Should I include non-wall art items like mugs, greeting cards, or merchandise in my product lineup?

Yes, absolutely. Non-wall art is an important part of your business. Art is a friction-filled purchase—people don’t buy it on a whim. They need to look at it, talk to their partner, measure their wall space, and think about it. If someone experiences your artwork and story and likes you, but they’re not in the market for wall art, it’s very difficult to get a sale. However, when you offer items that can be impulse purchases—greeting cards, photo books, coffee mugs, magnets—you have a much higher chance of acquiring that customer. And remember, customer acquisition is everything. There’s a reason every museum has a gift shop, and it doesn’t make anyone think less of the art. Successful artists understand this: one artist turns each image into 229 different products; another turns each image into 189 products. They understand that acquiring customers at any price point is the key to building a sustainable business.

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Asked by general audience · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-08-17