A particular talent or skill is not enough today. To build a successful, durable business, you also need commercial understanding and a team to support you.
Here is an excellent example I came across on my recent travels.
There is an artist, Vera Gaffney, whose work I like, and I have given presents of her seascapes to friends and family.
Here is how I came to connect with Vera!
My wife Jean and I were on one of our many regular golfing trips to Strandhill in County Sligo.
One day, when walking around Sligo town we came across ‘The Cat and The Moon’ craft shop which appealed to us both, so in we went. The shop immediately felt warm and inviting, and we went browsing. We were not looking for anything in particular but saw several art pieces we would like to buy.
We purchased a print, which was well-framed and very appealing to the eye.
When visiting the family member to whom we gave the print sometime later, we both decided when we were next planning to give a gift to them, we would buy an image to complement our previous gift.
The time came to purchase the next gift, but we had not been back to Sligo and had no immediate plans to do so.
So, this is where commercial acumen paired with talent comes into play.
We looked up “The Cat and the Moon” online, but they did not have a print in stock that would complement the first picture we purchased.
Next, we found Vera Gaffney online and discovered that she is stocked not only in the Sligo gallery but all over the country, and particularly helpfully, including in a shop close to our home.
Problem solved; we have subsequently purchased several prints and paintings for friends and family.
I was recently in touch with Vera regarding this article and hope you’ll visit her website.
My message to you is to make yourself and your talent readily available to people and be easily found.
If this is not your skill, there are many companies out there such as the company I use, Lambourn Digital who support Aristo.ie to find clients and make me easily contactable.
