The ACRE show of April 2008 was a triumph for the NPCG. The Board is already working on 2009’s program based on the measurable successes of this year. We met our Guild Objective “to educate the public about polymer clay, and to study and promote an interest in the use of polymer clay as an artistic medium.” We are succeeding in changing polymer’s perception in the wholesale world.

   According to Judy Dunn “anyone attending the show who thought -- polymer clay was just for kids -- had to re-think that perception”. Judy notes, “One of our judges stopped by at the show to meet the winners and see their work, and was impressed.  She let the artists know that the top ten or so artists were all very close together in scoring for her.” Clearly this art purchaser was impressed by the high quality of work she saw.

   The process that supported the actual event showed the NPCG to be a winning organization beginning with the speed with which The Board moved to underwrite the project based on Judy Belchers’s assessment of her 2007 ACRE experience through West Virginia’s Tamarack-sponsored booth. Next, Judy Dunn brought an online jury process to the NPCG and arranged for respected judges in a short period of time. This online jury process will facilitate the Guild’s future shows and exhibition plans. It also familiarizes members with how show and exhibition judging operates in the 21st century. Meisha Barbee acknowledged that by entering the competition “I participated in my first online juried experience, where I submitted photos via the Internet.”

   The ACRE project established our first mentoring program. Judy Dunn undertook this and provided our representative artists with invaluable information. Sandra McCaw commented,   “ I know Judy Dunn has downplayed her role, but I can't speak highly enough of the help she gave us in terms of information, organization and support before, during and after the show. She was always positive, cheerful and available.           She helped us pull together as a team, covered mountains of information in an organized and clear manner, and was available to help in any way she could. She always had a smile on her face and words of encouragement.”  For Meisha Barbee “Judy Dunn was an amazingly helpful mentor.  She helped us to communicate with one another via conference calls, where we could bounce ideas off each other. Prior to the ACRE show, I didn’t even have a colored business card.  Well, now I have a beautiful business card, several postcards, and I designed and printed a full colored brochure and price sheet.  I even learned how to send my brochure and pricing information via the Internet.” This first mentoring effort gathered specific information helpful for members interested in preparing to sell wholesale or representing themselves in a highly professional manner in their sales campaigns. The endless support, enthusiasm and willingness to dig in and help by our President Judy Belcher was a most appreciated benefit to all.

   From the phone conferences before the event, to working the show, “the team worked beautifully together.  Their spirit of co-operation in everything from figuring out how the booth would look, to how to handle the sales process with three people in the booth was all done in a considerate and professional way.” Says mentor Judy Dunn. For Sandra, “sharing the booth with Meisha and Lindly was wonderful. We complemented each other well and worked together to promote ourselves, each other and polymer clay in general and had plenty of laughs to boot.” Meisha felt “being able to share the experience with other artists was wonderful.  Lindly Haunani and Sandra McCaw were great partners, and I loved working with them.”

  The hours of work these four women and Judy Belcher put into this effort paid off for them and for the Guild.  Our President, Judy Belcher was recently approached by several national artist guilds for information about “how we did such a great job!” Creating a path is always hardest. The 2008 attendees will pass on a body of information to the 2009 representatives that has been tested and improved upon by experience.

   Have we interested you in wanting to try a wholesale show?  The NPCG Board is hoping you will. It is important to understand that as Meisha says, “It was a lot of hard work, but for me, the hard work was its own reward.  I achieved so many things in such a short time, that I surprised myself; things that at one time seemed daunting.”

Lindly, who came into the planning at the last minute, had the most compressed and intense work schedule. “I wouldn’t suggest anyone try to get ready for a show like ACRE under the kind of time frame I had.” Lindly offers the down to earth advice, “look at your body of work and really key in on a coherent statement. And you better be prepared to like that work because with any luck, you’ll be making it for awhile!” The NPCG’s help with the booth does not preclude expense on the participant’s part. Lindly feels that 2009 participants will benefit from the data gathered from the 2008 group to help them prepare a more realistic budget.

   All three artists are glad they participated in ACRE 2008. For Sandra, “it really forced me to get my professional act together and I am looking forward with confidence to the next wholesale show. This mentoring opportunity…truly did give me a hand up and made a seemingly daunting task manageable.” Meisha’s outlook is, “If you are considering getting into the wholesale market, then this is the perfect way to test the waters and learn about it without breaking the bank. Wholesale shows can be costly. To have the opportunity to participate with NO BOOTH FEE and share the cost of lighting and display with other artists is huge. This is the time to develop your wholesale line and decide what works and what doesn’t. I’ve experienced my first show, written some orders and listened to buyers’ comments. Now I can fine tune my wholesale line and have the confidence to do a show on my own. I haven’t decided if I want to continue to do wholesale shows, but the growth I experienced has helped me in other aspects of my polymer clay business. I’m better prepared to promote my work no matter what the venue.”

  Planning for the 2009 competition is in the works. Watch the website for more information. Now is the time to get your wholesale collection thought out and take good photos for the jury.