Why should I get physical samples of different print types?

You don’t sell JPEGs — you sell three-dimensional products that hang on walls. Your customers aren’t experts on canvas vs. metal vs. acrylic vs. wood prints. It’s your job to educate them. Think of it this way: if you were hired to sell knives door-to-door, would you bring pictures of knives or actual knives? Pictures require you to be an exceptional salesperson. Actual products make the sale much easier. Every artist should have a sample stack of the main media types — paper, canvas, metal, acrylic, and wood — that costs around $200-250. These samples should go everywhere with you: in your car, on trips, to deliveries. You need to be able to show people what a metal print looks like versus acrylic, explain why they’re great in bathrooms, which ones need frames, and articulate all the nuances of what you’re selling. This is essential for educating customers and making sales.

---

Asked by an artist asking about print samples · Answered by Patrick · Art Business Webinar · 2026-08-05