A Prettier Picture

How refreshing to experience a vibrant show in our industry!  The West Coast Art & Frame Show in Las Vegas this week gives cause for (cautious) optimism in a time when we’re all deluged by negative news. 

 

The booth was busy – you know it’s a good show when you can’t get a bite to eat until 4:00 o’clock.  Not surprisingly in this economy, official attendance was down from last year (credit to the organizers for being open about it), and it is a shame that this show did not coincide with the Las Vegas furniture market this year.  But somehow it did not feel like attendance was down.  Buyers attending the show were serious, well-informed, and positive.  International business was much higher than expected.  While over the past few years trade shows have been “show & tell” events, this one brought quite a number of good old fashioned on-the-spot orders (including ones for our new Wild Apple Open Studio product line).  And to top it off, we ran out of catalogues.

What’s behind the positive blip?  If you know, please fill me in – meanwhile I’ll offer my limited-perspective hypotheses.  First, WCAF has become the one viable domestic show for the industry, and if you want to play in the business, you have to be there.  Email, websites, catalogues, and sales calls are great, but the industry benefits hugely from a successful trade show.  Hopefully the positive energy of the show goes long beyond a temporary phenomenon and leads to a slow, gradual climb.

 

There are a number of key large retailers who are paying attention to wall décor and keeping their offerings fresh and exciting.  One theory I think is true – and I really want to be true – is that in this difficult economy we are in a good position by supplying the affordable end of the art and home décor market.  People are not building and buying houses or starting major renovations, but an affordable framed print can fit a stressed budget and have an immediate big impact on a room. 

 

Not that I think we’re out of the woods yet by any means.  Our stance is to be aggressive in publishing fresh new art, and remain very careful about expenses.  But it is fantastic to come away from a show feeling really good!

 

Our next show is Quadrum/SACA in Bologna, Italy (February 19-22), where you can find us with distributor Print Portfolio/Devon Editions.  Ciao.

Comments

[Barney Davey]

Hi John,

Thank you for your report on the show. I was unable to attend the WCAF this year, which was a first for me since its inception.

I published a post about the show last month touting it and its operators for keeping it real and for acting responsibly for the better of the show and the industry.

Your positive outlook amidst the daily hammering of bad economic news is welcome and refreshing. I applaud your attitude about keeping cautiously aggressive in this toughest of markets. For anyone taking the long view with the intention of staying in the business for years to come, it is the only rational approach to take. It is advice I regularly put forth in my www.ArtPrintIssues.com blog. Time and again it has proven that those companies who maintain a presence with their marketing and advertising in tough times are the ones who reap the greatest benefit when the pendulum arcs back toward prosperity.

[The Scallop Shell]

Hello There, John. Great to visit with you and Laurie in Jackson Hole. Keep up the good work!!!!!