From the President

May isn't just heating up weatherwise - there's so much going on with all the Artisan committees! Here's an overview of how our Gallery has been performing and what the committees have been doing.

Spring Sales Reports

Sales in the gallery this year were pretty similar to last year's. The top six sales categories were: Paintings (14%), Jewelry (12%), Glass (11%), Pottery (9%), Sculpture (9%), and Wood (8%). But in April, our sales were almost double last year's! Last April, our sales were $6,388, and this April, they were $11,015, which is terrific! The top five sales categories for April were Pottery (16.2%), Paintings (13.8 %), Glass (12.4%), Jewelry (12.3%), and Wood (9.4%).

Many of you have asked for sales information more quickly, and we're looking at ways to provide it. Sheila Kempf currently sends out a sales message twice a month to let you know what you have sold, and she will continue to do this. We're also looking at more reporting that we can generate from the Clover system, and we hope to have more to report at the June General meeting. In the meantime, if you have ideas on what would be helpful to you in a report, please email me, and I will see how I can incorporate them.

The April retail event at the Homer E. Wright Events Center was very successful. We had $18,167.23 in sales, and $12,717.07 was paid out in artist commissions.

Clover Update

Our new Clover sales system is working well in the gallery and also performed well during the April retail event. We'll be sending out an email about what to do when an item reads “not in inventory” and also what not to do with credit card information.

Art on the Porch and Featured Artists

We are looking for more artists to sign up to sell their art on the front porch. Please contact Judy Scaccianoce or go to the website to sign up.

While the Featured Artist schedule is getting full, there are still openings later in

the year. You can sign up on the website or call Luanne.

Pole Banner Awards

Seven Artisans were selected to have their work featured on the pole banners in Southport.

Congratulations to Nancy Adelis, Beth Atkinson, Sheila Kempf, Kristine Koval, Tracy

Middleton, Steve Middleton, and Luanne Paisley! You can see their winning submissions

hanging on flags around town and highlighted at the gallery on the wall and space across from the register.

Marketing Committee And Event

The Marketing Special Committee is planning its first event at the gallery in mid-June

through mid-July, designed to bring visitors into the gallery and boost sales. This event will not cost the artists any money off their commissions. Stay tuned for more information.

SUFA Position Filled

Please join me in welcoming Stephani Loredo to the SUFA team as the new treasurer. Stephani brings her experience, new ideas, and a wonderful smile to the position.

Southport Arts May-nia

Nine Artisans participated in the Arts May-nia event at the Brunswick Community College in Southport on May 22-23. Special thanks to Marian Mackerer for organizing the Artisans booth and the artists who contributed items to the booth and staffed it.

Important Dates

Please mark your calendars for these upcoming events:

• Artisans General Meeting on June 22 at 2 pm at the Homer Wright Event Center

• Artisan Marketplace, July 17-18 at the Homer Wright Event Center - the call for artists went out May 26th.

And last but not least, please join me in welcoming our newest member, Denise Nelson, an artist specializing in fabric design, painting, and gourds. I also want to remind all

new members: complete your bio for the website so you can be included.

All my best,

Karin Elias