Resources, tools, materials, and learning from my mistakes!
For prints, posters, framed prints, and prints on foamcore in all sizes, I use ShortrunPosters.comItems can be picked up locally in Nashville, or drop-shipped anywhere!
Minimum order of One (best in the business!)
Great quality and incredible prices:
you really can't beat this, in quality, minimum order, or ease, and if you're in nashville not having to pay shipping prices is a big deal as well. If I were starting over I might not do my own printing at all and would just use them. (as is I use them for larger items, any time my printer goes down, etc...)
For clear bags and backing boards (for display/retail selling of prints)
The site is a little overwhelming, not indexed super well, and there are a LOT of options.
You also get Massive discounts for ordering in bulk, so order as much as you can afford, it will pay off in the long term. You will get hundreds or even a thousand for the cost of 25 in a retail store. Definitely google discount codes. Use these item numbers to get you started.
BACj5 (5x7 backing board, thinner)
VL75S (5x7 clear bags)
I have always used the Budget Shipping option and it gets to me just as fast as the express at a way cheaper price
For paper bags for retail:
I use this one because I want to support local and they give a local discount on fedex shipping. Otherwise other sites are cheaper tbh (always factor shipping into your cost it’s a major factor with heavy/paper items, in fact I include this in my cost that I base my sale price off of too.)
For printer paper for making your own prints
I use 60lb. Premium Matte PLUS (See notes at end as to why I'm not using ultra-premium paper)
My printer is the Epson Ecotank 8550, I Love it because it accepts 11x14” paper, and because you don’t need ink cartridges. This saves me so much time and the landfil soooooooooooooooo much plastic. Message me about ink refills. I print 5x7", 8x10" and 11x14" prints. (see note below)
For Stickers I use
Stickermule.com (super quality/durablity, fast turnaround, proofs etc. follow them on IG or e-mail and chase their specials! I order all the specials so I can try out small amounts of things before I commit to a large order. I get magnets from them on special also)
makestickers.com is the fastest I’ve ever used, under a week from order, to proof, to Delivery! And is a better base price than sticker mule. For mid size orders I need fast I will probably use them. That said they seemed a very tiny bit thinner, that might have just been the backing paper though (which I actually like better it peels off easier)
I follow a lot of sites to chase specials, and also for larger orders (500-1000) I price compare because it varies depending on size from site to site and week to week.
For Journals, Canvas Bags, Stickers (they have 30 varieties of sticker and 30 varieties of keychain….and so many things I never even knew existed, , order a sample pack!!! It will blow your mind, for real. I got so many ideas just from seeing stickers on 30 different kinds of surface) I use:
They are slow and shipping is expensive (on certain items stickers ship for free over $70) because it ships from overseas. Prices are a little confusing because everything comes in multiples of 5 or 10. That said if you want something Super unique or custom, are not in a hurry and are ordering a medium amount, even with shipping, they prices are WAY CHEAPER than anywhere else and the quality is great.)
For Banners/Tapestries (they’re cute and hard to describe, but a print on canvas with a dowel/twine hanger so no frame is needed.) Pillow covers, Coasters, Towels, T-shirts and lots of other direct to canvas things I use:
Ok look this site is very confusing and I didn’t use them for a long time because I didn’t understand it! You need to set up a wholesale account. And their prices are listed Backwards of all other sites. (they list most expensive first, and seeing that I thought I could’nt afford them) but the multiple discount kicks in FAST (usually at 5 items) and kicks down the prices immensely. So as long as you’re ordering 5 plus their prices are GOOD and at 15 plus Great. Also the software on their wholesale site is super awesome and saves your layouts so re-ordering is easy. Free local pickup in nashville! (shipping to anywhere)
In Nashville they are right behind my favorite art store
Jerry’s Artarama
Jerry’s is usually half off suggested retail price.
(Michaels for example is usually 40% OVER retail price on items because they expect you to use a coupon, even with the coupon you’ll be paying almost twice the jerry’s price on lower quality items, frames are the only exception to this michaels is great for frames lol. That said, I've never found a quality frame at a price I can justify reselling them help!?)
Jerry’s website is pretty good too, though indexed poorly. I often find what I need on amazon then go order it on Jerry’s if I can’t buy it in person.
For Postcards, and free giveaway stickers (I use for both instead of business cards) I use:
You’ll need to be spending over $70 to get the free shipping. These are items I’m usually ordering 500-2000 of and planning on giving away from free/promotion. I’m getting two-sided full color postcards for around 8 cents each. And super cheap stickers. (very many options for postcards, very few options for stickers and they are much lower quality than a sticker site, but very very cheap if that’s what you need). This is an industrial printing site you’ll need to setup your own image and slog through options a bit.
Greeting Cards I have very mixed feelings about greeting cards lol. They use more paper than an “art print” are usually more expensive to make, and people want to pay 1/5th the price, and have a free envelope. For most of my career this hasn’t been worth it to me, I just suggest they write on the back of the art print and mail it if needed. That said now that I’m 10 years in and i know what designs will sell I feel better about ordering in a large enough quantity to get the price point do-able. I still don’t put them in plastic and consider them a bit of a loss-leader.j
I ordered from SmartPress.com using a discount code and quantity of 100 I got them for around a dollar each. (I think this included the envelope but I don’t remember for sure.) definitely for all of these sites google discount/coupon codes it can make a BIG difference. Don’t count that in your cost calculation though (do the full price for that!) since you can’t count on using a discount twice, and want to be able to keep your prices the same.
Poker cards: For Poker cards I use printerstudio.com it's and overseas website and so postage is high. It's the best price I could find on a deck that would allow me to design the front and back of the cards, and their design studio is actually phenomenal for poker cards, made it very very easy. That said between the shipping and deck cost it's hard for me to get them cheaply enough to get a good profit margin. They're something I really just do for fun. If you have a good resource for this, or tarot decks I'd love to hear it! Definitely would like to do a tarot/oracle deck one day.
Tools: Harbor freight is a hidden gem for tools, powerstrips, bungee cords, I used their rolling toolboxes for display. You have to go in person their website doesn’t really function.
Ball ties: these are the most useful item you can have, replaces/works better than zip does and doesn’t go in the Trash after every show (makes me so sad to see zip ties litter the round after every even :( ) ball ties have elasticity to them and come in handy for sooooo many things. Hanging,windproofing etc… Order a whole bag of them and your vendor friends will LOVE you.
Tarps: MyteeProducts.com these are a real hidden gem ya’ll! They’re made for the back of flat bed trucks. My plastic tarps only lasted about a year and then started flaking off all over my merchandise and going in a landfill. These obviously cost more but will pay for themselves if you’re planning on doing this for a few years, and….will last forever so they don’t clog up the landfill. They are very water resistant but not water proof (most tarps aren’t honestly if they’re touching anything.) I use them Under my tent for an additional layer of protection at travel shows, and over all my items at the market under the farm shed roof.
Clamps: Get steel ones at Ace or in person at a hardware store. The online ones look great but they’re aluminum/tin or something and warp immediately.
Clothespins: https://www.ladyandthecarpenter.com/store/ Using a clothesline (in my tent and booth!) is one of the best suggestions I’ve ever received. The prints dance in the wind and are right at eye level. That said regular clothespins won’t hold. Kevin’s Quality clothespins are about 4 times as strong. They’re worth the money, and the factory second ones are just fine. You’ll need 2-4 per print depending on size. Get Utility Cord/Parachute Cord for your clothesline. Use a lighter to melt the ends when you cut it. It’s just the right tension and super strong / will last forever.
Price tags: I use a dymo printer. Also one of the best suggestions I’ve ever received. I will print a hundred labels in a minute and doesn’t use ink. People don’t read signs but they do check for prices (watch them turn over your products and search!). They’re too shy to ask. Putting price tags on my items doubled my sales (and I had price signs EVERYWHERE). You can get generic labels online that work just as well.
Shipping Labels: For creating the label I use Paypal which uses Shipstation. It's really easy to save your common sizes/weights and tweak as needed. I ordered a postal scale from amazon, and half sheet shipping labels from amazon as well. There's also a Dymo printer that will do shipping labels which i'm sure is a great option. (see note at end about UPS)
Vinyl Sign: I got my beautiful vinyl sign at Alpha Graphics as I'm linking this i see they have locations all over, still feels local and very personal service I reccomend! Also if you want 11x17" posters they have an AMAZING deal for $75 for a lot of them. That's not a size I use but if it is something you need you can't beat the price. it's semi secret you have to ask for it I think.
Earth Friendliness:
I need help with this ya’ll. My sales TRIPLED when I put my prints in plastic because people LOVE to touch things and search through bins. The most beautiful display in the world is practically invisible compared to a bin people can flip through/discover themselves. Also my prints that weren’t protected got damaged every show. I found compostable ones but they didn’t work outside (composted too fast)
Right now I have a sign that says: “Ask me about plastic free!” and I take the prints out of the bags to re-use them and then pack them in a paper sleeve. Please let me know any ideas/new products you come across.
I order Stayflat cardboard mailers from: http://www.packagingprice.com/
I use them for shipping and in person plastic-free packaging. Shipping posters is a whole lot cheaper rolled, but don’t ship posters, drop-ship them from shortrunposters directly to your customer!
Insurance: I use https://www.actinsurance.com/ they have annual and short term plans. I've only needed it for one event, but it seems like more require it, and I need to have it at the farmers market.
Mistakes I've made:
Going to the UPS store. The "UPS" store is actually an independant business they've franchised the brand to. They will charge you over double what printing the label yourself and dropping it off at the local access point (usually your nearest drugstore) will cost. Don't everrrrrr go to the UPS store unless you're super flush with cash and low on time which...if that's the case, awesome :)
Printing my prints to large to fit in the frame: I used to make all my prints slightly bigger than I needed to, which wasted a lot of paper and time trimming.
I try to do all my prints in sizes that are a standard frame. (5x7", 8x10", 11x14", 16x20") Custom framing is expensive and I want people to be able to frame my work easily. It's important to know that mats and Frames crop inwards a bit, so they are slightly smaller than advertised (on the front side)! This means a 5x7" mat or frame will hold paper exactly that size, and yet the front opening is smaller to keep the paper from falling out. So you can print your prints on paper exactly the right size without an extra border (in fact the extra border can make it not fit in the frame if your customer chooses not to use a mat). I always check my work with a mat to make sure my signature fits in the visable area (if you sign right on the edge it will get partially covered up!). I also think about this when laying out my image, the important parts should be a little bit away from the edge as well so they don't get cropped out.
Signing my prints too close to the edge/putting an important part of the image too close to the edge when I set up for print (see above)
Printing larger than a standard frame just because my printer will go 13x19", or in a non-standard size: I print 5x7", 8x10" and 11x14" prints. (and 16x20 posters) Because those are standard frame sizes people can easily purchase. (I see a lot of artists just print as big as possible, or in strange sizes) Custom framing costs hundreds of dollars. This doesn't make sense for prints that cost in tens of dollars. It means your art often goes into storage forever instead of being seen. My goal is to make it as easy as possible for people to enjoy and share the art. I allow my originals to be strange sizes if needed. (someone who can afford an original is more likely to afford custom framing and lighting).
Not including shipping in my per/item cost. It adds up! finding a local option can really help save per item, Especially with small ordders! conversely ordering a Very large amount, even overseas with high shipping, can come out ahead because of ordering so many. I want to double or triple all my costs when I factor the price of an item. (I still have to pay myself, taxes, and vendor fees, all that adds up fast too, don't short yourself!)
Doing limited runs/stressing about making prints perfect: I can absolutely make prints look as good as the original on heavy 300 pound art paper. However I have to feed these one at a time through the printer by hand. (I make way too many prints for that) and honestly I don’t want my prints to look exactly like the original. I’m trying to have an accessible/affordable product. People who want something unique can buy an original. And for me manufacturing false scarcity by abitrarily making someting limited never felt right. Also it's very short sighted and only hurts the artist! Galleries want you to do this kind of things because it helps them maintain some kind of exclusive mistique. However in the long run limiting what you make hurts the artist (and is a lot of extra work!) You’re limiting yourself to selling 10 or 100 prints, when you could sell Thousands over your lifetime! Only 3% of people buy original artwork. and that's awesome! The rest of people love art as well, but really don't care about exclusitivity or ultra-premium perfect. They just want to enjoy you art and support you! I'm absolutely commited to making that possible. All the resources I've listed here will get you 99% of the quality of the most premium possible, at 1/10th the cost or less. For me I'm willing to be 1% less than perfect, if that allows me to make my art accessible to everyone! So much more joy! (there's also a lot of views I have about perfection i'll save for another day lolol)