What mindset shift do I need to make about my art business to be more successful?

The fundamental shift is this: change your thinking and you change your business. Stop making assumptions about what you think customers want, what price points they’ll accept, what quality they demand, or what media types they prefer. You’re not smarter than your customers—let them tell you what they want by offering choices. Understand you’re playing the long game, building relationships over years, not just making quick sales. Stop thinking of affordable items as ‘cheap’ or beneath you, and start seeing them as powerful marketing tools that keep you top of mind. Think of yourself as running a real business, not a hobby, which means being strategic about price point variation, merchandising, having samples, and being able to professionally present and discuss your work. Replace ego and assumptions with data—offer the full range and see what actually sells. Most importantly, recognize that getting your art into someone’s home at any price point is valuable because it builds a relationship that can grow over time.

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Asked by artists seeking business growth · Answered by Patrick Shanahan · art-marketing-podcast · 2021-10-20