Any artists/makers noticed sales going down recently?

[CraftyNameChanger]

And if so, how are you responding to it?
I sell my work almost entirely online and until around three months ago could have sold everything at least twice over but I'm now seeing about a steep drop off in sales. My online engagement (likes/shares etc) are at the same high level but people just aren't buying. It's really worrying me and I'm trying to work out how to adapt as it's my only income. Plus I love my job!

My work is bought mostly as gifts and sometimes by collectors and I'm assuming people just don't have the money to treat themselves or others so often. My prices range from £15 to £45 so not hugely expensive, but they're not necessities so will drop down the list in the CoL crisis.

I can't decide whether to reduce my prices (but I'd feel resentful at underpricing), to concentrate on higher priced/custom items, to target the US market more (about a third of my customers are already there, I'm in UK) or whether I really need to get another job, at least a couple of days a week 😭

Working alone in my studio I don't really have anyone to chat to about this so would be really interested to hear if any other artists/makers are finding it tough going at the moment. Also, if you do buy from independent makers have you reduced what you buy?

I thought I would bump this for you. I don't have any advice but I wish you well.

Do you notice seasonal dips usually? If so, I would assume they will be more pronounced this year. Dh is a craftsperson, though makes things people use rather than collect, if that makes sense and summer is usually the high season. There definitely has not been a slowing of the market, but we didn't even see that during lockdowns/COVID. There is a bit of a lull in January each year though. I would assume if you aren't making a 'summery' thing (like a sculpture for the garden and this is the time of year when people are enjoying/making improvements to their gardens), then with CoL people may be cutting back on 'luxury' spending to budget for holidays and higher costs during the summer months. If you have alternative markets though, definitely target them. Dh sells a lot to the US too and people somehow don't seem to care that they are paying nearly as much in shipping as they are for the item itself.

I'm in the same position - sales have been off really since last autumn. My price bracket is higher than yours - £20-100 mostly.

You are not alone - the lower price tags and impulse buys has basically fallen off a cliff, ie the most common sales below £50, just died. Now that's re-assuring as it's not you, but on the other hand it means the economy is in a bad shape. People got really good at not buying stuff in the last financial crisis and haven't really had enough time to forget that experience and so seem to have got back into survival mode fast this time around. Quite understandably.

Don't reduce your prices across the board - one of the open studio trails I do, did a lots of work on this and found, that even if artists dropped their prices, they didn't see sales pick up. What was found was that while the lower end of the market was most definitely depressed the upper end of the market was thriving. I'm talking 4 digit figures type upper end.

I've focused in on my most popular items, making fewer of other thing and pushing for commissions (especially for special events, eg weddings, christenings etc). Obviously reducing my costs where I can.

One thing people are still doing is buying experiences - I get more requests for teaching than I can service. I like teaching but my real passion is making my own stuff, however it's income and that's not to be sniffed at. I also know of artists and artisans who make make kits who are doing well with these - is this a possibility ?

You mention you don't have anyone to talk this through with - can I suggest you make contact with a local small business group or craft / art focused group. I'm a member of a couple of local groups and it really helps my sanity, general creativity and I've picked up some good local contacts for work along the way.

I think this will be a case of hanging on in there, keeping up with the social media so that in 18mths - 2 yrs times we're poised to hit the ground running. Well that's my hope !