type of prints to produce?

[Jon]

Hello all. I am a fairly new member, but have been enjoying all of the insights and knowledge. I have a retail gallery and wholesale business built around my large format landscape photography. I take the photos, custom frame everything and do most of the selling. I am hoping to produce a line of "prints" to wholesale to my fellow framers/galleries around the country. I would appreciate input into what you would look for concerning:
print size, paper type, lithos, giclees, need for limited edition numbers, etc. I would like to create a national business, but I want to keep it small and produce things I know people want and can afford.

Thanks for your input!
Jon
www.jonpaulgallery.com

 

[Less]

Hi Jon,

Nothing worth doing is easy.

Nice work! It looks like you already know the answer to your question. I would guess you are just fishing for customers. Ok by me! I'll comment anyway.

Giclée’s will have to be priced about the same as your current photos, or are the already Giclée’s? Offset litho's are much cheaper to produce, but, will cost you more up front. I would offer very low edition photos & Giclées just for the clients who can want the quality, and can afford them. They will cost you from $50 to $200 each plus setup fees. But, I have found them to be a little cost prohibitive for the wide market. Pick your best images, and make low run lithos of 500 or Less. They should cost you no more than a dollar or two each, which will allow you to sell them at attractive prices. Let's say, $150 retail and $75 wholesale. I think you have the right idea though. Going after the wholesale market is probably the best way to make money. Maybe you can get into a decorative art catalog, or get hooked up with online print retailers. You better be willing to spend a lot on marketing, or you may as well stay local.

Somebody help me out here. Is it Giclees, or Giclee's? Where's my Unseal?

 

[Jon]

Thanks for the input. Although it's not a bad idea, I'm not fishing for customers. I actually want to know what you folks, in general, would buy. I save the expensive stuff for my gallery. I am hoping to sell a fair number of affordable, but quality, prints to framers who want to make a bit off of art, and a lot on framing. Any suggestions for good standard sizes? Paper quality? The inexpensive litho market sounds about what I expected.
Thanks again,
Jon