SETTING UP A BUSINESS

We are thinking of possibly starting an art business in Spain .We have an on-line art business and Gallery selling limited edition and original art work by all the well known top UK artists. We have a house in Quesada and wonder whether there would be any interest in the local community in good quality art. When we were furnishing our home in Spain we srtuggled to purchase any good quality art. We ended up bringing art from England.There seems to be a gap in the market and we would welcome your thoughts. Please see our web site at www.jamieleighfineart.co.uk

Quesada

You asked for advise so this is mine.
You have a business based on the internet and a gallery in the U.K that must be bringing you a good income, and have seen a gap that may need filling in Spain where you would have to spend a lot more time if you were setting up an outlet here. My advise would be to concentrate on the website side of your business and use that as your marketing tool, I have looked at your site and its not bad but with a little pit more spent on it and some good marketing in the Quesada area you would be able to drive a lot more traffic and customers to your site, this will tell you if there is a gap in the market or not. And its a lot cheaper to do than any other set up. You may also find that you were right that there is a need for your product but again the website might fill it as apposed to opening up costly options.

Commented Charly in La Marina 2011-06-09 06:37:35 UTC

I am a local artist and I sell through personal contact, craft fairs and a shop on the coast. I used to exhibit in a gallery in Quesada, but it closed down due to lack of interest. Sadly times are hard and art is one of the things to suffer - so don't expect to sell anything pricey. My advice would be to wait a while until the building trade picks up and people are moving to Spain again. At the moment there are still more people going back than arriving. What we do desperately need is a good art shop. I teach art to adults and we're always scratching around for decent products or having to order online. And you know what the post is like here! Maybe you could combine the two. There is an art gallery/art products shop in Torrevieja - but the same pictures have been hanging there for years and we all avoid the place if we can, not least because the assistant is so offhand. Take a look at www.costaart.net for others who might give an informed opinion.

Commented mail in Quesada 2011-06-09 16:45:58 UTC

Hi there
having read your post and the subsequent comments I would agree with some of what has been said, however and I say this as a "non arty person" there is absolutley a gap in the market, but the price range most people are looking to pay is far less than the cost of the art work shown on your website

I would say by all means keep on doing what your doing but I believe the current demand is for something a lot less bespoke but more than the tradtional spanish seaside and village scapes currently available on every stall. Added to this Ikea have filled the niche for the bottom end so we need something in between for now.

I agree that in time when things pick up there may indeed be a greater demand for the more discerning client but I would be surprised if that was doable right now.

Why not put an advertising banner on this site and see what kind of feedback you get,I think that would be a pretty good way to gauge demand for starters.

Also put another post on the site, do a survey, ask people to visit your website and give you feedback, also ask them what kind of money they would be prepared to spend on any sort of artwork in this current economic climate?

hope this helps and good luck with it all

Commented we love it here in Quesada 2011-06-09 21:53:30 UTC