If you are of an artistic sort, and you want to set up a business of your own, you should really think of setting up a sculpture business. This will not only allow you to let loose all your artistic proclivities, but it will also enable you to spread your artworks to a multitude of homes. Before you do though, it is important that you know the business aspects of this undertaking. Here are 7 tips for setting up a sculpture business.
1. Have a Set Budget
When it comes to setting up a new business, it is imperative that you have a set budget. Remember that you will need to find a place to set up shop. You will also need to hire people, get materials for your sculptures, and find storage space for them as well. So it is important that you list down all the necessities for your business, and then follow this budget to the letter.
2. Choose what type of Materials to Work With
If you are sculpting just for pleasure, it might be fun to switch from one type of material to another. However, if you are making a business out of it, you’ll be surprised how difficult it could be to work with multiple materials. So before you do anything, it is a good idea to choose what type of material you will be working with.
If you choose to work with marble and wood, you might have to put more work into creating the sculptures because they are difficult to work with.
However, if you utilize more malleable materials such as plastic, steel or bronze, you could mass produce your sculptures a lot easier. If you’d like to know more about sculpting different art forms, you can check bronze casting here.
3. Get Professional Help
When it comes to running a sculpture production company, it is imperative that you hire a specialist. Remember that even if you are a good sculptor, there will be times when multiple orders will come in. If you are going to do the work all by yourself, you might get overrun by orders. When it comes to hiring other sculptors to work with you, it is best that you check their portfolio of work and their past experiences as sculptors. Aside from their skills, it is also important that you check their work ethic as well. You might be expected to work overtime on a project, and if your fellow sculptors are lazy, then you might have issues in the long run.
4. Purchase Equipment that will Speed up Production
Aside from your employees, it is also important that you invest in equipment that will speed up the production process. This is especially important if you are going to have to mass produce your sculptures. For harder-to-work materials such as marble, limestone, or wood, you will find it difficult to make multiple sculptures fast.
However, if you work with materials such as plastic, steel, or bronze, you could utilize molds that allow you to cast multiple copies at a time. Companies such as RYD have special tools such as the precision mold and tool that allows them to create molds for various components. While they do specialize in electrical and mechanical components, their technology is advanced enough to create master molds for your sculptures. All you need is one master mold of your primary sculpture, and you could cast multiple copies.
When it comes to running a business, time is always of the essence, so any tool that will speed up the process is always welcome.
5. Adapt a Sculpt on Demand Policy
When it comes to running a sculpting business, you will need to be smart with your materials. Remember that sculpting material, whether it is wood, stone or metal is expensive. So you just can’t make a lot of sculptures and just wait for them to get purchased. It might take years before you find a buyer for them. Instead, it is better if you adapt a sculpt on-demand system.
You won’t sculpt anything unless a serious client pays you to sculpt something. This will ensure that you don’t lose money on any of your sculptures. Some of your potential clients might want to see some examples of yours. For this purpose, you could create examples of your sculptures, however, you should be careful not to go overboard on your sculptures. Remember that your materials are expensive, so you should treat them as precious commodities.
6. Work with a Trustworthy Supplier
If you want your sculpting business to thrive, it is important that you work with a trustworthy supplier. Remember that orders could just come out of the blue, and if you don’t have materials on hand, you might get delayed in your production schedule. Even worse, you might even lose a client because of the delay.
Before you make a partnership with a supplier, it is a good idea to check their background. Ask some of their former clients about the quality of their materials. It is also a good idea to compare your supplier’s prices and their quality. If you are unsatisfied with a supplier don’t be afraid to complain or even change to another supplier. Remember that you are the customer, so they should give you your money’s worth.
7. Quality Control is Key
Before you release any of your products, it is very important that you double-check each and every part of it. Remember that your business’ reputation is very important. If you develop a bad reputation amongst your clients, you might not get any more orders in the long run. So it is very important that you adapt quality control throughout the process.
Conclusion
If you are going to set up a sculpture business, it is important that you have a set plan. With these tips, you’ll be able to set up a great sculpture business.
