| Operating a stained glass business can be a greatly | | | | to test the waters, to see if they have what it takes to |
| rewarding way of fulfilling not only a dream as an | | | | make a living in stained glass. Also, networking with |
| artist, but also one as an entrepreneur. The craft of | | | | other business owners, and more specifically, with |
| stained glass making has its origins with the medieval | | | | other art dealers and stained glass business owners, |
| artisans who sweated over their creations which | | | | will generate more leads and traffic into your door. |
| vivified temples, castles, cathedrals and other buildings | | | | Being located in an "arty" or advantageous area, |
| throughout Europe and elsewhere. Stained glass art | | | | perhaps near art dealers, galleries, college campuses, |
| offers artists and buyers a compelling medium | | | | etc. if it's at all possible, is one more idea to consider. |
| steeped in fine and gilded craftsmanship that raises | | | | At least one business owner blogging about his |
| glass itself to rich and rarefied levels. Combining a love | | | | "Stained Glass Adventures" writes that the stained |
| for the art of stained glass and the commerce of | | | | glass business is highly competitive and labor intensive. |
| getting it to the connoisseurs will provide you with a | | | | He also recommends working with warm glass as |
| truly special reason to leap out of bed in the morning. | | | | opposed to flat glass work, in order to expand the |
| You must have a good business sense if your stained | | | | possibilities of what you can do in a studio setting. He |
| glass venture is going to succeed, of course. Making | | | | says remaining open-minded and non-competitive in |
| sure you have the proper amount of supplies and | | | | your thinking of the next stained glass business down |
| workforce on hand is first and foremost. Choosing the | | | | the street is a very good thing--that guy is actually |
| right employees (if any) with the right experience to be | | | | helping your business, he says, by increasing |
| able to render stained glass projects worthy of sale is | | | | knowledge about the craft in the community, therefore |
| also imperative to your success. Attracting and | | | | upping the chances of more people ending up in your |
| keeping the right kind of clientele (ones who will actually | | | | store! |
| purchase your wares) is also, of course, key to | | | | Make sure to plan out and research your business plan |
| keeping your business alive. You must generate a | | | | thoroughly. Figure the cost of all the materials and |
| buzz and get people to, as well as talking about, your | | | | start-up to be around 1/4 to 1/3 of the overall retail |
| stained glass business. If you can pull of all of these | | | | value of your business. The fleeting nature of this type |
| things, you're most likely going to be in pretty good | | | | of business in particular means relationships and |
| shape running this type of venture. | | | | networking must be solid, and core customers kept. |
| Finding relatively inexpensive stained glass dealers is a | | | | People's interest in stained glass is fragile at best, and it |
| good step in the right direction. You'll want to keep | | | | is certainly not a "blue chip" type of industry. Most, if |
| costs down as much as possible, as in the running of | | | | not all stained glass business owners get into it largely |
| any business. Hiring interns who are art students so | | | | due to their love of the craft--not as a result of being |
| that you (in most cases) don't have to pay them is | | | | shrewd profiteers, so be aware of the general market |
| another smart move that will also be like college credit | | | | fragility, have fun, follow the above instructions and |
| for the students, to apply to their future career in art! | | | | may your passion for stained glass translate into |
| Your student employees will also have the opportunity | | | | profitable customer appreciation! |