Tutorial 4. Steps to a sale

What are the steps to a sale?

This is the checklist I use for the sale of a painting.  If you are creating other types of pieces, the steps might look a little different, but not much.

Before the sale.

1. Work has to be finished. What does that look like?
2. Titled
3. Signed
4. Photo taken (take the photo before the varnish)
5. Varnish or not?
6. Frame or not? Wired and ready to hang.
7. If framed, photo taken with frame.

8. Edges finished somehow, either with paint, strips or frame.
9. Data recorded, if framed include cost of frame.

At the time of the sale

1. Customer name and address, email and phone
2. Sales invoice of some kind with cost of work, title, not just painting, any sales tax and or shipping collected.
3. One copy of invoice goes to customer, you keep one.
4. Customer info is added to your contact data base.

Customer walks away with the painting.

In an ideal situation they leave with; 

1. The painting
2. Copy of your bio or artist statement
3. Biz card, artist card
4. Certificate of authenticity, that has info about the work for future reference.
5. The feeling that you care about them. Ask if you can take their pic with the painting, maybe they want a photo of you and them with the painting. People love to say they met, know the artist.
6. PRO TIP #1: the day after the sale they get an email that says it was great to meet you/see you/hear from you and thank you.  They get info about you can stay connected, Facebook page, website, newsletter, other social sites you are active in.
7. PRO TIP #2: in a week they get a handwritten thank you card in the mail.  Yes, even if they are your cousin, best friend, someone you see on a regular basis.

Customer is having the painting shipped.

In an ideal situation .

1. They know how the painting is getting to them.  UPS, US mail, FedEx,
2. They have a general idea of when it will ship and how long it will take to arrive.
3. They have a copy of the sales receipt with your biz card or contact info in case they have any questions.
4. The painting is wrapped and packaged with care and materials that are adequate to insure it arrives safely.  Each shipping service has guidelines you can look up, I think.  If you feel unable to do the job or don't want to take it to a pack and ship place, like the UPS Store.
5. Any instructions the customer needs to unwrap the package are included, such as don't use a knife to cut through this layer of bubble wrap.
6. Some kind of thank you is included in the box.

PRO TIP #1: inside the box the customer gets any or all of the following.

Your biz card

Artist statement or bio

Certificate of authenticity

Invites to upcoming shows

Any other art swag you might like to create.

PRO TIP #2: the day after the purchase they get an email that says it was great to meet you/see you/hear from you and thank you.  They get info about you can stay connected, Facebook page, website, newsletter, other social sites you are active in.

PRO TIP #3: in a week they get a handwritten thank you card in the mail.  Yes, even if they are your cousin, best friend etc.

Reality check! Is it going to be perfect, all of these things done EVERY time you make a sale?  Heck no, but doing your best to make it a great experience for your customer and you is something to strive toward.