Giftshop and Studio Owners 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 giftshop 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?
In every community north of the Mohawk River up to the Canadian
border, owners of gift shops and studios have been taking action. The
flat average in the sales tax numbers since 2004 for independent
retailers indicates that a slower sales pace is not new.

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, Craft Programs Coordinator for the
Adirondack North Country Association for the last 13 years, has seen
many changes as she prepares for this year's 23rd annual regional gift
trade show Buyer Days (http://www.adknccrafts.com/). Shop and studio owners
are welcome to post their own adaptations.

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, familar 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 the craft shows they will be exhibiting at.

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, evenings
by the fire and overnight. Smaller furniture pieces are being placed
more prominently in the shop 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 shopowners 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, giftshop owners are welcome to
attend Buyer Days (http://www.adknccrafts.com/) 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
committment to economically viable communities and a rural quality of
life. For more information, visit www.AdkNCcrafts.com.

New Online Directory Helps North Country Giftshop Owners Buy Local Product

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 (www.AdkNCcrafts.com). 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 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.

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, download the application from ANCA's craft resource website http://www.adknccrafts.com/ or 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.