New! The Art & Framing School offers diverse learning opportunities: curriculum of nine seminars will be hosted by an accomplished roster of leaders and experts

Art Business News, Feb, 2005

The International Art & Framing Group is bringing to Artexpo New York the newest name in art and framing education--the Art & Framing School, sponsored by DECOR and Framing Monthly magazines. The Art & Framing School curriculum is designed to help art and framing professionals polish their skills in three key areas: Business Practices, Legal Matters and Retail Merchandising

To learn more about the presenters, see "Meet the Speakers" on page 12.

BUSINESS PRACTICES

Focused on the growth of your art gallery or frame shop, the Art & Framing School's Business Practice seminars offer insight into building a loyal customer base, forecasting your financial future, networking effectively, and increasing sales through customer service:

Friday, March 4

3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Building a Loyal Customer

Base

Becky McKinstry, President, Open Lines, Inc.

Saturday, March 5

12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Turn the World Into Your Sales Force

Becky McKinstry, President, Open Lines, Inc.

LEGAL MATTERS

Increasingly, legal matters have become very important in determining the profitability of small businesses, including art and frame shops. In the digital age, copyright laws pose a greater challenge to art and frame shop owners. The Art & Framing School's Legal Matters seminars draw attention to major issues facing the industry today, and methods for using the law to create profitability for your company.

Thursday, March 3

12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Tricks and Traps of Art Licensing & Infringements

Joshua Kaufman, attorney and partner, Venable, LLP, and ABN Legal Affairs Columnist.

RETAIL MERCHANDISING

In the art and framing industry, offering diversified products and services, and implementing a strategic marketing plan can drive better business success. The Art & Framing School's retail merchandising seminars offer a wealth of marketing techniques for small businesses, including marketing for a changing art and framing market, creating a reliable customer base, and increasing profits through diversified services such as photo restoration, digital services, and creative shadowbox design.

Thursday, March 3

12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Marketing Idea Exchange

Lynn Fey, founder, Insight Solutions Marketing.

3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Art and Framing for the New American Consumer

Lynn Fey, founder, Insight Solutions Marketing.

Friday, March 4

10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

Creative Ways to Market a Small Business

Meg Peters, Finer Frames.

Saturday, March 5

10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

The Art of Marketing & Selling Art for Our Changing World

Zella Jackson, author and business consultant.

3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Creating Lifelong Collectors of Art

Zella Jackson, author and business consultant.

3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Spotting Trends in Artwork

Charlie Kimbell, vice president and marketing director, Wild Apple Graphics.

MEET THE SPEAKER

Becky McKinstry, is the president of Open Lines Inc., and a professional trainer for the past 10 years offering training in communication, customer service, sales skills, consulting for hiring practices and interviewing processes. She has published several articles in customer service, networking, and the art of salesmanship. McKinstry has been an instructor for Boise State University Center for Workforce Training, teaching classes in customer service, communication and effective sales and time management skills. She is a past instructor for the Boise Community Education program teaching classes in confidence building, sales and goal setting.

Joshua Kaufman is the legal affairs columnist for Art Business News and a partner in the law firm of Venable, LLR He specializes in art, copyright, licensing, trademark law and computer/e-commerce/ online legal issues. He represents hundreds of artists, dozens of publishers, licensing agents, and scores of galleries, and is the founder of the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, DC, and The Society to Prevent Trade in Stolen Art. He was a founding member of the DC Bars, Sport, Art and Entertainment Section, and was on the board of the Copyright Society of the USA (DC Chapter). Kaufman taught Art Law at the Corcoran School of Art and is an adjunct professor at American University Law School where for the last 10 years, he has taught Art & Entertainment Law. He is an artist himself and put himself through college as the owner of an art gallery, and through law school as M.C. Escher's first U.S. distributor.

Lynn Fey brings more than 20 years of practical, hands-on marketing experience to her audiences. From direct mail and public relations to event planning and brand building, her extensive experience in the art and framing industry enables her to offer the insight and motivation needed to grow the bottom lines of galleries. Fey is founder of Insight Solutions, which provides marketing and branding strategies to entrepreneurial businesses across North America.

Meg Peters, CPF, founded Finer Frames on the principals of offering higher quality conservation framing and design services. Since opening the frame shop in 1999, Finer Frames has been recognized as an innovative leader in marketing and creativity by the framing industry. She has shared her unique ideas by teaching seminars at international conventions such as Artexpo New York and DECOR Expo in Atlanta. She continues to educate fellow framers through her private consulting business, as well as in her monthly feature, "Meg on Marketing" in DECOR. Finer Frames has been recognized with the Small Business of the Year award by the Meridian Chamber of Commerce, the Top 100 Art & Framing Retailers Award from DECOR, as well as winning the first Footsteps Award from Decor and TruVue in 2003. Recently, the PPFA honored her with its Merit Award for Marketing. Peters has written about her uniquely creative frames in Framing Monthly and is a contributing editor for DECOR. As an artist herself, Peters combines her talents with 14 years of framing experience, bringing a practical and creative flair to framing.