Art has certainly become a good career choice nowadays, despite the common notion that artists usually end up as starving professionals. Because of this, there have been numerous art shops sprouting around the city to cater to the needs of budding and accomplished artists alike.

So, what should you do if you want to break into the art scene with a little shop of your own? You can start by making sure that you make your shop a cut above the rest by looking for unique stocks and suppliers. With items, services and products that are hard to find, you’ll surely create your own niche market. This, in turn, equates to more customers and income. Read on to find out how to find the best stocks and supplies for your shop.

1. Research and find out what supplies are in demand. These should be your staples in your art shop. If you stock up on popular supplies, you’re sure that you’ll have a steady stream of customers all the time. Try to look for suppliers that sell items in bulk for a huge discount. Search for listings on the Internet to compare prices, stocks and quality. Usually, you get a bigger discount if you order a larger amount of items from suppliers.

2. Look for hard-to-find or rare art supplies. You can do this by looking at different art shops in your area and taking note of what they don’t have. You can even ask different artists what products or supplies they’d want to see in shops. You can then do your own research (on the Internet or by using the yellow pages) to look for suppliers for these rare items or products.

3. Go to art fairs and craft shows. You can pick up a lot of information about suppliers and art materials in art fairs or craft shows. Search the Internet or ask friends for fair schedules. When you attend fairs, take note of suppliers and materials. Ask for calling cards and talk to people in the business. You can expand your network and even meet new friends whilst doing so.

4. Subscribe to business and networking sites like LinkedIn. You can find suppliers from all around the world through sites like these. People can even connect you to the proper people to talk to if you want to find the best discounts and rates. You might even find rare art supplies and materials from countries as far as Thailand or Indonesia.

5. If you can, travel to different cities and countries. There’s nothing like discovering hole-in-the-wall art shops or small supplies stores when traveling. Make it a point to get out of your city so that you have more chances of discovering the art scenes in different places and neighbourhoods. You might even find rare supplies and materials during your travels.

With the numerous art shops offering the same type of materials in the city, you have the opportunity of creating your own unique store. By following the tips above, you can give your art shop an edge over the others and be well on your way to becoming a favourite amongst the art community.

Author Bio: You can check other art shop in your area for ideas by visiting our site. You can also list your art shops through our website.

Category: Arts and Crafts
Keywords: art, art shops