Display of images in gallery / shop

Stuart Mc

Stuart Mc

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Stuart McGlennon
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Hope someone can give me some advice:

Was recently approached by a local framer if I wanted to display some of my images in his shop (shop also is part art gallery), initially I'd only gone in to get a couple framed for personal use, however I do from time to time sell prints privately.

I've no idea what his consumable costs are (frames are bespoke, appear to be on MDF) however I was offered £18 per A3+ print sold. This is obviously after all his costs are totted up.

He said I should be selling them privately after his framing has been done at no less than £110.

I guess my question is, is £18 per image a reasonable cut for myself?

I'll be interested in feedback from others with experience in this area as this is my first potential venture into this area and don't want to get taken advantage of!

Cheers
 
If they are being printed, mounted and framed at no cost to you, the framer is getting £92 for that plus his commission. I buy ready made MDF frames for less than £20 each, mats perhaps £5, actual A3 print costs me about £3 - framer is getting £65 commission to your £18!
 
john.margetts said:
If they are being printed, mounted and framed at no cost to you, the framer is getting £92 for that plus his commission. I buy ready made MDF frames for less than £20 each, mats perhaps £5, actual A3 print costs me about £3 - framer is getting £65 commission to your £18!
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Yep, I thought this seemed a bit lop-sided! Thanks for responding.

To be clear I print the image on my consumables so there's a cost to me for this (haven't worked this out but I'm guessing similar to yours for an A3) but yes the rest is at the framer's cost.

I'm not sure how you (the artist) quantify the cost of having it on display in an art gallery free of charge? I've agreed nothing yet so I've not lost anything, but £65 commission for a guy to stick a frame on (and I'm not knocking him as the frames are very good) but surely the image is the most attractive thing in what the consumer is buying?

Just wanted to know if this ball park figure is normal / out of the ordinary in other people's experiences?
 
Stuart Mc said:
I'm not sure how you (the artist) quantify the cost of having it on display in an art gallery free of charge? I've agreed nothing yet so I've not lost anything, but £65 commission for a guy to stick a frame on (and I'm not knocking him as the frames are very good) but surely the image is the most attractive thing in what the consumer is buying?

Just wanted to know if this ball park figure is normal / out of the ordinary in other people's experiences?
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Usually, the cost of displaying in gallery is the commission - up to 50% in this part of the world with the artist bearing all the production costs. 20% to 30% is more common.
 
I see no one mentioned the shop owners Overheads, get your pics in his window and wait for the cheque.;) maybe a logo or something to tell people who you are. jmho.
 
Stuart Mc said:
Yeah I was aware of his overheads which he mentioned when we discussed prices initially, so you think what he's offering is reasonable?
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surely some income compared with no income is a win? it gets your images on the high street or wherever his shop/gallery is and brings in some funds.you could of course ask for more and see what he says.
 
dinorock said:
surely some income compared with no income is a win? it gets your images on the high street or wherever his shop/gallery is and brings in some funds.you could of course ask for more and see what he says.
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I think I may give him a couple initially on a trial run and see how they do. I'm not desperate for the income just didn't want to have the mick took out of me on the price. All told I'm probably losing about £20 per A3+ print sold and framed in his shop versus what I could get selling private having got him to frame and then give back to me. However there's a higher chance of them selling in a shop rather than me having to promote and flog them myself.
 
Stuart Mc said:
I think I may give him a couple initially on a trial run and see how they do. I'm not desperate for the income just didn't want to have the mick took out of me on the price. All told I'm probably losing about £20 per A3+ print sold and framed in his shop versus what I could get selling private having got him to frame and then give back to me. However there's a higher chance of them selling in a shop rather than me having to promote and flog them myself.
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And how much do you reckon your time and selling space are worth to sell a framed print? See if you can get him up a bit - I reckon £25 is probably about right and should see you with about £20 profit per sale - better than a slap around the face with a wet kipper!
 
Nod said:
And how much do you reckon your time and selling space are worth to sell a framed print? See if you can get him up a bit - I reckon £25 is probably about right and should see you with about £20 profit per sale - better than a slap around the face with a wet kipper!
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Yeah I think £25 is nearer the mark. He used a few images as examples of what those guys receive for there's and without wanting to sound disrespectful to them (from a landscapers point of view) they were pretty poor. Certainly nothing I would pay for anyway. I guess he may come from the angle of quality is irrelevant in my eyes if they sell, but at the same time I don't want to devalue what I'm doing. If that is the rate for photographer xxxx and I feel my image is of a higher quality then I think I'm entitled to ask for a higher rate I think.
 
dinorock said:
surely some income compared with no income is a win? it gets your images on the high street or wherever his shop/gallery is and brings in some funds.you could of course ask for more and see what he says.
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If your employer tried that - offered you 20% of your current salary on the basis of it's better than no income . . .
 
john.margetts said:
If your employer tried that - offered you 20% of your current salary on the basis of it's better than no income . . .
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wow have you been to my company lately. THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO LOL. not allowed to name them its against company rules. actually its 20% off my current salary.:mad::mad::mad:
 
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Stuart Mc said:
Yeah I was aware of his overheads which he mentioned when we discussed prices initially, so you think what he's offering is reasonable?
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No it is not reasonable. The usual way to sell prints through an outlet would be via sale or return. As others have said 20-50% commission (to the gallery) with 30% being the norm. You might occasionally see 50% + VAT in some places, however I must admit, I would not accept that personally unless there was a clear record of effective sales.

What I would suggest is set your price per print based on the above and agree a commission rate (advise not more than 30% to the gallery realistically). What he then charges on top for framing is up to him. Make sure you keep a consignment list (which they should sign on delivery) of everything you send to him and keep an eye on what is going on with them. I have seen many times galleries that "forget" to report sales that have been made.
 
PPPPP said:
No it is not reasonable. The usual way to sell prints through an outlet would be via sale or return. As others have said 20-50% commission (to the gallery) with 30% being the norm. You might occasionally see 50% + VAT in some places, however I must admit, I would not accept that personally unless there was a clear record of effective sales.

What I would suggest is set your price per print based on the above and agree a commission rate (advise not more than 30% to the gallery realistically). What he then charges on top for framing is up to him. Make sure you keep a consignment list (which they should sign on delivery) of everything you send to him and keep an eye on what is going on with them. I have seen many times galleries that "forget" to report sales that have been made.
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Thanks very much for that much appreciated. I'll update this and let you know what agreement I come to with him
 
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