Adirondack North Country Association

The Adirondack North Country Association (ANCA) is hosting an annual workshop for both experienced and new artisans and craftspeople who wish to sell to regional gift shops. All are invited to register for the workshop, “How to Establish and Maintain Wholesale Accounts.” Artisans developing product for the new year will benefit from each others’ experiences, ideas and insights during the product review session. This year’s workshop, hosted at the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, is on Saturday, January 16 from 10am to 2:30pm.

Nadia Korths, Craft Programs Coordinator for ANCA since 1997, facilitates the lively and informal hands-on workshop. Korths has presented this workshop, and others about marketing, to almost a thousand businesses since 2000. Josh Pratt, The Wild Center gift shop manager since 2007, will be copresenting. The $35 fee includes the 45 page How to Establish and Maintain Wholesale Accounts Packet. For more information or questions, contact Korths at 518.891.1632 or at nkorths@adirondack.org.

The workshop is also recommended for first time exhibitors attending ANCA’s annual gift trade show, Buyer Days, Wednesday, March 31 and Thursday, April l, 2010 at the City Center in Saratoga Springs. Shop owners will be writing orders and buying product directly from show exhibitors as they have every year since 1987. Applications to both the workshop and the show can be downloaded from ANCA’s craft website, AdkNCcrafts.com or received by mail with a call to ANCA at 518.891.6200.

The Adirondack North Country Association is a non-profit private corporation that strengthens the economy and quality of life in the 14 counties of northern New York through informed, open debate and advocacy on economic issues critical to the region and through region wide action on projects in agriculture, crafts, business and community development, forestry, human services, the arts and tourism.

One of the top destinations in New York, The Wild Center is where the wild world of the Adirondacks opens before your eyes. The Wild Center strives to ignite an enduring passion for the Adirondacks where people and nature can thrive together and set an example for the world.

Gift Shop Owners and Craftspeople Adapt to “Prudent Restraint”

How is the significant contribution of the summer resident and visitor to the Adirondack North Country economy impacted by the recession? How can North Country gift shop owners and craftspeople who are part of the third largest industry – retail – of the region, prepare for the continued “prudent restraint” of the 2009 customer?

In the upcoming years, how will the decreasing availability of fossil fuels and natural resources impact people’s ability to shop during their annual summer retreat to the mountains and lakes of the North Country. The flat average in the sales tax numbers since 2004 for independent retailers indicates that a slower sales pace is not new. In every community north of the Mohawk River up to the Canadian border, owners of gift shops and studios have been taking action.

But, as always, there are unexpected trends. Last summer there was significantly less drive-by traffic but the people who did stop often bought more. Nadia Korths, Crafts Program Coordinator for the Adirondack North Country Association for the past 13 years, has seen many adaptations as she prepares for this year’s 23rd annual regional gift trade show Buyer Days. She welcomes shop owners to post their adaptations at http://adknccrafts.blogspot.com/ where this article is posted.

Some shops, open for 25 to 30 years, recently closed after a few years of trying to find new owners. Even more shops closed or reduced their hours this past winter. Many have reduced their inventory levels to free up more cash flow. More shops and studios held store wide sales this winter and spring. Most are ordering new product and raw materials at the last minute.

Many producers, familiar to all who attend the region’s many craft shows, are keeping their 2008 prices. Many are creating smaller and more functional pieces. Some are creating pieces from scraps or recycled materials. Some are inviting their regular customers via email to their upcoming shows.

Shops and studios with no budget for purchasing are rearranging their existing inventory so their regular customers will discover “new” pieces. They are creating vignettes with consumables such as specialty foods, candles, and bath and beauty products. Their customers, living with less, will continue to welcome friends and family to meals, conversations by the fire and overnight. Smaller furniture pieces are being placed more prominently in shops since the few customers who are building homes are downsizing.

Shops and studios with a strong sense of customer service and community have become social gathering places. Many now offer coffee and baked goods. Many hold regular events with print, radio and online invitations.

Customers respond to shop owners and producers who share their knowledge and passion. They also appreciate knowing that the object they are considering is made in a way that is healthy for them and/or the environment.

For those small business owners and staff who are not fluent in story telling, there are many visual tools to tell the story. Signage, branding, labels, story cards, photos of the process, the raw materials or of the shop over time, printed pages from websites, blogs or other social networking sites and more.

Customers want to know who or what they are contributing towards, whether it be the local humane society or the local producer or about the environmental or health benefits, each time they buy.

To find out about more local stories directly from the producers in an informal and professional show setting, gift shop owners are welcome to attend Buyer Days at the City Center in Saratoga Springs on Wednesday, April 8 and Thursday, April 9. Bring business ID.

The Adirondack North Country Association provides retailers and producers with resources, products and sales venues as part of their commitment to economically viable communities and a rural quality of life. For more information, visit www.AdkNCcrafts.com.

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To Media – the following is probably most suited for your business events column. Thank you.

Gift shop and Studio Owners Adapt to Continued “Prudent Restraint”

Many actions that gift shop and studio owners are taking are introduced in the article Gift shop and Studio Owners Adapt to Continued “Prudent Restraint” posted at http://adknccrafts.blogspot.com/ by the Adirondack North Country Association. Small business owners are welcome to post changes they have made on the blog.

New – Online Posting of Exhibitors by Category for Buyer Days Gift Trade Show

Gift shop and studio owners can attend the Adirondack North Country Association’s 23rd regional nature and rustic gift trade show Buyer Days on April 8 and 9 in Saratoga Springs. Exhibitors with posted show specials and new product offerings are now sorted by category at www.AdkNCcrafts.com. The categories are books and music, consumables; bath and beauty, candles and specialty foods, furniture, home accessories, jewelry, lighting, prints and photos, stationery, and souvenir items.

Shop and studio owners can pre-register for the show at www.AdkNCcrafts.com to double their changes of winning in the ongoing product raffles. Hours are 12 to 6 on Wed. and 9 to 4 on Thursday. Enjoy acoustic music by Orchard Beat and Dan Berggren with Hungry Bear Publishing. Bring business ID.

New Online Directory Helps North Country Giftshop Owners Buy Local Product

Saranac Lake – To help giftshop owners, especially in this challenging year when budgets are restricted, the Adirondack North Country Association’s craft website, www.AdkNCcrafts.com now features the American Handmade Wholesale Directory.

Giftshop owners know the importance of freshening up displays with new product to appeal to their faithful customers of the busy season; the summer residents and visitors. Yet many giftshop owners are hesitant to travel to the national gift shows to restock especially when much of the overseas product featured at those shows is losing its competitive price and appeal.

The Handmade Wholesale Directory links directly to 135 artisans, specialty food producers, furniture makers, print and photography artists, souvenir gift makers, musicians, and book publishers from the region who are all experienced in wholesale. Though most of these hard-working small businesses live and work in upstate New York, some are from the Catskills, Central and Western New York and a few are from Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.

They all create rustic and/or nature themed work which is what sells the most in the North Country. Many of the 135 artisans and producers offer functional and/or comsumable items. The wide range of product quarantees a mix of competitive price points.

They have all been exhibitors at ANCA’s 23 year old regional rustic and nature themed gift trade show Buyer Days. The show is being held at the City Center in Saratoga Springs, NY on Wednesday, April 8 and Thursday, April 9, 2009.

Workshop for Craftspeople and Food Producers with Popular Gift Lines

As a artisan or food producer do you have popular product lines with high profit margins? Have shopowners approached you at craft fairs to ask if you sell wholesale? If the answer is yes to either of these questions, attending the Adirondack North Country Association’s Workshop on How to Establish and Maintain Wholesale Accounts on Saturday, February 21 may be of benefit to you.
Workshop attendees review wholesale terminology and procedures from 10 am to 12 noon and from 12:30 to 2:30 pm provide feedback on each other’s product with the goal of increasing wholesale market viability. The workshop is recommended for artisans and food producers who are planning to attend ANCA’s 23 year-old rustic and nature theme gift show, Buyer Days, on Wednesday, April 8 and Thursday, April 9, 2009 for the first time.

Last year, exhibitors averaged $3897 in orders and cash and carry sales at the show. Many of the following exhibitors who have already registered for Buyer Days have attended the workshop.

From the Lake Champlain and High Peaks region are: Whiteface Mountain Gourmet Maple Products, Bloomingdale; Heirlooms in Wood, Morrisonville; Aromas Galore, Rainbow Lake; and Underwood Herbs, Plattsburgh.

From the Lower Adirondacks and Hudson Valley region are: ONE on 1 Design, Hudson Falls; Adirondack Chandler, Glens Falls; Wood n’ Works, Adirondack; Northeast Living Lights, Chestertown; Woven Glass, Sand Lake; Fawn Ridge Pottery, Chestertown; Nancy Miller Jewelry Designs, Saratoga Springs; Fish Bob, Howes Cave; Adirondack Cedar Chairs, Queensbury; and Richard Johnson, Porter Corners.

From the Central Adirondacks, Tug Hill Plateau and Mohawk Valley region are: Boulder Cove Originals, Weedsport/Old Forge; D & A Crafts, Camden; Benesch Creative Enterprises, Holland Patent; Rusticwood.com, Palatine Bridge; Adirondack Art and Chalkware, Gloversville; Pure Mist Naturals, Lowville; Silver Bench Jewelry, Croghan; Heart’s Desire Gifts, Little Falls; and North Country Books, Utica.

Exhibitors from outside the region are Bear-Man Specialty Foods, Grand Island; Maine Antler Designs, Unity ME; Hill ’n’ Hollow, Pavilion; Watershed Designs, Spencer; AJL Designs, Fayette ME; and Mooseman Nature Photos, Andover, NH.

The How to Establish and Maintain Wholesale Accounts Workshop will be held at the Adirondack Company Store at 111 Park Street in Tupper Lake on Saturday, February 21, 2009 from 10am to 2:30pm. Nadia Korths, ANCA Crafts Program Coordinator, will present the informal and lively workshop as she has for the past 13 years. Copresenter Joy Moody will provide 20 years of insight as owner of the Adirondack Company Store.

The workshop fee is $35 for single owner and $50 for dual owner businesses. To register call Nadia Korths, ANCA Crafts Program Coordinator, at 518.891.1632. For those unable to attend, the 45 page workshop packet of pertinent techniques and strategies is available for $10.

The Adirondack North Country Association is committed to economically viable communities and a rural quality of life. For more information about ANCA, visit www.adirondack.org or call 518-891-6200.