Selling Art with the Easy Powerful Be Back Offer

Success in the art business requires success in selling art.

"Be Back" Offers Create a Virtuous Circle

Sounds simple, right? Of course, you know selling art is rarely simple.

The most successful artists, galleries, and art dealers know it takes repeated exposure to convert a prospect to a buyer. Settings and situations vary in selling art.

Use the "Be Back" to Sell More Art

Here is one scenario that will help you sell more art. It is one of those practical ideas that costs very little, but will help you from losing some sales. I call it the “Be Back Offer.” It combats something all consumers do. That is, get momentarily excited about buying something only to get cold feet and promise to come back to make a purchase.

Sometimes this with good intentions, other times to save face, we promise the salesperson we will "Be Back." Having an effective "Be Back" offer can combat lost sales for you. It won't always work, but it will always give a you better chance than if you just let a prospect walk away with a only a "Be Back" promise.

Lessons from Years on the Tradeshow Floor

For the nearly 20 years, I sold booth space at some of the biggest art tradeshows in the industry. I wanted my exhibitors to be successful and satisfied, so they would come back next year and buy more space. When it worked, as it often did, it created a virtuous circle resulting in win-win-win for exhibitors, buyers and me. 

One powerful and affordable idea for my exhibitors was to have a "Be Back" offer. This works any time you, or your salespeople, meet a prospective buyer. A tradeshow booth is a perfect example. A buyer comes in, is shown the latest and greatest, but is not ready to commit now. In most cases, the best that happens is business cards are exchanged, and sales materials supplied,  with promises to be back from the buyer.

Business Cards Are a Useless 20th Century Artifacts

That is a bad way to do things, in my humble opinion. I think business cards should be called blow off cards. They provide an easy way for the buyer slip out of making a buying decision now. Sales materials are a little better because they have images, are larger and bulkier and maybe get some extra attention later on from the buyer. Neither are effective, in fact, nearly useless.

At shows, and in any selling art situation, I recommend having a “Be Back” offer ready to provide to a buyer. Never leave your offer in plain sight. You do not want a buyer to see it unless you give it to them.

Some suggestions for your offer are:

• Free shipping
• Discount
• Tax paid
• Free hanging service
• Any otherwise unavailable attractive proposition

At shows, make sure your offer has your company name, your booth number, and perhaps a map to show where your booth is at the show. Include a description of the offer and ALWAYS have an expiration date in mind for it.

Use the "Be Back" Offer to Get a Committment and Email Address

Get a commitment from your be back prospect. When are they going to be back? How long are they going to be at the show? I suggest handwriting a time limit on the offer. It could be good until the time they plan to leave. Or, you could extend it for a week or two depending on how you want to structure the deal. The point is your offer should be encouraging and enticing with a definite deadline.

If your "Be Back" offer  extends beyond show closing time, ask for permission to send a reminder email prior the offer expiration. That gives you a specific reason to contact your buyer at a specific time. When you keep your committment, it shows your professionalism and dedication. If you use this idea, make sure it says in your subject line states something like this:  Special Offer Expiration Reminder. Doing this informs and encourages the buyer and encourage thems to  open your email.

Use the "Be Back" Offer Creatively to in Selling Art Situations

You can create “Be Back” offers for almost every selling art situation you encounter. It won’t always work, but no matter. It’s an easy, inexpensive selling art tool that can only help. It could cause a prospect to take the time right now to make the purchase immediately.  

Give it a try, I bet you will be glad you did.

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Comments

[Richard Hoedl]

I like this concept.

I wonder if instead of handing the potential buyer the "Be Back" offer you pulled out a piece of paper wrote a discount or offer on a piece of paper, folded it in half. Ask for the potential buyers name and email and wrote it on the paper on the outside, then put it in your pocket. Give them your contact info and tell them if they come back to buy the piece before someone else buys the piece they can have the offer in your pocket.

Sometimes, this sort of thing can be extremely powerful. But don't show them until they come back and commit to buying. I would make the offer pretty good so they aren't disappointed.

If anyone tries this out I would love to hear the results.

Thanks,

Richard Hoedl
Art Guy
www.HoedlOriginalArt.com
[email protected]

[Barney Davey]

Hi Richard,
Thank you for your comment and for your suggestion. I, too, hope you get some feedback from your suggestion.

[Rosa]

Hi Richard,
I will try next show, sounds really good. I have many of the Be Back in my shows.
Thank you,
Rosa

[kathryn]

This is really great info! It's such a simple concept yet really powerful way to get people to come back...I will definitely be trying it out!!! Thanks!!

[Neil McBride]

Great idea. Will try at my next show.