#suportartists

[yosereysoylapieldeasno]

e me aqui yo soy el sol la representación del dios , soy una estrella , me puedes ver en tarot ahí soy mensajero de buenas noticias ./See me here I am the sun the representation of the god, I am a star, you can see me in tarot there I am a messenger of good news.

[mafmove]

Book release day! Thank you @creativeactionnetwork for including me in the #greennewdealposter book. It’s beautiful go buy a copy today https://creativeaction.network/collections/green-new-deal-1/products/the-green-new-deal-poster-book #suportartists https://www.instagram.com/p/CEmc8LUHJ7d/?igshid=1t9kwe14f32zl

[metamorphosismetals]

Today's the day! #virtualpileofcraft starts at 10:00. Scroll through for the demo schedule and other info. Also remember we are offering 15% off your order with coupon code PILEOFCRAFT all day. @charmcitycraftmafia #pileofcraft #charmcitycraftmafia #suportartists #shopsmall #standwithsmall https://www.instagram.com/p/B_ZsaX4H1HY/?igshid=1jcgrm84l0ayb

[tinatamale]

So much beautiful art at @mercadolatinx @e14gallery, I just had to purchase! #pandulce @onceuponacharm_ @thedesigningchica @luna_tion #oakland #OldOakland #oakmyhometown #suportartists (at E14 Gallery)

[samybabytattoo]

I stumbled across @janicewuartist a few weeks ago and haven't stoped thinking about this piece. If you like it too then check out her work it's very dreamy. #supportfellowartists #suportartists #supportart 🌹 Kiu Shum 2014 18” x 24” Pencil & gouache on paper (at Fitzroy, Victoria)

[gallerygirlnottingham-blog]

Bottom line...use it or loose it!

I keep noting down blog ideas and important subjects to talk about so that I don’t run out of topics to talk about or things to say that matter to me. I will write them on post its and stick them on the wall and then when I am in need of inspiration I will grab one and quite possibly write a load of nonsense down about it.

But this week however....this week was an easy one. I opened an email the other day from a friend who said that their business will sadly be closing after ten wonderful years of trading. This business is well known, eclectic, inspiring and down right wonderful in every way which is deeply concerning when you are on the outside looking in. “If they can’t make it then what about the rest of us”? Now obviously there were other factors contributing to this but the long and short of it is they are closing and we will loose yet another amazing independent shop that will be sorely missed. I am constantly amazed how small indie businesses are still going in this climate, and even more so when I am one of them. Times are hard, customers not always frequent and sales can be dire on some days..........but that’s the nature of the beast. We are up against giants of industry in the city centres such as John Lewis who claim they sell individual pieces yet have thousands of stores and a mark up on products to make you cry. Then when we try to adapt and become more media savvy we have huge corporations such as Amazon and then they are even trying to take a slice of our little pie by doing an artisan range. Luckily most artists I know haven’t fallen for their little rouse and have stuck with NOTHS or Etsy but even then they get bit in the arse with high commission on top of sign up fees and what not. The artists and small businesses just can not compete. 

On the reverse of this is the customer base. The few loyal customers businesses have get older and their abodes fill up with no more room for lovely things or they have to downsize. Then the areas you try to advertise are full of students who would in all honesty love to own your stock but cant afford it and no where to put it in halls. Then you have the happen ac-crosser’s which are shocked to find us even though we’ve been here over 45 years. Some return, some don’t. And lastly the ones who actually complain when a shop closes but have never set foot in it and scream that the high street is going down hill. At least the others have been in and bought something. 

My logic when I visit friends shops and galleries is to try and buy something, it may not be a lot but every sale counts to them, puts food on their table and keeps them open one more day to ride the storm. I can’t do it every time and they don’t expect it every time but I try. I have shopped in the store that is closing and love it, it made my street better and to see it go just enrages me that people did not support it more. 

Yes as a business we have rent, rates, wages, stock, tax, fees, bills and other overheads and no we do expect to have all our customers acknowledge this and we do not blame those who support us but do not be the ones who whinge about there being no cool unusual shops to visit when they didn’t support the ones who were there. You can not have it both ways and have the interesting shops around without being willing to spend in them, it doesn’t work that way.

I have friends and family that have never even set foot in my shop. I’ve been here day in day out slogging my guts out doing something I love for pittance to make it work and very few have been to see me. Not many of them own businesses so maybe that’s the issue, there is less understanding and perhaps if they did own shops I would visit them and visa versa but it hurts. They are meant to be the best clients, the ones who will come buy from you for loyalty and go nowhere else but still nothing. This is not meant to be a rant at them at all but I’m not going to lie it still smarts. When I made my jewellery my mum was always getting stuff form me and luckily she still does from here, half their house is full of delightful pieces of glassware, mirrors and artwork. So why is it so hard for others to support?

The bottom line is friend, family, acquaintance, shopper, visitor or happen ac-crosser, you must shop and spend in these places or they will vanish. You will be left with hollow online stores that you may get a bargain but will be shipped in from abroad and wont last as long and more importantly you wont be supporting your own country and the artists and economy within it. 

Like I said, you can not have it both ways.