So, you’ve made some really cool work—maybe it’s jewelry, pottery, paintings, clothing, whatever. You’re creative, you’re local, and you’ve started dipping your toes into markets: Granville Island, Commercial Drive, flea markets, music festivals, all of it. But now you’re thinking: How do I get into actual stores? Into galleries? Onto boutique shelves?
The answer, my friend, is presentation. And I don’t mean showing up in a blazer with a LinkedIn smile and a box of samples. I’m talking about operational presentation—the behind-the-scenes prep that makes you look like you’ve got your act together, whether you actually do or not.
You’re Not Just Selling Art—You’re Selling Ease
Let’s say you’re a jeweler. You can’t just show up with a tray of pendants. The shop owner isn’t going to string chains, box up orders, and write out care instructions for you. That’s on you. Your piece should arrive complete—pendant on chain, in a box, with a cute little card that says something like “handmade with love.” Boom. Done. Ready to sell.
Make pottery? Tape a note to the bottom that says “dishwasher safe” or “hand-wash only.” Make wall art? Put a wire on the back and include a tiny baggy with a screw and anchor—like IKEA, but artsier. Because people want convenience. Not just the end customer, but the shop owner too. And if you show up with pieces that require more work from them? They’ll smile politely and say “we’ll think about it.” Spoiler alert: they won’t.
These store owners are juggling staff squabbles, invoices, supply runs, and broken hot water tanks. If your work looks like one more problem to solve, you’re out.
Make the “Yes” Easy
Professionalism here means legwork. It means:
- A printed catalog or pamphlet that funnels them to your website (learn that word—funnel—it’s your new best friend).
- Pricing that’s clear, consistent, and fair.
- Items barcoded or tagged.
- Packaging handled.
- Info cards ready to go.
Even better? If your work is the type that needs a bit of education (think: handmade jewelry that shouldn’t be cleaned with bleach), include that too. I created a blog on my jewelry website called How to Clean Your Jewelry and now I just give stores a QR code that links to it. No bloated paper booklets, no guesswork. Just scan and learn.
You’re not just creating a product; you’re building an ecosystem around it.
Give Them Tools to Sell For You
I once brought a full jewelry display into a shop—neck stands, earring risers, everything. All they had to do was place it on a shelf. Every piece was labeled. Prices were printed. I even provided a cleaning cloth with every sale. It’s retail on autopilot.
And here’s the kicker: when store owners do buy from you (not consignment—more on that in another post), you must give them a clear invoice. Don’t just say “10 paintings – $2,000.” You’ll get a call six months later like, “Hey, how much was the one with the blue horse again?”
Break it down. Title. Size. Medium. Price. That’s what real businesses do. Use proper invoicing software. It makes you look pro because you are pro.
Think Like a Lawyer (Weird, But Stay With Me)
Imagine a lawyer prepping for court. They don’t just show up with their argument—they come prepared with counters for every possible rebuttal. They’ve printed every form, tabbed every binder, and brought five different pens just in case. That’s what you need to do.
You’re walking into a store like it’s a pitch meeting. Be ready with answers. Have supporting documents, care guides, reordering info, digital assets, even little printouts with thumbnails of your work. That way, when someone says “Do you have this in blue?” you’re not fumbling through your photos—you’re flipping to page 3 of your catalog and saying, “Right here.”
When you come in prepared, it shows. And the better prepared you are, the fewer stores you’ll need to visit. You’re going to do the work no matter what. Either you scramble through 50 stores hoping one says yes, or you put in the effort upfront—so that one in five says yes.
So: do the work once. Do it well. And let your professionalism speak louder than any pitch.