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Turning Art Prints into Art Business: A Complete Guide
There’s an old saying that goes something like, ‘if your job involves doing what you’re passionate about, you’ll never have to work another day in your life’. With the advent of eCommerce, and in particular seller platforms where anyone can promote their goods to the world, your custom art prints can now help you generate substantial income.
There's a significant opportunity for artists and creators in the eCommerce space. Selling wall prints online can be a viable and even life-changing venture if approached with the right mindset and tools. The concept of a 'side-hustle' has gained popularity, but what if you're looking to make a more substantial income from your art prints? By combining passion with a strategic approach, you can effectively promote your art and reach a global audience.
Key elements include choosing the right eCommerce platform, which offers features tailored to your needs, such as customisable storefronts, secure payment processing, and efficient shipping options. Additionally, leveraging social media and other online marketing tools can help increase visibility and customer engagement.
Remember, every successful business starts with a well-thought-out plan, so take the time to research, strategise, and execute your online art print business with dedication and enthusiasm. Let’s break things down for some clear guidance.
The Importance of Selling Online
Every person on the planet can now sell both digital and practical goods online. The beauty of this is that we all have a chance to show the world our creativity. Focusing here specifically on art prints, it’s worth noting the importance of high-quality materials right from the start. After all, your art is important and personal to you, it must be presented accordingly – you wouldn’t drink the finest champagne from a plastic cup, so your artwork should be adorned with the finest materials.
You’re not going to believe this, but we can assist you here! Our website is an absolute wealth of the finest print products around. More on this later, but first, let’s look at where your target market is.
Where Can I Sell?
There is a wealth of places you can sell your wall art prints and more on, but we’re going to stick to the most popular players in the industry here.
The following platforms will give you a huge amount of reach as well as tracking tools so that you can monitor your sales. This is hugely important when it comes to marketing strategies.
Etsy
Etsy is an American e-commerce platform that focuses on handmade, vintage, and craft supplies. It’s a vibrant marketplace where independent sellers offer a wide range of items, including jewellery, bags, clothing, home decor, art, and more. Whether you’re looking for personalized gifts, unique home decor, or one-of-a-kind accessories, Etsy has everything, and it’s our number-one recommendation for selling your art prints. Let’s look at how you get started on Etsy.
As you can see, getting started is a doddle, and after your initial one-time-only fee of £11, listing your art prints is a very cheap way of getting your artistic talent out into the world. Etsy is without a doubt one of the easiest and most user-friendly places to start selling your art. It’s well-established, trustworthy and secure. However, there are other places that you might want to consider.
Amazon Handmade
Amazon Handmade is an artisan-only community where artists and crafters like you can sell handcrafted products to customers worldwide.
Launched in 2015, it provides a trusted destination for handmade goods, with artisans from over eighty countries participating.
The platform offers a wide range of categories, including jewellery, home decor, clothing, and more. If you’re an artisan looking to reach a broader audience, Amazon Handmade is a great platform to consider!
If you already have an Amazon account, you can use that to easily set up a seller account. But be aware that Amazon will charge you £25 a month to sell on their platform.
What you get for that though is no additional listing fees and a chance to reach a vast ocean of Amazon buyers.
Redbubble
Redbubble is a global online marketplace for print-on-demand products based on user-submitted artwork. Founded in 2006 in Melbourne, Australia, it also maintains offices in San Francisco and Berlin.
Independent artists from around the world can create shops on Redbubble, offering their designs on over seventy high-quality products, including wall art, t-shirts, phone cases, stickers, and more.
The money goes directly to you, the artists on Redbubble, supporting their creativity. Plus, Redbubble is committed to socially responsible production and invests in programs to offset all carbon emissions.
One thing that Redbubble does for sellers is it offers tiered pricing. So you can start with their free account and work your way up to the professional level once your sales increase.
Going Local
While online sales can provide wide exposure for your art prints, participating in local fairs, markets, and conventions is also worth considering. These events offer a unique opportunity to connect with your target audience face-to-face.
For instance, if you specialise in Japanese art prints, attending a Comicon or Manga convention could be particularly beneficial. Not only could you make substantial sales, but you'd also be creating a memorable unboxing experience for your customers, which can help build brand loyalty.
Another plus point is that these events are excellent networking opportunities. You can learn about other conventions, online platforms, and sales channels that could be beneficial for your business. You can even organise collaborations and work with other artists to form promotions and social media assistance.
Never Underestimate the Power of Marketing
Gone are the days when you could pop an advert for your products in the local paper and sit back waiting for the phone to ring, the marketing methods of today are an entirely different beast. The effort that you put into your marketing strategy will increase your reach and boost sales. So, what is it, and what can you do to sell art prints UK and beyond?
Marketing: the activity or business of promoting and selling products or services, including market research and advertising
The competitive space for art pictures is very saturated so your marketing can help you distinguish yourself from others. It goes without saying that you should make use of visual social media platforms, with Instagram being the strongest for showing off your abstract art prints and beyond. What makes Instagram the paramount platform is the ability to create both still and short form video presentations, allowing you as an artist to not only show off your talents but to highlight your personality or mysticism!
Another well-established platform to consider is DeviantArt. Unlike Instagram, DeviantArt is solely aimed towards displaying digital art, but with the ability to buy physical prints. The community is vast and friendly and it’s a super-quick way to get your art prints noticed.
Goods Done Better
This is the bit where we talk about making your product the best they can be! So, you’ve created a superb piece of art, and you have people wanting to purchase it. Quality is key to repeat custom and recommendations, so it’s wise that you select materials that you can be just as proud of as your art. Look at some of the many paper stocks that you have access to that will help make your print pop! We also offer duplex printing which means that your art prints can be printed on to very thick stock ensuring it will last a lifetime. You might want to make elements of your art print shine, and this is where our large range of foil colours can add some extra pizzaz to your artwork.
Lamination is another key factor to consider when printing your artwork. Do you go for a gloss finish to enhance shine, or would you prefer a soft touch laminate that keeps any potential fingerprints at bay? Maybe if your art print is conveying an eco-friendly message, you may wish to opt to use recycled paper with no finish and let the buyer decide if it should be mounted and contained.
Consider Framing Options
When you frame your art prints for wall mounting, you add value to your product, making it more attractive to customers. This approach can help you reach a wider audience, such as those who prefer a ready-to-hang piece or those looking for a more premium product.
Additionally, offering framing or mounting services allows you to increase your prices, generating higher profit margins without significantly impacting your production costs. This is especially beneficial for high-quality or limited-edition prints.
By providing a complete solution, you simplify the buying process for your customers, making it more likely they'll purchase from you instead of seeking out a separate framing service. This convenience can lead to positive reviews, repeat business, and referrals, further fuelling your growth.
Proper Packaging Prevents Perforation
When you’ve gone to so much effort, and invested in the best materials, the next thing to consider is your packaging. Whilst the primary function of packaging is to protect the contents within, it’s also another chance for you to make an impression on your customers. Once your artwork is securely packed (with ample padding, ideally using recyclable materials), the next step is to get creative. This is where bespoke stickers come into play. By adding unique, custom-designed stickers to the outside of your box or envelope, you can create a memorable experience for the recipient.
If you want to go one stage further, you could arrange to have your packaging custom-printed which will make all your deliveries instantly recognisable. We offer everything from simple sleeves through to fully custom shapes such as tray, pillow, window, drawer, box with lid, sleeve, pouch, triangular, and hexagonal, so you’ll be sure to find the perfect vessel for your art prints with us.
Finally, it’s important that you consider package inserts. This can be anything from a small card to a quirky flyer that conveys a message of thanks to your customer. It’s also great room for advertising your socials and online sales portals. You could include a simple QR code to take customers directly to a website or even offer a discount for repeat customers.
Ultimately, packaging isn’t just functional—it’s an extension of your brand and an opportunity to connect with your audience. So go ahead and get creative!
Taking The First Step
Embracing online selling can be a rewarding journey. Many individuals have transformed hobbies into thriving businesses through platforms like Etsy. To start, create your online store, design eye-catching social media profiles, and develop promotional materials. Remember, every step, no matter how small, counts as progress. As you dive in, consider using custom packaging to make a lasting impression.
Our customers have shared numerous success stories, many achieving full-time incomes from their initial hobby. With dedication and the right tools, you can create a unique and successful online presence. Let us help you make your art prints the absolute best they can be and create custom packaging that truly reflects your brand and enhances your customer's unboxing experience.
