings • Mechanics Challenge Strike from Geomagworld • Plus-Plus GO! from Plus-Plus* • Terra Kids Cork Boat from HABA USA The winners, determined by votes from ASTRA member retailers were nnounced in June (indicated by * above). For a complete list visit edplay.com. Kids remain isolated due to social distancing, the cancellation of summer camps, and parental concern about coronavirus virus spread. To keep busy, families are turning to art materials stores for kits and supplies from vendors like Micador Jr., Kids Made Modern, Ann Williams Group, and more.
“Here are some of the best art supplies you never heard of” wrote illustrator and writer Sara Barnes in May on MyModernMet.com. Art materials retailers are probably familiar with all of them, but Sara considers them “unconventional.” As tools, they help solve the kinds of issues customers ask AM retailers about all the time. Here are just a few. Blank Comic Book from B Bern To inspire kids and cartoonists, and/or for creating the first chapter of a graphic novel. Mixed Media Effects Paints by Pebeo Fascinating to watch them morph to create honeycomb, hammered and marble patterns. Adds something extra to abstract paintings, and to mixed media, décor and jewelry projects. Neocolor II Watercolor Crayons from Caran d’Ache For drawing and painting. Fiskars Flower Lever Punch All sorts of uniform shapes can be punched from paper, then used for collage art. Glitter 24-color Watercolor Set from Paul Rubens Colors are pre-mixed with an iridescent medium so artists can add shimmer to their work without the glitter texture. Uni-posca Paint Markers The opaque markers work on glass, plastic, metal, and wood. Water Brush Pens Set from MozArt Supplies Four different tips and a squeezable barrel offer controlled strokes from delicate to broad lines. Index Finger Knife from Excel Hobby Blades This spin on the traditional X-Acto knife offers a hole to “hug” your index finger for control and comfort.
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Here is a list of NAMTA’s board of directors for 2020-2021. President Phil King, SLS Arts President Elect Steve Chamberlain, colart Americas Directors Maureen Labro-Guidetti, Savoir-Faire Mike Roche, Rileystreet Art Supply Thomas Cicherski, Asel Art Supply Doug Mooney, Mooney Sales & Marketing Darin Rinne, Wet Paint Inc.
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Three 2020 NAMTA award winners will be honored at Art Materials World 2021. Former retailer Steve Aufhaüser was inducted into NAMTA’s Hall of Fame this year. He was 4 years old when his parents opened Continental Art Supplies in Reseda, California, in 1960. Twenty-two years later, Steve officially “joined” the Reseda, California-based business and ran it for 35 years. He retired and closed the store in 2017. Steve served on NAMTA’s board of directors and as president in 2004-2005. “Steve always brought levity to the table, but when it was time to get down to business he was relentless in his efforts to improve the art materials trade,” said one friend. “His sarcastic wit is a breath of sassy air,” says another. “Always concerned with quality and integrity.” Deirdra “Dee” Silver, from Silver Brush Limited, received the association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. One of the first women in the industry to start and run a U.S.-based manufacturing firm, she paved the way for the many women who lead art materials companies today. “She has been a mentor and a friend to many members and artists regarding the manufacturing, sales, use and care of artist brushes,” says NAMTA. Independent rep David Thompson from DLT2 is also a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. He was instrumental in the founding of iAMart, an independent art materials retail marketing co-op, and received the organization’s “Golden Mannikin” for his dedication to the group and to independent retailers. People who work with him consider him “professional, industrious, honest, and collaborative, with a lifetime of commitment and care for a wide swath of customers.”
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Artisan Expo 2020, scheduled for September in Santa Fe, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus, says Ron Whitmore, owner of Artisan art supply stores in Santa Fe and Albuquerque.“It would not be safe to bring 4,000-plus people together, run 100 art workshops and squeeze 80 manufacturers’ booths onto the vendor floor,” he said on expoartisan.com. Since 2000, Artisan has organized and sponsored the biennial consumer art show, billed as the largest art instructional & materials event in the world. The last expo, in 2018, featured 86 vendor booths, free demonstrations by product manufacturers, and 120 art workshops. Ron reminds participants to cancel their hotel rooms at the Hilton Buffalo Thunder Resort – they will not be cancelled automatically. “We have not decided on a future date as the COVID-19 pandemic is still too unpredictable,” he adds.
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Sales of Sewing Machines Surge In late March, when the CDC advised Americans that they should start wearing masks, “the sewing industry was turned on its head,” reports Blaine Austin, vice president of sales & marketing at California-based SewingMachinesPlus.com. “We’re talking nationwide, not just us.” The 50-year-old family-owned company runs two superstores and the largest sewing-machine-and-vacuumcleaner website in the nation. In midMarch, its owners noticed the uptick in sales, which continued to increase. At one point, it spiked by more than 52 percent compared to the same time in 2019, Austin says. Eighty percent of the sales were of entry-level machines. The trend was confirmed by retailers like Walmart and Target, and leading sewing machine manufacturers including Brother International based
in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Brother also donated machines to mask-making efforts nationwide, and is supporting virtual sewing classes on a wide range of platforms. Austin reports that many purchasers were millennials with limited
sewing experience. Sales weren’t to individuals only – companies purchased
Sustainable Shipping Crate and Leonardo da Vinci are Among “Best of the Best” According to luxury lifestyle magazine Robb Report, the art industry’s “circuit of far-flung fairs, biennials and other must-go events that keep art and its followers circumnavigationing the globe,” has been criticized recently for its environmental unfriendliness. One practice in particular, shipping art in wooden crates, has been called into question because the crates are typically dismantled and discarded after a single shipment. That changed last year, thanks to the launch of a reusable crate made from recycled or recyclable materials.
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sewing machines to make masks for their employees. But as the demand grows for creative outlets people can enjoy at home, fashion designer Angela Wolf is sharing projects other than masks during her regular Facebook Live sewing classes. “Our sewing community is a family,” she says. “During tough times, giving people a chance to stay connected and do something they love, or teach a loved one a new skill, are very special. My favorite part is watching people from all over the world chat and inspire each other. Sewing machine dealers are hoping that, long-term, sales now will help rekindle an interest in acquiring sewing skills and sewing as a hobby. SewingMachinesPlus.com will be hosting online sewing classes to support that effort. “If we can get the younger generation involved again, I think that would be a great thing for the industry.”
Called the Rokbox, it requires no additional packaging, adjusts for varying sizes of canvases, and protects against water, vibration and shock. “It also arrives carbonneutral, as the company purchases offsets for its manufacture; even shipping it requires less fuel because it’s lighter than wood,” reports the publication. Andrew Stramentov, RokBox founder and managing director, compares it to a reusable water bottle. “Each time you reuse a Rokbox is like reusing a water bottle 333 times,” he says, referencing the size differential. Under the headline “Sustainability,” the new crate was discussed in Robb Report’s 32nd Annual Best of the Best issue. Other “bests” included the DaVinci exhibit at the Louvre, Mexican muralists at the Whitney, the art of Michelle-Obama-portraitist Amy Sherald, and the Baltimore Museum of Art’s promise to buy art exclusively by women in 2020. “It’s an attempt to rectify the profound imbalance in its collection, which was 96 percent male at the beginning of the initiative,” says the article. “It even sold a few of those male-made pieces, including a Warhol and a Franz Kline, to fund the new acquisitions.”
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On May 26, the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act (PRIA) was introduced in the House. Modeled after the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act created after 9/11, it mandates that “public health emergency” insurance coverage be offered, which includes “any outbreak of infectious disease or pandemic” on terms that don’t differ from those applicable to losses arising from other events. At the same time, it provides a backstop for losses payable through funds by the U.S. Treasury. If passed, the program would cover only future pandemics, not claims from the current COVID-19 pandemic, and would be capped at $750 billion. Covered businesses would have to demonstrate that they had suffered significant business interruption with a sharp decline in revenue. Coverage would also be required for large gatherings, ranging from sporting events to concerts to conventions that are canceled. “The development of a public-private partnership to address this risk will provide certainty for businesses and
organizations of all sizes, and will ensure that we can meet future pandemic events with greater resilience,” said Leon Buck, vice president for government relations, banking and financial services at the National Retail Federation (NRF). NRF believes coverage against pandemics is crucial as retailers seek to renew leases, invest in real estate, order inventory, plan for capital improvements and hire or re-hire workers in the coming months. “After the SARS epidemic, most insurance companies added an exclusion of coverage for any virus, pandemic or organism-related loss,” noted insurance expert Jay Bregman in an interview with NBC News on May 22. “Now, businesses that thought they had coverage for business interruption broadly are finding that actually the pandemic wasn’t covered and it isn’t being offered to anybody, outside of maybe some large enterprises.”
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new true GOLDEN Glazing Liquid is a slow-drying extender for acrylic colors. It can be used for color blending and to create glazes and soft transitions in painting. The slow drying formula provides sufficient working time for techniques normally accomplished with oils. Available in gloss # 3720, and Satin # 3721. www.goldenpaints.com
Tom Norton Walnut Drawing Ink is lightfast, water-soluble, liftable, highly pigmented, and acid-free. These properties give you all the benefits of the traditional walnut ink used by the old masters, but with none of the downsides. www.tomnortonwalnutink.com
Tim Holtz Alloys are reflective, metallic, acid-free inks. Unique metal powders create intense metallic highlights when combined with Alcohol Inks and Alcohol Blending Solution on non-porous surfaces. Use on Alcohol Ink Yupo, Alcohol Ink Hard-Core Panels, Alcohol Ink Cardstock, metal, glass, glazed tiles and more! www.rangerink.com
Fifteen new colors have been added to Sakura’s Gelly Roll family. Fine point Moonlight 06, a great addition to the existing bright Moonlights, offers earth, jewel and gray tones to complete a spectrum of opaque shades. The unique paint-like quality and quick-drying ink is ideal for both white and dark papers. 800-776-6257 www.sakuraofamerica.com Artwork by Oona Cassidy
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After 40 years of research and development, USUI has created U-Kolin, a line of synthetic-filament brushes with superior quality and new technology beyond natural Kolinsky. Synthetic alternatives have become increasingly effective in mimicking the delicate shape and texture of actual fur. Many can also boast longevity and reliability. sales@usui-brush.com www.usuibrush.usuigroup.com
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Xiem Tools for
New Dura-Bright Black from Grafix is perfect for mixed-media applications. The surface is a pH-neutral and waterproof film. It can handle opaque, metallic, and iridescent mediums; and alcohol inks, sprays, acrylics, markers, and more without buckling! It’s also heat-tolerant for embossing and sturdy enough to sew and fold. It adds dark space to designs and it’s easy to erase. Available in convenient 9-by-12-inch 25-sheet pads. www.grafixarts.com
work in clay, sculpture and polymer were created by artist and industrial designer Kevin Nguyen. “I often thought, “I wish there was a tool that does this,” he said. “When there wasn’t one, I designed it.” Xiem Tools are made from high-quality materials like tempered stainless steel and hand-sanded beech hardwood. www.xiemtoolsusa.com
Jacquard is introducing Five New Pearl Ex Colors: two of the brightest, most impressive Metallic colors it has ever offered, plus three exciting new Duo colors! Rack Add-On Tiers for merchandising the five NEW colors, plus Rose Gold, Gum Arabic and Pearl Ex Varnish (not previously accommodated on racks) are now available. www.jacquardproducts.com
The revolutionary
Shadebuddy Umbrella from Guerrilla Painter is an easy and economical way to provide shade for artists and their easels – without the worry of losing the easel to a wind gust! Setup is a snap, and the adjustable angle allows maximum shade. (It can also function as a windbreak). 970-493-0217 www.guerrillapainter.com
The lightweight and stylish Six-Piece Storage System from Crafter’s Companion holds most marker brands and types. The handy trays fit together in three different configurations to save space and provide easy access. Stack as many as you want together! Visit the website to see more marker-storage options, including wallets and bags – great for travel and gifting. www.spectrumnoir.com
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new true Pro 410 ATG from Pro Tapes & Specialties is used for bonding and laminating to a wide variety of different cloths, vinyls, corks, papers, and rigid and flexible plastics. It can be used for framing and mounting displays, including signs and nameplates. It features a 1-inch ID plastic core, and is pH Neutral and high-temperature resistant. www.protapes.com
Flexcut Micro Tools and Palm Tools are ideal for both printmakers and wood carvers. Profiles range in size from 1mm to 4mm for linoleum or wood. Flexcut offers more tools than anyone in the industry, including 32 high-performance micro tools and 52 palm tools. See our chisels, skews, sweeps, shallow and deep u-gouges, and parting tools. www.flexcut.com
The Water Lily Collection
is the newest techno-synthetic addition to the Dynasty Brush family. This sustainable, cruelty-free series features a robust belly, soft spring, smooth snap and crisp point with a large capacity to hold and release pigment at a controlled rate. It’s the perfect tool for watercolor, inking and art journaling. info@dynastybrush.com, www.dynastybrush.com
Artist Angle is the only instrument ever to be developed and trademarked to capture perspective. Rigid and compact at 6- by 0.75 inches, it folds out into a 9-inch ruler/straightedge. Forgiving, too, and intuitive – for all 2-D and 3-D art mediums. Artist Angle simplifies triangulation (eliminating math), precisely captures perspective of objects, and holds relationships for later replication. www.artistangle.com
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There are Drying and Storage Racks from A.W.T. World Trade for all budgets and applications. There’s not a wider selection anywhere. They offer hundreds of uses for drying, storing, and transporting rigid or semi-rigid objects. AWT’s Racks are perfect for classrooms, workshops, studios, homes, print shops and offices. sales@dryingandstorageracks.com www.dryingandstorageracks.com
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“Vital Signs Are Good” from page 11
“We hope that full recovery for our customers can happen by August. To help, we currently are offering one of our biggest promotions of the year through August, and our wholesale distributors are also offering promotions on our products.” Michaela Yee, Sakura of America California Sakura has remained open for order processing and shipping with only a minimum number of employees to comply with shelter-in-place orders. They were still in effect in early June. Masks and gloves are required for essential employees, along with strict cleaning protocols and social distancing. Non-essential employees continue to work from home. “We filled fewer orders than normal during March and April because many of our customers were either partially or completely shut down, depending on the requirements in their areas of operation,” says Michael. “We have not experienced supply chain issues for product, but facilities for assembly of packaging and kits have been affected by shelter-in-place orders in their areas.” “Our business is open for ordering and shipments!” Michael emphasizes. Since no one from Sakura is traveling, meetings are conducted online. “Our sales managers, sales reps, and customer service personnel are in touch with our customers by email, phone and online
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“I’m dependent upon new customers and referrals from established customers,” Belle told us. “I hope to see my numbers increasing again soon.” To make that happen, she is working with the Pittsburgh-based Davison company for marketing, manufacturing, and licensing of the Artist Angle. In the meantime, she is teaching classes and workshops virtually. Belle offers three valuable takeaways from the shutdown. “First, a business based on creativity, invention, and bringing new products to market can transpire even during the ‘dry’ days of a pandemic. Design, manufacturing, and selling are possible and easily accomplished when systematically approached. “Second, revealing the heart of a company is a beautiful process that requires quiet and focused time, such as the time presented and protected by the quarantine. “Third and finally, people are the most important thing. As my grandmother told me when I was very little, ‘Take care of yourself and others, during stressful times.’” Email Belle at info@artistangle.com. ____________________________________________________
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teleconference meetings. In addition to the current promotion, we are also planning a big holiday promotion later this year,” he says. As a result of the pandemic shutdown, Sakura has implemented enhanced online web capabilities, including Zoom-type teleconference calls and meetings. It is also developing more backup options for its supply chain, delivery and production facilities. “Online sales of our products by our retailers have become even more important, especially as shoppers are staying at home,” Michael concludes. “We believe this trend will continue. Therefore, omni-channel efforts are key and should include these options: • in-store purchase; • buy online/pick up in store; • buy online/curbside pickup; and • buy online/ship directly to customers or deliver if possible. For more information, email customerservice@ sakuraofamerica.com, call 800-776-6257 extension 104 or 151, or visit sakuraofamerica.com. ______________________________________________ “We have lots of inventory and see a complete comeback by the end of the year.” Stephen Bain, Flexcut Tool Company Pennsylvania “The shutdown did not have a significant effect on Flexcut Tool, and we are filling orders quickly!” explains Stephen. Operations were halted for one week and then were re-started under exemption status. “We paid all our employees for that week and today are fully back to business.” Stephen believes it was not necessary to shut down the entire country. For more information, email sbain@flexcut.com or visit flexcut.com.
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“Industry News” continued from page 19
National Art Shop in Springfield, Missouri celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. Owner Jerry Sanders, 78, opened it after hearing his mother and her identical twin sister – both artists – complain that they there wasn’t a place to buy art supplies in town. Their best and closest resource was a local housepaint store. Jerry, who worked for the railroad, rented a tiny building on National Avenue next to the Springfield Art Museum for his art supply and picture-framing business. It was slow at first, he told the Springfield News-Leader, but business picked up as word spread among local artists. When the shop started working with teachers, instructors, and professors at local schools and colleges (including Missouri State University), Jerry found he needed more space. The shop moved into a former grocery store Jerry bought, also Highly Pigmented on National Avenue, in 1986. Water-Soluble
His mother Louise White Prater, and her twin Lucille White Hammond, worked at National Art Shop on alternate days for about 12 years. Many customers thought they were one person. Before that, they raised children and painted – “Women didn’t work in those days,” says Jerry. Some of their artwork is on display and on sale at the store. When asked if he had plans to retire, Jerry told the NewsLeader he didn’t have time to make plans. One of the largest custom frame facilities in the Midwest, National Art Shop offers more than 5,000 frame styles and a large selection of ready-made photo frames. It also sells art supplies including books, canvases, paints, mediums, finishes, paper, brushes, pens, markers, tapes and adhesives. National Art Shop is a member of iAMart, a coalition of independent, locally-owned art-materials stores that help artists at all levels purchase the best supplies for their needs. After ceasing operations, including curbside pickup, on March 23, the shop “opened” on April 22 for phone orders during limited hours. On May 4 it reopened to the public Monday through Saturday, 10 to 5 p.m.
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Meanwhile, in Bloomington, Indiana, an almost-50-yearold art supply store closed in June. Pygmalion’s Art Supplies was doing well until February, reports the Indiana Daily Student, when owner Nancy Crenshaw received a new lease agreement that included a 65-percent rent increase. She searched for a more-affordable space in town, but had no luck. The two-month pandemic shutdown sealed the store’s fate. Nancy and her two sons inherited the store from her brother John Wilson, who died last June. She had run the business from her home in Tulsa, Oklahoma while the staff carried on in Bloomington. The arrangement worked well for all involved. “The store was very important to John and he was very important to me,” Nancy told the Daily Student. “When he died, I prayed with him. I know he went to heaven, and I know there’ll be a day that I’ll see him again. I certainly don’t want him to look me in the face and say, ‘What did you do with my store?’ I’ll tell him I treated his store right.” She’s keeping the domain name, and hopes to sell it to someone one day who wants to start the store again in Bloomington from scratch. Pygmalion’s live-in cats, Alice Neel and Kiki Smith, have been adopted, but Nancy is keeping the store’s sign that features a lovely rendition of a cat. If someone approaches her about restarting the business, the sign will be part of the deal, says the article. John was known for the many ways he supported the local art community, a longstanding Pygmalion’s tradition. In 2010, he commissioned a custom oil-paint color, Alice Pink, from Williamsburg Oil Paints. One-hundred percent of the proceeds of the sale of the color went to a local nonprofit. It became an annual event with colors produced by Gamblin Artist Colors. Over the years, they included Kiki’s Cool Yellow, Skink Tail Blue, Green Bean Green, and Red Rhino Red. Knew Black in 2018 and Sunset Orange in 2019 were created in partnership with Wet Paint art supplies store in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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Phone: 970-493-0217
String lights inside and out to make your store sparkle at night.
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Conduct demos in your windows. During May and June, the windows of Art Noise store in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, contained a rotating exhibit of the art of Otis Tamasauskas. Normally a host location for downtown’s annual Spring Art After Dark event, the gallery at Art Noise would have displayed and sold Otis’s work, accompanied by a party. When the event was cancelled, Art Noise removed the fixtures and art supplies in its display windows to accommodate the art. Please stroll by and have a look!” It’s breathtaking,” said the store on Facebook. Add selfie-worthy props, plants, sculptures and murals. Make your façade interactive. The folks at ARTspot in Edmonds, Washington, stuck blank post-it notes on its window and invited customers to add art/comments/words of encouragement. The store continues to share pictures of them on social media. Review your outside signage from all angles and add banners if needed.
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Position a sandwich board in your parking lot, in addition to the one on the sidewalk in front of your store.
Sell Trust
and
Hope
from Bob Phibbs, The Retail Doctor (www.retaildoc.com) The world’s leading expert on brick-and-mortar retail doesn’t think e-commerce will “save” retail. He recently wrote this on his blog: “A lot of pundits are touting how online is going to take over because so many people had to shop online during the shutdown, but there is an awful lot of cost associated with online, and with free shipping and returns.” And, as Bob points out, many digital-native retailers are opening brickand-mortar stores now because they’ve discovered online alone is not a sustainable business model. “Let’s be clear. Online is about transaction. Online is about going to buy. But when consumers walk into a store, they want to discover something new. Discovery is part of what makes brick-and- mortar retail so valuable. “This is your golden opportunity to raise the stakes of what great retail looks like,” Bob continued, in a blog entitled, “3 Ways the Pandemic Will Change Retail Forever.” One of them is keeping associates without skills needs to end. “With less traffic, you need associates on your floor who can suggest complementary items and associated merchandise to help make the in-store visit more authentic, efficient, and profitable. Those who can’t must be relegated to warehouse workers or stockers ... or let go altogether.” He recommends selling hope and trust, as well as products – something brick-and-mortar stores are uniquely positioned to do. “While everyone else will say you have to focus on cleaning, what I’m telling you is you have to focus on building trust. You need to make people feel safe and welcome again. “That’s what our place is in retail right now,” he concludes. “People have gone through a horrible trauma and they feel the weight of the world. It’s up to you to fix that. You provide a feeling, a feeling the shopper matters. That’s one thing online, by design, can’t do. “It’s really that simple and yet it’s really that hard. It will take training. It will take holding associates accountable and it will take practice. But in my close-to-30-years as a sales trainer, there’s never been a more dire need for delivering a remarkable shopping experience.” It’s time to get to work.
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Do
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Milk
social media for all its worth
Find out what platforms your customers follow and keep posting. Devise a posting schedule and stick to it. Demo, demo, demo and then post those videos. a. We are all looking for diversions. b. 72 percent of consumers would rather learn about a product or service by way of video, says software-development firm HubSpot. Artist Liz Carlson, a staffer at Wet Paint in St. Paul, creates videos of demos, paintings in progress, and artistic activities for all ages. She posts them on YouTube each week and, on the store’s Facebook page, invites store customers to “create along or just watch.” Include your contact information always and prominently. List all the ways customers can reach you and your staff. State clearly and frequently your state of “open-ness.” Are your doors open to walk-ins? If so, what are your hours? And how many are allowed? Or, do you only offer curbside pickup? Are personal shopping appointments available?
Present all the ways people can see your merchandise (in-store, website, via Facetime, etc.). Invite them to buy, and list methods for ordering, paying, and picking up/ receiving their purchases. Explain your sanitizing policies and spell out your in-store customer guidelines (mask required, limited number of shoppers, by appointment, etc.) If you’ve made changes to your usual policies (like limited availability of product, no returns or exchanges for the time being, etc.), post an explanation in-store and online. Use your website and social media to collect customer email addresses and phone numbers. Offer a percentage-off discount in exchange for their information. Remember: in “normal” times,
email marketing effectively communicates deals, coupons and other promotions. During a pandemic, email connections are a lifeline. Use your POS system to segment your email list for specialized communications. Identify top spenders, parents with children, past participants in your classes, pastel, oil and watercolor artists, etc., and compose different messages to send to each group. If you have direct and personal relationships with your customers, pick up the phone and call them.
Make
your physical presence memorable
(for an increased number of walkers, joggers and cyclists)
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ART MATERIALS
WORLD 2021
Chicago
International Art Materials Association is excited to announce that ART MATERIALS WORLD is returning to Chicago in 2021 at the popular Hyatt Regency Hotel and Navy Pier!
, o g a c i h C ! 2 e k a T
RL WO D 20 2
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T MATER IA AR
APRIL 11-13
APRI
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For more information: Visit namta.org or contact us at info@namta.org
2020_AMR_Q2 Final.indd 31
“Networking is a big reason I go to NAMTA — talking to and sharing with other retailers.” – Andrew Lenz, LENZ ARTS 9606 Bailey Road Suite 240 Cornelius, NC 28031
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