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The Creative Economy
Newsletter For and About the Region’s Artisan and Retail Businesses
May 10, 2004 8th issue

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Sponsored by the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA).

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Nadia Korths, Craft Programs Coordinator/ANCA, www.adknccrafts.com, receives news from the region’s craft community. Thank you. It is inspiring to hear about the many activities. All are edited and/or condensed by Korths to be included.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

Featured retailer, this month, Seasons, new shop opening up in Massena, NY, on home page of your regional crafts resource website, www.adknccrafts.com.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

Featured artisan, this month, Kurt Vitch Wildlife Artist, on home page of your regional crafts resource website, www.adknccrafts.com.

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There are now 161 (34 more than last time) direct links to shops and studios at Looking for a Gift. What a great variety - check it out.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

The potters of the www.AlbanySaratogaPotteryTrail.com for great success of May 1 - 2 Open Studio Tour.

To Nadia From Brenda,
www.bluemoonclay.com

Our event was a great success...

Each studio had at least 100 - 125 visitors, many went to multiple studios, but not all - so though I'm not clear on numbers, I feel confident it was 300 - 400 for the entire event.

I'm meeting with the other trail members on Sunday to see how they did - but we're all certain there will be a second annual. I can't say what sales were for all, but I believe we all made more than $2,000 for the weekend, perhaps a collective $12- $15,000 for the weekend. We only had 3 weeks to distribute the brochure and managed nicely for this year. Next year we'll have 3 months and I'm sure it'll be even better.

Thank you for your effort and your larger email on our behalf. That was most kind of you!

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CONGRATULATIONS TO Cathy and Bruce Thomas, Forest Hollow, near Remsen, on Rte. 365 north of Hinkley Resevoir.

Nadia,
... I've been doing a lot of gallery shows all over the state with my canvas paintings but as usual there are new hand made items in the shop, including new sterling jewelry.
Bruce is learning how to cast finials for his pots. They are quite beautiful and are made from both sterling and brass. He plans to throw a series of small tea pots and berry pots with cast finials on the lids "a must see"...
My most recent work will be in the Avenue Art Gallery in Endicott, NY. I just finished a solo show of 65 paintings at the gallery at SUNYIT campus in Utica. From that show I have transferred 14 paintings to the Chatterbox Lounge Cafe in Utica. Hope to see you again if you pass by this way.

Cathy and Bruce
315 826 7162
Email

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

Marvin E. Widrick, Golden Maple Shanty and Jason and Barbara Zehr, Swiss'er Sweet Maple, for the great article describing their businesses, the huge syrup business in Lewis, St. Lawrence and Jefferson Counties, and their very successful marketing efforts (shifting from wholesale to retail).
Golden Maple Shanty
Swiss'er Sweet Maple
Lewis County IDA lists 50 Lewis County syrup producers and links to 15 who have their own websites.
Watertown Daily Times, front page business section, March 21, 2004.

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Which merchant credit card services are used by 2004 Rustic Nature Buyer Day vendors - it's Nova, also called Novus (5),and Merchant Services (6) (vendors seem to take advantage of their membership in business trade groups, like chambers, or their banks, to sign up for this one). Others named were Bankcard Center, GF National, RMBC, Chase Bank, Ipayment and NPC.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

Ken Gadway, Martha Gallagher, Sandra Hildreth, Lee Kazanas, Cheryl Kurtz, Marilyn MacAbee, Caroline Thompson Rubino, Lynne Taylor, Kip Trienens, Alice Wand and Bud Ziolkowski and Sandy Muller for being selected to create 11 out of the 38 Adirondack Art Chairs 2004, fundraiser for Lake Placid Center for the Arts (LPCA).
The artist reception (and this is quite the party, folks) is May 15, 4 - 6 pm. Stop by.
The trail map (also at reception) to the exhibit of the chairs at site locations is at the Lake Placid Center for the Arts. Enjoy your stops.
The final gathering of all 38 chairs will be at LPCA from Aug. 12 to 28 with benefit auction on the 28.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

Elwood "Woody" Adams, noted local chainsaw sculptor, Titus Mountain owners, and the Malone Chamber of Commerce for hosting the Chainsaw Sculpture Weekend at Titus Mountain on March 20 and 21. 40% of the proceeds were to cover the travel expenses, food and lodging of the carvers, and 60% of the net proceeds are earmarked for the Malone YMCA fund. Malone Chamber, 518.483.3760.
Article in Adirondack Daily Enterprise, 3.17.04

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

The Dodge House Studio and Gallery for having a benefit Open House. Constance Dodge's wonderful mixed media paintings and prints are showcased in her home which is a historical home of one of the area's first businessmen, on June 26, as one of the events of Edinburgh Day. Fundraiser for the local Historical Society.

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Korths would like to hear, and write about in next newsletter, the artists factory project in Dolgeville. The Troy Shirt Factory in Glens Falls continues to evolve.
Isn't there one opening up in Greenwich, Washington Co. also?

518.891.1632
Email

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www.Adirondackcraft.com celebrated their 3rd third anniversary of online sales for the region in December. They continue to encourage craftspeople and artisans in the 14 county Adirondack North Country region to consider adding a few products to this attractive online store and catalogue serving customers in 44 states. No monthly charges, reasonable commission on the retail sale price.
Sponsored by www.Adirondackcraft.com.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

The St. Lawrence County Arts Council for its new program Careers in the Arts - especially geared for high school and college students, though everyone is welcome.
Four presentations in Sept. in different locations in St. Lawrence County with panel discussions with 5 to 6 art professionals - visual arts, music, theatre arts, dance and literature, with reviews of portfolio, resume and auditions.
Sept. 18 - Massena Public Library;
Sept. 19 - Frederic Remington Museum;
Sept. 25 - Cranberry Lake Public Library and
Sept. 26 - Creative Spirit Art Center.

St. Lawrence County Arts Council
518.265.6860
Email

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

New arts council celebrating the Edwards Opera House in St. Lawrence County. Concerts during the summer.

Edwards Arts Council
315 562 8213

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

Salmon River Arts Center, a volunteer run 11 year old arts center, in Pulaski, NY (on Lake Ontario) for making a move to a bigger location this spring. President Patricia A. Tanner says that people who attend their free drawing classes (on Tues. eves. 7 - 9), workshops, and their year round exhibits in their gallery come from Oswego, Jefferson and Onondaga counties.

315 298 7007
19 Lake St., POB 66
Pulaski NY 13142

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To Nadia,

What a success your event (Rustic Nature Buyer Days) was! I hope you are resting. I cannot thank you enough for your assistance and your enthusiastic response to our agribusiness and exporting missions. I am still very excited about what we accomplished in those two days.

Thank you for also including our grant information in the crafter's welcome kit. ... Please let me know how we can collaborate in the future and contact me if you find any good candidates you run into!

Cheryl L. Gnade
Rural Outreach Coordinator
U.S. Department of Commerce
Westchester Export Assistance Center
707 Westchester Avenue
Suite 209
White Plains, New York 10604
tel: 914.682.6712
fax: 914.682.6698
Email

Visit www.BuyUSA.com to subscribe and gain access to over 20,000 international buyers!

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Interested in placing your text ad here, contact Korths at Email or at 518.891.1632.

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You think you're not capable of exporting!

Not according to Cheryl Gnade, Rural Outreach Coordinator, Upstate NY, Dept. of Commerce. Cheryl reminded about 30 of us at the exporting seminar at this year's Rustic Nature Buyer Days that only 5% of the world's goods are sold in the USA!

If someone approaches you about exporting your product to Canada or elsewhere, call Cheryl. She will help you through the process from checking out if your potential exporter is legit, to offering you a choice of freighters, and more. And her services are free. They also have a program which can provide you some funding, $500, to attend trade shows overseas. The Westchester Export Assistance Center covers the 14 eastern counties of NYS. Cheryl, down to earth and personable, is originally from this region.

www.export.gov
visit www.buyUSA.com to subscribe and gain access to over 20,000 international buyers.

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Entrepreneurs determined to conquer the world may want to start with www.assessyourinternationalrisk.org. ... set up by the Small Business Administration, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and insurance giant American International Group (AIG).

The site highlights some of the steps that trip up small businesses when they expand abroad - from credit and liability risks to workers' compensation laws to more general cultural differences and their impact on commerce. ... And while comprehensive, the new site is more a starting point than a one-stop shop. "We're here to educate and inform," Ellen Thrasher, of the SBA's Office of Business and Community Initiatives, says, "and what we do is raise questions.
Learning to Play the Game of Risk, Inc. Magazine, March 2004, p.30.

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Back to the Past

Retro. Vintage. Nostalgia. No matter what you call it, the look is hot as consumers flock to red-and-white kitchen linens, chrome diner-style napkin holders, groovy polka-dotted throw rugs and more. This retro craze sweeping the home-decor world encompasses styles from the 1930s through the 1970s. ...

No matter what era it evokes, retro merchandise sells best when steps are taken to make a statement with it. "some of the most successful retailers in this category are willing to take a few chances, creating an entire look and feel with various items," instead of leaving it to customers to ferret out product from various areas of a store, affirms Hajewski of Infinity Instruments. ... "People don't need to buy everything in the display, but they purchase more if you show it in context," says retailer

Dana Dorsey, owner of Homespun Cottage in Austin, Texas. Morris of The Apple Crate agrees, noting that merchandising retro/vintage goods together in their own section comprises a viable alternative for stores in which space constraints or other restrictions render vignettes impractical. When employing this strategy, the retailer adds visual interest by showcasing her wares in, on or next to vintage props.
Excerpts from article written by Julie Ritzer Ross, Country Sampler's Country Business March/April 2004 issue.

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Want repeat customers? Reward Them for Their Loyalty

For gift shop managers considering a customer rewards program, Mike Russo has unequivocal advice. "I would tell you it's the No. 1 thing you should do," said Russo, president of the Gift Association of America. "We're telling everybody it's a good, cost efficient way to get customers coming back. Gift retailers are normally frugal about advertising. It (loyalty/rewards programs) will cut down on out of pocket advertising expenses." The low-tech version of a customer loyalty rewards program is the punch card that gives a customer a free purchase when the card is filled with punches. ... acrrue points towards discounts on purchases, a free gift or some other award (or) ... accumulate rewards, such as a percentage of their purchases, for a charity, school, museum or other institution or organization of their choice... whatever excites your customer.

... A July 2003 poll Maritz Loyalty Marketing ... found that ... 86 percent of consumers with an income of $100,000 said membership in a rewards program makes them more likely to do business with that company. ... high income consumers wanted a free "prize." ... Russo suggested shops survey their customers to learn about their views on gift shopping, what they like about the store's products and services, areas that need improvement, how much personal information customers feel comfortable dishing out, and ask on the survey "what would you suggest for rewards." .. then let customers know about the new rewards program through a newsletter or in print advertising or online.

Excerpt from article in Spring 2004 Museums & More Speciality Shops Product News
Museums & More

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

YesterYear's Vintage Doors, a speciality hardwood door manufacturer, Hammond, St. Lawrence County. Their dutch doors were featured on the "Wild West Update" episode of the show Curb Appeal on HGTV during the first week of April.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

Leigh O'Donell, Adirondack Soapworks, for winning the vendor voted Best of Show at this year's Rustic Nature Buyer Days.
Email

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

Marjorie Swift, Bug Bonnets, for winning the vendor voted Best Booth Display at this year's Rustic Nature Buyer Days.
518.946.7642

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

Hearth and Home Antiques/Kaleidscopes Gifts, Ballston Spa, for moving from 126 Milton Ave. to 114-116 Milton Ave. as of May lst. They now have 3400 square feet and large display windows. They are looking for new vendors especially for their Adirondack Room. Stop by.
Linda Williams Lambert,owner, Email

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

The Speculator Department Store has been bought by Dean Lane of the Charles John Store in Speculator. Jeanne VanArsdale is manager. Rather than let the landmark building become vacant, the purchase of this second building will give gifts their own place in Speculator. Stop by.
518.548.6123

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CONGRATULATIONS TO Myriam Freedman for opening up a new giftshop/bistro in Schroon Lake for this summer. I believe it's called the Morningstar Bistro. Myriam shopped both days at Rustic Nature Buyer Days for inventory. Stop by.
518.532.0707

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

Tom and Ginny Sullivan for opening up the new shop Seasons in Massena. Tom was having a great day shopping for inventory and taking advantage of the cash and carry on the second day of Rustic Nature Buyer Days. Tom, Ginny and Marcia are going for a high end look in their new shop. Stop by.
Seasons (featured retailer at homepage of www.adknccrafts.com)

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The 25th annual June 5th Heritage Festival sponsored by the Massena Chamber of Commerce is being celebrating by linking with a new cross-border arts festival that will take place in communities in both NY and Ontario along the St. Lawrence River during April, May and June. The Massena site at the Arena with have a show with "No 'flea market', novelty or mass-produced resale items ... sold." $30 booth fee for 10x10 space. 315.769.3525 for application.
Massena Chamber of Commerce

Last year, St. Lawrence College of Canada and the State University of NY at Potsdam came together to produce the first few events of what is to be an annual celebration of music, arts and heritage under the umbrella of The Festival of the St. Lawrence.
MRSI

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The most often cited reasons for an increase in, or stability of (regional tourism) business included:
-positive word-of-mouth advertising
-increased or improved advertising or web presence
-repeat business (mentioned by over 14% of all respondents)
-good reputation of the facility
Excerpt from the summer season business survey 12-03 conducted by Northern NY Travel & Tourism Research Center, Potsdam NY
Northern NY Travel & Tourism Research Center where more survey reports are available.
Some of this data could be useful as documentation for justification towards a business loan.

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You, the Artist, are a Business Person

"But the idea of artist as business person is not only becoming more common, it's a necessity, suggests gallery owner and art-career advisor Geoffrey Gorman, who has also worked as an artist, dealer, curator and art consultant.... No matter how long you've been a professional artist, a fundamental idea may be hindering your career, suggests Gorman. "You must go beyond the myth that you have 'sold out' if you promote yourself." You also need to develop a cohesive body of work.

Trying to sell a mishmash of work is one of the biggest mistakes an artist can make... A 'body of work' isn't limiting." says John Iverson (Executive Director of the Arts Business Institute (a national organization offering arts-business education opportunities). "It could mean having some one-of-a-kind items and some production items, but with a thematic approach," appealing to a wide range of income levels. Once you have a body of work, it is important to develop an image for your business.... Whatever it is, carry it through to all the little details, from print materials to packaging. Your image presentation contribute to what business experts call the "perceived value" of your work ... This perception of value will help justify your prices in buyers' minds, and can yield a larger profit margin.

Excerpts from "A River Worth Crossing" an article in TACA's feb/march 2004 newsletter reprinted with permission from CERFnews, newsletter of the Craft Emergency Relief Fund
www.tennesseecrafts.org
CERF

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Need some free help developing your business plan, cash flow projection, with new product development, export assistance, marketing, funding info, and more? For those of you in the Plattsburgh area, stop by the North Country Small Business Development Center on June 4th for their Open House.
Plattsburgh State University, 101 Broad St, Ward Hall 118, Plattsburgh NY
North Country Small Business Development Center

For those of you in other areas click on our . At the bottom of the page there are links to many regional small business centers. Use them. They work with small businesses all the time. If you're feeling overwhelmed with too many decisions to make, these folks are there to help you out. And most of them provide free services.

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For those of you who earn income from offering workshops, at Regional Resources/Product, you'll find links to some 40 to 50 regional cultural organizations that offer workshops. Check them out, contact them.

This is another marketing opportunity for you. ANCA has simplified the search process for you by listing the links to many of them on one page in geographical groupings.

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Are ANCA and/or Korths on your mailing list? As of June lst, mail will no longer be forwarded from our pre 911 addresses. Please change ANCA's address from 20 St. Bernard Street to 28 St. Bernard St., Saranac Lake, NY 12983, and Nadia Korths' address from 10 Park Place to 12 Prescott Place, SL ...

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Two shows in Tennesee: Tennessee Association of Craft Artists (TACA) Fall Crafts Fair (Nashville - 180 exhibitors - 40,000 attend - Sept. 24-26, 2004) and Celebration of Fine Craft (Chattanooga - 100 exhibitors - 12,000 attend - Oct. 2-3, 2004). Deadline July 1st, 2004. 615.385.1904 for applications.
www.tennesseecrafts.org

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

Constance Dodge has an exhibit "Now and Then" of her oil on linen mixed media paintings at the Oakroom Artists Gallery, First Unitarian Society, 1221 Wendell Ave., Schenectady until June 2.

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No health insurance? Healthy NY is a 6 month old NYS health insurance program. Korths has already heard that craftspeople have signed up for this program. Reasonable prices - varies by county - ie, Franklin County w/out drugs -$117.93 per month per individual.
NYS health insurance program

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Rustic Nature Buyer Days 2004 Summary Report
Excerpts of SUMMARY REPORT submitted to Terry Martino, Executive Director, ANCA on April 21, 2004

156 shops came to see 73 vendors over a 2 day period at the City Center in Saratoga Springs on March 31 and April 1, 2004...

The show had record breakers in attendance from shops and vendors and income ($10,622 with $9,739 in expenses). More postcards (4200) were mailed out than ever before.

Comparison of Exhibitor Income and Accounts
The average in orders written by vendors was in 2004 - $2414, 2003 - $2700, 2002 - $3700, 2001 - $1900 (Northeaster). We can estimate that the total dollars taken in orders (# of vendors x average per vendor). at the show at $176,222, 2003 - $200,000, 2002 - $260,000, 2001 (during the blizzard) - 103,000.

Based on industry guidelines we can estimate that the accounts at this show are likely to generate $1,057,332 in regional sales with vendors selling another $352,444 in sales from orders put in after the show (both first time and reorders) and then the retailers doubling the wholesale price to make another $528,666 in sales. Vendors expect another 126 accounts to put in orders after the show. This compares to 165 in 2003, 113 in 2002 and 123 in 2001.

Photography
Tim Holmes, www.Adirondackcraft.com, took product photographs for the third year...

Export Seminar
Cheryl Ganadaude, US Dept. of Commerce, gave a seminar, Thursday morn, before the show opened. Excellent presentation. She made everyone understand that they are all viable businesses for export and that she would be there to help them one by one.

Observations
Even though 33 more shops came than last year, there was a lower average order total (reflective of a lower reorder total - the new order total was impressive). Two shopowners did state that they had more inventory left from last year than usual.
Exhibitor expenses averaged $180 (booth fee and overnight lodging). With an average of $2414 in orders, they are making 13 times their expenses. The industry guideline is that a good show should make 10 times the expenses. This show has done so in the last 4 years. The shops from VT came back this year and a shop from Litchfield, CT could not believe the quality and variety. Many shops, when asked what impressed them the most about the show, repeated “quality” over and over again. The survey results from both vendors and buyers were, as usual, positive.

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Rustic Nature Buyer Days 2004 and 2003 vendor booth shots with contact info are posted at www.adknccrafts.com click on Buyer Days. So for those shopowners who couldn't make it to the show...

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Rustic Nature Buyer Days 2005 is scheduled for March 30 and 31 at the City Center in Saratoga Springs. Mark your calendars.

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Korths, on behalf of ANCA, introduced some 40 economic development organizations, town and county officials, and businesses to the region's craft community and ANCA's craft marketing programs as panel member at the Northern New York Community Conference held at the Hotel Saranac in Saranac Lake on April 15th. Thanks to Logozar, Franklin County Rural and Agriculture Specialist and one of the www.adirondackharvest.com organizers, for putting together this first time conference.
Email
Franklin Co. Coop. Extension

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Excerpt from Korths's panel presentation describing the region's craft community:

Craftspeople and retailers in the region are a huge community. ANCA's databases have 1100 craft businesses and 700 retailers from the Adirondack North Country region. This means that these 2000 folks are probably helping to support at least another 2000 to 3000 (spouses and children) in making a living. That's a community the size of a village of 5000 people! That's big! You are part of an invisible factory that generates a huge amount of (yet unacknowledged) money in this region. Across the nation, craft sales (and that does not include resales by retailers - sorry folks, we'll get you included in there somehow) in 2001 represented $14 billion. And you are part of that.

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Workshop, Sat. June 26, 7:30am - 3pm: "Learn the basics of your digital camera with professional photographer Mark Bowie.
The Arts Guild of Old Forge

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Workshop, Sat. June 5, 9am - 4pm: "Digital Darkroom". Import a digital file into Photoshop and work magic on the images with the Biennial Adirondack Theme Photography Exhibit "Seasons of the Adirondacks" Judge Joe LeFevre.
The Arts Guild of Old Forge

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Invitational Regional Theme Exhibition titled "Convergence" at Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts. Drop off date July 22, 23, and 24. Cash awards.
Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts.

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New artist registry at Mohawk Valley Center for the Arts. Listing is free for members, $35 for non-members, links to your URL $15, a picture of your work $25 per year. 2 and 3 dimensional work welcome.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

Current exhibit "Textures" with Diane Fine, Annoel Krider, David Meath, Rosemary Olmsted, Eleanor Sweeney and Lynne Taylor until May 29. The North Country Cultural Center for the Arts, Brinkerhoff Street, Plattsburgh
North Country Cultural Center for the Arts

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Craftproducers still has openings at these shows: Shelburne, July 30-Aug. 1; Lake Placid Aug. 20-22; Saratoga Car and Craft, Sept. 17-19 shows.
Craftproducers

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For those of you, like Bell and LaPier, still looking to complete your regional show circuit this summer, there is a list of regional shows with links at www.adknccrafts.com click on Regional Shows. Most of these have been recommended by craftspeople.

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Nelson Farms Manager Dave Evans is renovating the Nelson Inn in Morrisville (north Catskill Mountain region), NY as a retail/state-of-the-art small scale food processing plant for food producers to develop, produce, distribute and market their product. Three kitchens available are; an aroma free/gluten free kitchen; an organic kitchen; and a general purpose kitchen.

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The Booth Design 3 hour seminar with Bruce Baker, national crafts lecturer, from Middleburg, VT. at the Vermont Crafts Council annual meeting at Goddard College on April 27 was great. ANCA sponsored Korths's attendence. Korths saw Nancy Miller, Jewelry Designs, from Saratoga there. The booth shots along with Bruce's non stop insights and observations about trends are a very good combo. Note taking was an ongoing activity for many of the 30 people listening to his packed-with-ideas session.
Bruce will have for sale a CD on booth design this summer. I bought his sales CD. Anyone coming through Saranac Lake is welcome to stop by and listen. Or have your library buy it. Or buy it yourself. He does pack a lot in.

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OK - some tidbits from Baker's seminar.

To pull people into the booth 1) display product on multiple levels, 2) use large format pictures and 3) use those corners (eye is naturally drawn to corner).
Display the product as it will be in home or shop - ie., if it's a toothbrush holder, put a toothbrush in it.
Do not visually overload your booth - if it looks like their closet, they'll just walk by.
If you hang the product on the booth walls, they will buy it.
People are 4 times more likely to buy if they can touch.
Velcro is God's little gift to craftspeople.
Place your credit cards, checks and money in 3 different locations.
Don't use green (hunter green acceptable), purple or orange as booth colors.
Customer's sweet spot is from belt bucket to 6 inches above head.
Parellel boxes as modular - fold flat when not used - light weight - can be made from double corrugated cardboard - design lids to put on top.
Stretched fabric - knitted (double/triple knotted) and velcro - light weight booth walls.
Lights - lights - lights - lights - use them. For upscale - contemporary, use halogen. For country - general, use tungsten.
Lights should be over customer's head and 30 inches from product.
Place sign at back of booth not in front.
Use the space as much as possible.

And there was more, lots more.
Bruce Baker
Buy his upcoming booth design CD, attend one of his seminars or have him give you a consult.

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Baker gave a few tips on sales as well.

Give the buyer a few seconds to land in your booth, always include "if" in your opening line. "If I can help you ..." does not give them the option to say "No." (When you give them the option to say no as in when you say "Can I help you?" you have lost a sale.) Then back off. Act busy - rearrange - dust - waiting for them to give you permission to sales pitch them by asking you a question.
Massaging the buyer went out with the 90s.
Buyers rebel from feeling pressured or from answering insincere questions but they don't want to be left alone. Yes, it is a fine line!
Sales depend on product, price and story/benefit.
Do not sit in booth is the best strategy.
Sitting in booth gives potential buyers a feeling that your booth is waiting for something to happen rather than a feeling of something actually happening in your booth.
Even worse if 2 people are sitting in booth - that's a definite no-no.
Bruce Baker - buy his CD, attend his seminar or have him give you a consult.

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The Vermont Crafts Council's 11th annual open Studio Tour of some 230 studios is on May 29 and 30. Studios open from 10 to 5 both days.
7,000 people (14% from out of state) visited last year's 200 sites over the two days.
www.vermontcrafts.com

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Brattleboro, VT. has a successful First Friday Gallery Walks each month - some 25 to 30 businesses participate.

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Craft Emergency Relief Fund (cerf) Executive Director, Cornelia Carey, announced some prelimary findings from a survey answered by 1500 craftspeople over the past winter. CERF's definition of professional craftsperson is someone with at least half of their income coming from making their product.
Most increases in income for craftspeople are coming from studio sales, and then, retail shows. Wholesale shows are down. 2/3 of the craftspeople surveyed said demand was steady or growing. Marketing was most requested as type of business training needed.
The strongest networks for craftspeople were local, state and discipline specific organizations and the show circuit. The complete survey results will be available this upcoming winter.
CERF's offices are in Montpelier, VT.
CERF

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

Hi, My website is finally up and running for all the world to see, if you are interested, please go to www.silverbenchjewelry.com.

Lisa Nortz
www.silverbenchjewelry.com

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Keep Thursday, May 20 free for next art group meeting, 7:00 at Korths's in Saranac Lake.
Email

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

Mary Jane Harford, Mulberry Tree, for developing a great marketing idea - a traveling show of her work. Mary Jane is very pleased to have had 22 shops at Rustic Nature Buyer Days ask her to stop by with her traveling show.
Email

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Currently seeking regional artists and musicians interested in exhibiting and participating in the Saranac Lake Summer Gallery Walk. Artists display work in a variety of public spaces throughout the village of Saranac Lake. The Gallery Walk occurs every third Thursday in June, July, August and September. Summer 2004 dates are: June 17th, July 15th, August 19, and September 16th.

All mediums are considered with respect to the limitations of space. For more information please contact Gallery Walk coordinators-- Jen Kretser 891-4182; Email or Laura Dame at 891-4244

The Gallery Walks are made possible, in part with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts Decentralization Program administered locally by the Arts Council for the Northern Adirondacks. The mission of the Gallery Walks is to stimulate business, draw attention to downtown Saranac Lake and to encourage community spirit through the presentation of visual, performing and literary arts by artists that live and work in the north country.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO

Hi All, I'll be on North Countries Finest on Friday (gone past) ...the 6 & 11pm news on channel 7 (think our 5).
Linda Allen
Adirondack Basketry Lowville, NY.
Email

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From Anita Deming:

Here is a early heads up on a tour to Canada (just north of Malone, NY) of their agritourism program (These folks get 30,000 people to come for each of their twice a year 3 day open studio tours! Each site hosts other agricultural or craft producers. Korths is going). We can only take 35. I am hoping to get those seriously interested in making this type of tourism happen in the Champlain Valley.

Invitation from CLD du Napierville for an Agri tourism Tour of southern Quebec. Wednesday May 19th. Bus leaves 8 AM from Westport All Day. $20 each.

Tentative Schedule

Rendez-vous Gourmand du Sud du Quebec
Imperial Ferme run by the Keiser Family a gold medal winner for cheese at the French world competition for their cheese Douanier
La Fraisiere Herbert making award winning wines from small fruit and other small fruit marketing opportunities
Vignoble Le Royer An award winning vineyard, and winery that also has a winery in Smugglers Notch VT
Cidrerie Face Cachee De La Pomme an international award winning ice cidre (hard cider) plus other apple processing.
Ferme du Minot variety of apple wines including wine, brandy, and champagne
Boucherie Viau a sausage, smoked meat, and meat processing facility attracing thousands of tourists each year.

Lunch is provided by the CLD du Napierville at the Sucrerie Nermine a sugar house offering traditional French Canadian meals.

Anita Deming, PO Box 388, 3 Sisco St, Westport NY 12993
(518) 962-4810 office
Email

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Adirondack Harvest Week: Tom (Both, Town of Keene Supervisor) had proposed that we designate a week to highlight local farms and local products. He envisioned a week of activities at the Farmer’s Markets, as well as articles in the media. The week chosen is September 12 - 19. The Markets at Keene and Elizabethtown will have entertainment such as musical groups and “author’s day”. Other ideas include farm tours, open houses, and local cook-offs at each Market. Want to participate, let Logozar at Email , or Deming at Email know.

www.adirondackharvest.com

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Potsdam will be holding the 37th annual Summer Festival on July 8, 9, 10, 2004. The Summer Festival, a combination of sidewalk sales, musical entertainment, and food and games, draws not only locals from Northern New York and Canada, but also Clarkson and SUNY Potsdam alumni. We advertise the event throughout Northern New York and Southern Ontario. The craft fair is set up in Ives Park, near the Gazebo and on the banks of the Raquette River, a beautiful backdrop to display crafted items.

Registration is on first come, first serve basis, $35.00 per 14’ by 12’ space. There are approximately 80 spaces available to crafters. For more information, contact Abby Lee at the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce, 315-265-5440, or Email .

The craft fair has seen a dramatic increase in traffic and interest in recent years. According to a survey conducted by the Chamber of Commerce, over 1500 people yearly attend the craft fair. It “is one of the nicest shows in the area” according to one of our repeat crafters, both “fun and profitable, ”something that people “look forward to all year.” In an effort to preserve the uniqueness of the show we ask that all items sold be handcrafted.

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Northern Forest Partnership Small Grants Program
The North East State Foresters Association (NEFA) and the Northern Forest Center (NFC) announce the first Northern Forest Partnership Small-Grants Program. The Northern Forest Partnership Program is jointly administered by the North East State Foresters Association and the Northern Forest Center and made possible through a grant from the USDA Forest Service Economic Action Program and support from New Hampshire Senator Judd Gregg. The Partnership Program has $70,000 available for grants of up to $5,000 to support projects that strengthen local economies, communities and the environment. Non-profits, local government entities, and businesses are eligible to apply. Applications will be available early May at Northern Forest Center.

Heather Cowenhoven
Northern Forest Center
PO Box 210
Concord, NH 03302
(603) 229-0679
(603) 229-1719 (fax)

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www.adknccrafts.com is your 24/7 regional craft and retail business resource center with;
- links to the region's small business development centers where you can get free start up, in process of expanding, product development and other business services - regional resources page.
- for those artisans who offer workshops to generate income, links to many of the region's workshop providers - regional resources page.
- links to many national sites with how to do business info (retailers, there's some good ones here for you) - resources page.
- links to regionally made product and/or regional shops to sell in - Looking for a Gift page
- links to many national product for sale sites - resources page
- provides contact info on some 25 regional shows which are, for the most part, vendor recommended - show listings page.
- info and applications on craft marketing programs offered by ANCA and links to partner marketing programs.
and new pages soon to appear are:
- studio tours and printed guides from around the region
- listing of resource books

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Info and applications for the following marketing programs are at www.adknccrafts.com.

Craft marketing programs sponsored by the Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) are:

- Rustic Nature Buyer Days, the only rustic nature trade show on the East Coast,
- How to Establish and Maintain Wholesale Accounts and Product Review 4 hour workshop, held 2 to 4 times in the fall and mid winter,
- Group Booth at Western New York Gift Show in mid February, best for country style product which retails for $10 or less,
- Self Guided Driving Trails of the Region's Arts, Crafts and Foods, with 30,000 distributed to 900+ lodgings and chambers
- Crafts trade newsletter for and about the artisans and retailers of the region, emailed to some 600 every 6 weeks or so. Archived at www.adknccrafts.com click on Stories About You
- www.adknccrafts.com: resources and product for the region's artisans and retailers; links and/or info about regional show listings, regional support organizations with galleries and workshop facilities; marketing tools and advice from across the nation; and links to many producers and retailers of the region.
-And last but not least, info about and applications for ANCA's craft marketing programs,
- Links to partners Adirondack Craft Center and www.adirondackwood.com.

Other programs and partnerships are always being explored.
Inquiries about sponsorships of these programs are welcome.
Contact Nadia Korths, Craft Programs Coordinator/ANCA, email or 518.891.1632.

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ANCA offers other regional economic development program specialists:

-Wood Products Industry Specialist Carl Golas, 315.376.7695. www.adirondackwood.com
-Grazing Technician Martha Pickard, 518.891.6200. Martha Pickard
-Scenic Byways Coordinator Sharon O'Brien, 518.891.6200. Sharon Obrien
-Community Development Specialist Jim Ellis, 518.359.2580. Jim Ellis
-Executive Director Terry Martino, 518.891.6200. ANCA
Visit ANCA to find out more about the programs these specialists are providing.

More economic development programs ANCA is working in partnership with are:
www.bikeadirondacks.org
www.adirondackcraft.com
www.adirondackwood.com

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The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) is a not-for-profit private corporation that strengthens the economy and quality of life in the 14 counties of Northern New York through informed, open debate and advocacy on economic issues critical to the region; and through region-wide action on projects in agriculture, business and community development, forestry, human services, the arts and tourism.

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This newsletter is being received by 524 producers, retailers and support organizations.

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Regional crafts newsletter issues are archived at adknccrafts.com click on Stories about You
Korths look forward to receiving your news: publicity, awards, expansions, changes, and more.
Questions and industry leads are welcome.
This newsletter is sent to subscribers only; subscribers' emails are not shared with any other organization or individual.
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to friends.
If you wish to stop receiving this newsletter, hit reply and write "unsubscribe" in subject. Email

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Email inquiries and comments to:
Nadia Korths
Craft Programs Coordinator, ANCA
ph/fax:518.891.1632
12 Prescott Place, Saranac Lake NY 12983

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Sponsored by Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA)
28 St. Bernard St., Saranac Lake, NY 12983.
anca@northnet.org 518.891.6200/f518.891.6203
Craft Programs Since 1985

Updated 6.9.04.