Artisans in the Hills

How effective is your communication style with potential buyers?

2011-05-05T18:57:00.002+01:00

Artists & Makers, but open to all

This online research questionnaire will take only a couple of minutes to complete and you get an instant result for yourself. What is your preferred communication style? How do you communicate? This questionnaire is design to help people identify how they communicate. It categories people into 4 board types.

Working with artists & designer-makers I am have become fascinated how each person’s style of communicating impacts on their customer relationships, and online conversations and consequently business success.

I was then introduced to the iMA profile questionnaire.

This short questionnaire. You will be given valuable insight about yourself and introduced to an exciting new universal language called iMA that is a fast, simple and easy way you communicate and create chemistry with everyone you meet.

Once completed can you email me julia@juliapitkin.co.uk or leave a comment on the blog and tell me...

1. Your iMA communication style
2. The type of art work you do.
3. Did you find this interesting?
4. Would you like to know how to use it in your business?

I will post the results to see if Artists & Makers as a group have a common style.
Many thanks for your help. I look forward to hearing from you. Click here for the questionaire and follow James Knight's instructions.

Kind regards,
http://www.juliapitkin.co.uk/
Performance & Social Media Coach for Creative PeopleJulia

A Step by Step Guide to Help Establish Your Online Personal Brand.

2011-03-31T14:08:00.000+01:00

If you want to develop your personal brand and therefore grow a brand equity or social capital you must associated a name with a personality and expertise. My brand Julia Pitkin helps me to build awareness, be visible and contactable, share experiences and knowledge. Remember we do business with people they like. A brand of you is portable, which you can build without it being about ego and cannot be copied by anyone.

The Ground Work.

Develop a personal brand with a sound message. This is how people get to know you, like you, follow you, and want to work with you.
Develop your business website - this is the place you will create the desire to buy.
Register yourname.com (future success)
Identify 5 key areas in which you are an expert and your skills are special.
Create a ‘Personal Learning Network’ and follow people who feed your expertise in these areas.
Identity 5 social media platforms that you reach and support the people you want to respond. Perhaps start with Twitter and every two weeks add another platform.
Find an online community and group(s) where your target clients hangout, listen and blog within the community answering their needs.
Find an area in your strategy that is weak and strengthen it each week.
Know how to use the social media tools and streamline the incoming information to save time.

Once all of the above is in place, do the following routinely:

Write 1 x blog per month on your website sharing rich content therefore developing your personal brand and business.
Write 1 x blog per month on a piece of work, service or product with its benefits to others.
Follow up comments on your blogs every day and follow those people.
Follow up conversations with followers who use your name as a @mention and Re-tweet (RT) and Direct Messages (DM).
Write a comment on someone’s blog at least once a week and follow up the response.
Share some part of you expertise once a day on one of your social media platforms and follow up the response.
Contribute to conversation on twitter a minimum of 5 each day.

Once you have mastered the above routine watch your Klout and PeerIndex scores start to climb, and your telephone will start to ring more often.

I know you are saying, "I just haven’t got the time." Just compare the time you spend and what this is worth to the cost of one static advert in one publication for one month.

Tell me what works for you?

Julia Pitkin,

Social Media Coach for Artists, Designers and Makers

Promoting and supporting the creative enterprise

julia@artisansinthehills..co.uk

http://www.artistansinthehills.co.uk/ online gallery space for the UK Crafter

http://www.juliapitkin.co.uk/ online gallery space for British Contemporary Art and Craft

7 Top Tips for Getting your Art and Craft Work Noticed Online

2011-02-14T15:23:00.000Z

7 top tips for getting your work noticed online

Artisans in the Hills' top tips on using the internet to promote your art work

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is the big buzz word and key to getting your website noticed by Google and other similar companies. Below are our 7 tips for getting you noticed and hopefully on page one in the search engine results.

1. Keywords: These are the search words used by your potential customers to find you. Once you have identified these, make sure you include them in your website content and coded area. Type Keyword Tool Google AdWords into Google and search for your words and phrases.

2. Content: Create pages focused on specific, relevant, niche topics so that search engines have an even greater chance of finding you and your type of work.

3. Tag images: Google not only looks at the text on your blog in order to measure its worth but that Google also take a look at the code and tags in your image files, do some research and choose them carefully.

4. Updates: Search Engines like websites whose content is constantly updated and refreshed, this can mean on a weekly basis.

5. Links: Increase the number of links to your websites, the more links to your website, the more important and interesting the Search Engines think you are. Links into a website from .ac, .gov and .org websites are especially liked by search engines.

6. Blog: A website with an active blog drives 55% more traffic than those without.

7. Social Media: Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn are great tools for raising awareness of your website and driving traffic to it.

At Artisans in the Hills, we constantly work to develop our website to rank highly among the top Search Engines. Our aim is to give artists like you the ideal tool to promote your work to the online market. Why should you spend your precious time trying to increase traffic to your website and worrying about how people are going to find you, when we can do it for you? Giving you time to do what you do best, creating beautiful things!

· We have on average 60,000 hits per month to the Artisans in the Hills website who will potentially view your work.

· A collective website like www.artisans-in-the-hills.co.uk will gain a better ranking over smaller individual websites.

· www.artisans-in-the-hills.co.uk now has around 50 galleries full of images and text which get regularly updated by all the web gallery members.

· We include links out to all our designer-makers’ individual websites, also boosting the SEO of theses websites.

· All our UK designer-makers’ individual web galleries on Artisans in the Hills are equipped with social media widgets so they can keep their network of friends, followers and potential buyers up to date with their latest work and news by the press of a button .

· We spend time each day developing relationships through the social media networks so more potential buyers have the chance to find your work.

· We spend the income from web gallery subscriptions on regional PR and traditional offline marketing, something many small creative businesses just can’t afford. Last month our PR generated an increase of 33% in new visitors to the website, which means these visitors then see your work.

Let me know whether this was helpful?

Artisans In The Hills: The on-line gallery for buying, commissioning and selling original art, crafts, designs, handmade work and restored items for people looking for something different and imaginative for home, office and garden.

· For more information on Artisans In The Hills, please call Julia on 01584 818074 or email julia@artisansinthehills.co.uk

5 tips in how to change your mindset from ‘selling’ to ‘publicising’ your Art and Craft work

2011-01-04T13:17:00.003Z

A summary of your comments to our blog “I want to know what stops designer-maker following up leads?” http://artisansinthehills.blogspot.com/2010_11_01_archive.html

Most creative business people start out as technicians who strive to maintain a creative well-being but necessity means they also need to learn the art of creating financial wealth. They are Artisans first and business people second and very few have been professionally trained in how to run a business. Erika Price, jewellery maker, commented on the blog that “5% of her time is creativity and 95% marketing” and many crafts people find this daunting. As a result the artisan focuses back on the one thing they feel certain they know how to do well which is their creative work, the comfort zone and building a business gets over-looked.

To be a creative entrepreneur, you must move beyond your comfort zone and learn how to think strategically about your business. It is sometimes hard to recognise genuine interest from a visitor. There are always those people who will leave you feeling bewildered and de-motivated with their rudeness and lack of understanding of your talents, but please don’t let these people put you off producing your unique hand-crafted items for other people to enjoy.

Artisans are able to run great businesses and here are a few tips to help you start that journey out of your “comfort zone”

1. Imagine that you are publicising rather than selling; you are simply offering a choice to people. Concentrate on getting people to know you, like you and follow you. Remember it is a two way relationship, so get to know them, like them and follow them. You will soon have loads of friends you are sharing your work with –all potential customers.

2. Always take contact details from people who visit your studio, website, exhibition or fair and follow-up. Statistics suggest:

2% of sales are made from the first contact, 3% from the second, 5% from the third , 10% from the fourth, and 80% of sales between the fifth and twelfth contact*. The contact being a website, email, fair, brochure, open studio etc. You may need to kiss a few frogs before you find a prince; its a numbers game.

3.Perhaps we need to educate customers that Artisans are not a production line, but a bespoke service offering them something unique and stylish. You need to build this message into your brand and reputation.

4. Focus your time and energy to learn about the visitors who are positive about your work, not the ones who let you down. Did you know, it costs your business five times more to find a new customer than looking after existing customers?

5. Keep the passion for your work, take the emotion out of the business element and develop a step by step process, but always love your customers, and value your talents.

Artisans-In-The-Hills are dedicated to supporting and promoting Artisans from around the UK. If you need any further help or advice to help your business, please call Julia on 01584 818074 or visit our website www.artisansinthehills.co.uk

Have an inspiring and creative New Year everyone!

* Based on figures from Chris Cardell a leading expert on the UK entrepreneur and businesses success.

Find original and imaginative ceramics, fine art, sculpture, glass, metalwork, textiles and jewellery from the comfort of your own home

2010-12-02T00:36:00.001Z

02 December an on-line arts and crafts gallery has been launched showcasing imaginative and original artwork, and crafted work.

Based South Shropshire, Artisans in the Hills, http://www.artisans-in-the-hills.co.uk/, is a collection of artisans’ online web galleries where you can find, contact and buy direct from a range of UK designer-makers. Whilst many of the artisans are Shropshire and Herefordshire based the collection is country-wide, selling original art in ceramics, fine art, photography, sculpture, glass, metalwork, textiles, jewellery and more.

Julia Pitkin, founder, said: “We want to celebrate and encourage the wonderful talents and skills of the artisan and maker. Many people are searching for outstanding artwork, hand crafted, made or restored items but cannot always find the artisans easily. Our website is offering inspiration for every home, garden and office; it’s a place to buy a special gift. We are committed to original and ethical UK designer-makers.”

The new website brings widespread artisans to customers in the comfort of their own home or office. Whether looking for a personal or business gift, or a unique installation for the garden, there is plenty to suit all budgets from as little as £10 to £5,000 and more.

Sarah Roberts, Growth Business Development Advisor, for Woman in Rural Enterprise (WiRE) added: “We believe that Artisans in the Hills is going to be a real success and bring prosperity to the small and often remote rural

businesses, and the creative entrepreneurs who by their talents and diversity provide us with choice and unique products and services.”

For people who prefer to touch and feel the artwork, Artisans in the Hills will also act as a tourism guide, helping visitors create their own regional art trails, view open studios, forthcoming fairs, exhibitions and enjoy creative workshops.

I want to know what stops the designer-maker in business following up leads.

2010-11-22T22:53:00.001Z

I did a little test last week whilst visiting the Country Living Fair at Islington London. I was a serious buyer with Christmas looming, two children’s birthday at the end of the month and a bedroom to decorate. I left contact details for orders and not one designer-maker has followed up. I am disappointed and amazed that these business people rely on me, the customer to make the effort to find their card and re-establish a connection.

My businesses is marketing a collection of designer-makers’ web-galleries promoting and connecting them and their work to people who love beautiful things. Wonderful talented people – but poor, no wonder!
I would like to know what stops you, the creative person collecting business cards and emails of people who actively show an interest in your product, and then following them up?

Is it time, embarrassment, shyness, laziness, fear of success, just not needing the businesses badly enough, its beaneath them, or lacking knowledge on marketing?

Please tell me I would like to know? author Julia Pitkin

Tales from a Photographer's Eye

2010-09-26T21:00:00.003+01:00

If you visit TnT Photoart today, you will be in for a big surprise!

Tracey Swain - creator of TnT Photoart – does not only display her superb skill in photography, graphic design and printing but her great imagination and talent for story telling! When Tracey takes a picture, she seems to see beyond a simple image of a woodland or an old building, (although often beautiful images in their own right), and takes them on to another level.

Take a look at Tracey’s photographic art works entitled ‘Clunton Coppice’ and 'Fairytale Steps' - they are more than images captured in a moment of time – they are a glimpse into another world; sometimes romantic and sometimes verging on the macabre. They appeal to the childhood senses of the magic and surrealism of fairytales – there could be a ‘fairy glen’ beyond the stumps and foliage of the wood – or maybe there is a troll standing in the shadows of the stairway of the old house.

Tracey’s professional abilities in Apple Mac artwork have extended to the accomplished productions of charity posters, brochures, book covers, business cards and corporate branding and advertising.

TnT Photoart has a featured gallery now on http://www.artisansinthehills.co.uk/

Or visit http://www.tnt-photoart.co.uk/ author Beverley Robinson

http://www.artisansinthehills.co.uk

Bags of Style

2010-07-18T22:31:00.002+01:00

http://www.artisansinthehills.co.uk/

If you are looking for a useful and versatile bag for shopping, swimming or even a picnic – which has oodles of style - check out Dish Dash Bags, featured on our own Artisans in the Hills Directory.

Each bag is a quality, hand made item, featuring two patch pockets and a side pocket designed for water bottles. The cloth comes in various, subtle or bold patterns – ranging from a traditional country style of pastels and flowers to a nautical theme, (great as a more glamorous beach bag!). I like the muted colours the creator uses in her fabrics; such as- subtle browns and Duck egg blues.

My particular favourite is this sophisticated, oil cloth bag shown here, with the Sanderson Dandelion print and finished off with a turquoise lining. Each bag can be ordered with either a handbag or shoulder bag preference. The large polka dot bags could be ideal as nappy bags!

Look out for their Herbal flower arrangements – a charming, innovative present for a friend or family member. They provide an attractive combination of seasonal flowers and herbs – specially chosen for their properties and ancient meanings – whether it is to sooth or up lift. What a lovely idea!
Author Beverley Robinson

It’s coming up “Hearts and Roses” in vintage style, at Tilly Rose!

2010-06-07T09:01:00.002+01:00

http://www.artisansinthehills.co.uk/

Summer has arrived and the flowers are coming into bloom! The Millie Rose I purchased from the Gardeners World Live Exhibition last year is now beginning to bud. The expectation of its pale pink, delicate petals and magnificent fragrance is enormous; especially for a novice like me. The English rose – the epitome of femininity, delicacy and romance!

If you are thinking of bringing a touch of romance into your life or the life of a loved one, then check out Tilly Rose handmade shabby chic & vintage gifts

Tilly Rose specialise in handmade, personalised and unique gifts. Each “treasure” is specially made with the best quality vintage and contemporary materials. The combination of using mixed, patterned materials, (such as gingham, stripe and floral), alongside each other, with ribbons and buttons, give her designs a shabby chic feel; following a reoccurring theme of hearts and roses.

For a good, old fashioned, British tea party this year, why not conjure up a traditional, country fete atmosphere, in your own back garden? The vintage style, fabric bunting created by Tilly Rose, will brighten up any shed and fencing!

The fabric clothes hangers are just too pretty to hide away in a closet; instead, compliment a plain hallway by displaying on coat hooks, provided for guests. Hang a favourite dress on the back of a bedroom or dressing room door; make it an “accidental” piece of wall art!

If you are looking for a bespoke gift for a friend or relative to compliment their special day; Tilly Rose provides original ideas for a Birthday, Wedding or New Arrival. Or, maybe you want to treat yourself? Tempting!

Enjoy!

Time for Tea?

2010-05-26T18:32:00.000+01:00

Thank goodness the warm weather has arrived! What a great way to spend an hour or two; in your local tea room garden, milling over a light lunch or a traditional cup of tea and slice of cake.

If you are passing through Mid Sussex and its “time for tea”, look out for Cafe Murano in the High Street, Hurstpierpoint. If you are anything like me, when you fancy a coffee and a” little something” it is more than needing a drink and food; it is about requiring a whole experience.

Cafe Murano is a small but, ideal meeting place for those chats over coffee in the morning, Ladies that Lunch, Business people in their lunch hour and as an after school treat for the kids. They even bring lunch to you.

As you walk through the door your attention is drawn to the fascinating artifacts that decorate the walls and shelves. These range from vintage bespoke curtains to old earrings you remember your mother wearing when you were a child. The wall hangings include paintings and pastels provided by local artists selling their wares, (I purchased a lovely pastel by Bryony Hill of a male dancer preparing for practice).

Nothing matches; even the tables and chairs are all different. The tables are adorned with vintage style and old Finish design table cloths - a great example of Shabby Chic at its aesthetic best! Tea is served in an antique, dainty bone china cup and saucer. Now I have reached a certain age, I am inclined to agree with my mother; tea tastes better served in bone china.

Try one of their fresh pots of peppermint tea on a hot day, accompanied by a slice of home made Passion Cake, Billionaires slice or Mars Bar Crunch.

Their speciality ciabattas are to die for! I usually have a mixture of two; the Tricolore and the Greek . The first is crammed with slices of mozzarella cheese, basil leaves and avocado pear, whilst the latter is a mixture of olives, hummus and sundried tomatoes; both complimented by a divine side salad. You could go for a traditional British sandwich, generously filled with cheese and pickle or tuna and mayonnaise, to name but a few.

Cafe Murano, 99 High Street, Hurstpierpont, Hassocks, West Sussex

Tel 01273 835344

http://www.artisansinthehills.co.uk

Kate Nelson's project

2010-04-23T15:42:00.001+01:00

Kate is again our featured Artisan . She has now completed the project and it looks beautiful. It now hangs in the clients’ conservatory. Take a look at it more closely and see if yu can spot the small engraved creatures hidden within the foliage.
Take a look at more of her work on Artisans in the Hills

Kate's Glass

2010-03-26T21:22:00.002Z

Introducing Kate Nelson

Kate works in glass. This particular brief was a piece incorporating flowers and nature for an old pine internal door. The golden colour of the door influenced the final colours. the piece is 13" x 14" and contains window glass, bulls eye washers, frits, confetti, dimple glass and stained glass, silver stain, glass paints and engraving, glass blobs, copper foiled and soldered, soldered and leaded.

A week after Kate opened an online web gallery on Artisans in the Hills she received a commission for a piece of work worth £400.
When the piece is finished we will post the images on this blog.

Icicles; Natures Art

2010-01-21T17:34:00.004Z

Photographs sent in by Martin Robinson, Warwickshire

If we look carefully the best architecture and sculpture is all around us, the largest gallery in the world. Please post your outdoor art on this blog.

http://www.artisansinthehills.co.uk/

Sand sculpture

2009-11-18T20:02:00.001Z

Now that beats any sand castles? Please send any outdoor artwork you have found.
Sorry I don't know its origin.

http://www.artisansinthehills.co.uk

Artisans in the Hills: Face Art

2009-11-04T13:42:00.000Z

Artisans in the Hills: Face Art

http://www.artisansinthehills.co.uk

Face Art

2009-11-04T13:37:00.000Z

I decided to bring you outdoor arts, indoors. Tell me what you think of this image, origin unknown.

Julia Pitkin

http://www.artisansinthehills.co.uk/

Artisans in the Hills: Re-cycled sculpture

2009-09-26T23:47:00.000+01:00

Artisans in the Hills: Re-cycled sculpture

http://www.artisansinthehills.co.uk

Re-cycled sculpture

2009-09-26T21:39:00.000+01:00

A real example of recycled artwork! I spotted this whilst running along the Kennet and Avon Canal towards Bradford on Avon from Bath.

Please post any recycled creations you see.

http://www.artisansinthehills.co.uk/

Come join the dance

2009-09-16T09:27:00.000+01:00

I attended the Whitchurch Art Network last night. We had a fruitful discussion on how Art and Crafts engage our communities. Elizabeth Turner (sculptor artist) presented her project on the Mosaic Art Trail created by hundreds of local people, involving all generations.

John Edge and Malcolm introduced the Whitchurch Photographic Society, just take a minute and have a look at their competition gallery on their website, it speaks for itself. http://whitchurchphotographicsociety.org.uk/Whitchurch_Photographic_Society_Comp_Pics.html

Pat Fawcett and Steve Chapman talked passionately on developing a community identity and have set the scene with the Whitchurch Blackberry Fair on Saturday 3rd October, 9am -6pm.
These creative people have the vision and talent, now lets us mortals follow and share their passion!

Understanding the market for original contemporary visual art and craft

2009-09-01T09:30:00.000+01:00

I have just read a piece of research on the market for contemporary visual art in England (Taste Buds Oct 2004, How to cultivate the art market). I learnt some interesting facts, particularly what an insular activity it is. Naively, I thought all artists wanted to sell work but apparently it isn’t the case. Artwork is like no other commodity in that the ultimate desired resting place for an artwork is within a public collection. The dynamic within a large part of the art sector is the aspiration, by artists, for their art to attain a place in museum or gallery collections; art collectors aspire to own pieces that have ‘museum quality’ status. Sales out side this arena to unknown buyers can have a detrimental effect; artists do not want to be seen to have to sell work, or threaten the rarity of the piece.

So where does this leave Artisans in the Hills? Our mission is to find buyers seeking contemporary visual arts and crafts, and to help sustain Artisans’ businesses through sales of work. I guess artists must accommodate markets, the public collection where rarity is necessary, and the general public (unknown buyer) who appreciates art and want to see something of beauty everyday in their homes or offices.
Always looking forward to your comments Julia@artisansinthehills.co.uk

Castle puts on a show with real appeal

2009-07-06T12:28:00.000+01:00

What a lovely idea. A castle would be nice, but if you didn't happen to have a castle, just a place different from the norm, that is 'where you wouldn't expect to see .....' venue. This approach is ideal in areas that attract tourism and adds value to a holiday as well as supporting the talented rural artisan who offers us choice and diversity in items and services. For the selling artisan it avoids some of those high exhibition costs, mark-ups and commissions. I think I'll start the ball rolling ... just watch this space.

Julia Pitkin Artisans in the Hills

The Wax Crayon

2009-06-19T17:51:00.000+01:00

Art can be created using almost any medium. Art is so subjective, being different for each of us.

Watching my 11yr old daughter doodling with her wax crayons, it occurred to me that the crayon is usually the first medium we all use. However, we see few artists exploring this medium. Is this because it is challenging as a medium, being less versatile than some of the more conventional media. I wonder, are the bright colours they produce surreal, or just childish?

I am on a mission to find fearless artists who will take on the challenge of the wax crayon!

I would like to have your comments and discoveries please.

Julia Artisans in the hills

Empty shops become art galleries

2009-06-18T14:34:00.000+01:00

Art in Ludlow is a great idea, and injects colourfulness and energy into a town at a time when business and spirits could be low. Ludlow isn't the first take a look at Plymouth by following the link in the title. It’s amazing how creative expression finds a way of reaching out.
I just love it! Julia http://www.artisansinthehills.co.uk/

Artists and craftspeople in the Shropshire Hills

2009-05-31T07:43:00.000+01:00

Local artisans finding buyers across the world. Come and join our community www.artisansinthehills.co.uk

Art studio in Ledsham lets you brush up on painting skills

2009-05-20T13:25:00.000+01:00

As soon as the courses are published I will be enrolling in an art class. I achieved a low grade at 'A' level many many moons ago and have done nothing since. But I believe its about time I dust off the canvas and brush up those dormant skills.

Follow the link in the title of this blog and be inspired, if not to paint then, open a studio and share your talent with others. Julia Pitkin.

280 Artists taking part in Wylye Valley Art Trail.

2009-05-11T16:34:00.000+01:00

Please follow the link in the title and see the latest news article in the Wiltshire Times on the art trail. This is just the kind of event Artisans in the Hills will host or get involved with. As an Artisan, do you see yourself being part of such an event? Post me and let me know your thoughts and ideas.

A Morning Walk.

2009-05-07T21:19:00.000+01:00

I took the dogs out for a walk first thing this morning and thought how vivid the colours appeared. We are surrounded by colour and most of us take it for granted. We often see what we want to see and not what we are actually seeing.

The colours of Artisans in the hills logo represents the mosaic of winter colours on the Long Mynd, purple heather, red bracken and yellow gorse. Do you like it?

Julia

2009-04-25T12:21:00.000+01:00

Welcome to Artisans in the Hills

Artisans in the Hills is launching in June 2009. It is a collective online gallery of artists, makers and crafters, for buying and selling items skillfully hand crafted, made or restored. It will also include studio tours, events and workshops, rural farm and tea shops and suppliers of artist’s materials.

It is a cost-effective and professional way of marketing the small, remote enterpirse, promoting and encouraging the traditional craftsmanship, skills and creativity that define our British culture today.

If you are an artist, craftsman or produce through your own talent original items, and want to sell your work, email Julia at info@artisansinthehills.co.uk

If you enjoy buying original crafted items, whether it is for a gift or your own home, visit http://www.artisansinthehills.co.uk/