One factor I hear across the floor design neighborhood from well-known educators and artists is the significance of getting a number of streams of revenue. In my floor design journey, having alternative ways to earn an revenue has allowed me to proceed rising my inventive enterprise, Cloth Drawer, and saved issues creatively fulfilling as I bounce between the totally different streams.

Artwork licensing has at all times been a kind of streams, however those that have been within the licensing sport will know that it’s not probably the most dependable supply of labor and revenue. In my expertise, I discover artwork licensing fully unpredictable; it typically appears like a ready sport of being in the proper place, on the proper time, with the proper work. 

However that doesn’t imply you need to simply sit and look forward to an artwork licensing alternative to fall onto your lap. Perseverance, pushing your self to create higher artwork, and probably branching into totally different avenues will get your work on the market so extra alternatives will come your manner. 

So, what’s a technique we can provide our artwork licensing a little bit of a nudge in the proper path, in addition to create one other income stream? Creating your personal product line. 

There are various methods having a variety of merchandise might help develop your artwork licensing. My very first (solo) licensing deal after I had been working with an artwork agent for a couple of years solely occurred as a result of I used to be promoting my merchandise in the identical market as this enterprise, and I requested in the event that they had been concerned with working collectively.

And over time of rising my very own product vary, I’ve been in a position to license my work via the connections created from having merchandise. Whereas I received’t go into the small print of how you can develop a product line, I’ll be sharing how having a product vary might help develop your artwork licensing profession.

Earlier than you begin speeding off to work on a product line, I believe it’s actually vital to be clear that you need to solely go down this path if you’re concerned with and keen to take a position the money and time into creating merchandise.

Merely creating a variety of merchandise doesn’t imply artwork licensing inquiries will begin rolling in. It’s solely been over a time period and exhibiting up at markets and beginning to wholesale that these connections have began to kind. For those who’re solely creating merchandise to develop your artwork licensing, I’d re-think branching off into merchandise and maybe look into print on demand so you may promote your work on product, however it’s solely made to order. 

So why did I’m going down the trail of making merchandise?

Within the early days of my design journey with no artwork licenses to my title, I used to be at all times drawn to creating my very own merchandise. One thing concerning the tactile and tangible nature of merchandise fueled my creativity, so once I began discovering my manner into designing patterns, making merchandise felt like a pure pathway to get my work on the market. I’ve additionally developed a portfolio of paintings over time the place the vast majority of paintings sits on my laptop unused.

With the ability to convey my patterns to life on merchandise (particularly ones that by no means acquired licensed) signifies that a lot extra of my work is utilized. With artwork licensing, we get pleasure from seeing our artwork on our consumer’s merchandise, however we by no means see the enjoyment that it brings to the client who purchases it. You’ll at all times hear suggestions (the great and typically not so good) and see the reactions from prospects when you’ve got your personal merchandise out on the earth.

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So, what are some methods having a product vary might help your artwork licensing develop?

1) Getting your work out to prospects, which incorporates potential patrons

Having an internet site and a social media presence is an effective begin to getting your work on the market, however there are such a lot of proficient artists that it may be laborious to face out from the gang. Including a product line means having your work be seen by many extra folks, and that features potential artwork patrons.

After I was at a commerce honest earlier this 12 months for wholesaling my merchandise to retail outlets, I met an agent who works with shoppers within the licensing house. I’d have by no means met this individual if I didn’t have my very own vary of merchandise, and whereas these interactions don’t at all times end in getting work right away, you’ll be on their radar and have their contact particulars for future alternatives.

2) Understanding what designs promote effectively

I typically use my product vary to check the waters with patterns. Generally I really like a print, however it simply doesn’t promote effectively. Different occasions I really like a print and it sells very effectively! This means of trialing designs and seeing what resonates with prospects permits me to know what designs I ought to pitch to shoppers and talk to potential shoppers what designs promote effectively in my very own vary.

One of many patterns I designed a couple of years in the past, which was a favourite of mine, was positioned on a couple of of my merchandise and at all times bought effectively at markets and on-line. I might see there was potential to license this one, so I at all times made positive this print featured in all my pitches. It ended up being licensed to a number of shoppers and featured on material, umbrellas, lunch luggage, espresso cups, raincoats, and buying luggage. 

3) Connecting with actual folks and native companies for extra significant artwork licensing collaborations

I’m positive all of us have our dream consumer listing and that most likely contains some well-known manufacturers. I do know I do too. However a few of my extra fulfilling licensing offers have been with smaller and native companies. Some I’ve met in individual and with the ability to make these connections has made the method of licensing loads simpler (no ghosting right here!).

These connections wouldn’t have come about if I didn’t have my very own product vary. I’ve met shoppers at markets and in addition via outlets I’ve wholesaled my merchandise to. I’ve had prospects recommend shoppers I ought to attain out to, many I’ve not heard of myself. It’s these little nuggets alongside the way in which that may result in licensing alternatives down the monitor. 

4) Promote the work you’ve got licensed

Through the years I’ve been in a position to promote the merchandise I’ve licensed my work on. That’s been a win-win for each the consumer and myself. Generally I’ll get a pattern of the merchandise so I can on-sell these, however extra typically I’ll wholesale the merchandise so I’ve a higher number of merchandise on the market on-line or at markets, with out having to go down the trail of constructing or manufacturing them myself. 

5) Use the identical design many occasions over

Many of the shoppers I’ve labored with have by no means had a problem with me utilizing the identical prints on totally different merchandise inside my very own vary. Similar to artwork licensing permits you to license your design on totally different merchandise, you additionally get to profit from utilizing the identical prints by yourself merchandise, stretching the use and financial worth of the design. 

For these of you who’re concerned with creating your personal product line or who have already got merchandise on the market, typically these alternatives come about organically via pushing your product on the market. If it’s nonetheless early days in your product enterprise, my recommendation is to maintain going! Experiment, see what folks like and what sells. If you’re invested and consider in your product and designs, you’ll discover your audience and over time you’ll begin to see alternatives within the licensing house.

Written by Beck Ng

Web site: www.fabricdrawer.com.au
Instagram: @fabric_drawer

Beck is a floor designer and maker dwelling in Melbourne, Australia, who has a love of making patterns. She began her inventive enterprise Cloth Drawer showcasing her work on a variety of merchandise, in addition to collaborating with a variety of native and worldwide corporations.