Clare's News

The Art Market team have organised what looks like a fantastic exhibition at Huddersfield Art Gallery. The Art Market Showcase is a 6 week exhibition featuring the best of the Art Market past and present

If you pop along for a look you should be able to spot a few of my pieces there. Open until January.
http://theartsmarket.blogspot.com/

Clare has been thinking about creating a special product which be available in the run up to Christmas. She has used a gold lustre to highlight the stitch details on the cup and saucer. These cups have been turned into a beautiful candle cup which smell gorgeous! The little bit of sparkle gives you a real festive feeling!

You’ll be able to see these candle cups on Clare’s stall in the next few months and soon they’ll be available online at www.notonthehighstreet.com/claregage

It’s that time of year again. Christmas is on it’s way and we’re all on the look out for great pressies for friends and family. Clare will be out and about at a few shows in the next few months. They’re all brilliant shopping events so worth a visit! Here are the details

The Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair at Spinning fields, Manchester. 20th-23rd October

www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk

Holmfirth Arts Market, Holmfirth. Sunday 6th November

www.artmarkets.co.uk

Country Living Christmas Fair, Islington. 9th-13th November

www.countrylivingfair.com/xmas

Weekend Shopping Event, Christmas Event. Buxton Dome. 12th-13th November

www.theweekendshoppingcompany.co.uk

Fabulous Places Christmas Market. The Roundhouse, Derby. 19th, 20th November

www.fabulousplaces.co.uk/events

A post from Clare about her recent trip to the Liberty Open Call:

On Saturday I made my way down to London to go to Liberty’s Open Call. This is a chance for designers to show their products to the buyers from Liberty’s. If you’re lucky then they’ll place an order and you’ll see your designs on the shelves of one of our most famous shops! If your work turns out to be not quite what they’re looking for then you’ll still get some top tips from the buyers and really useful feedback from the people in the know.

So after registering for the Open Call a few months ago I headed off to London early on Saturday morning. There was quite a long wait in a queue, outside then inside the building. I had a looong wait (4 hours!) but luckily I had the company of my brother who now lives ‘down south’ so it was a great opportunity for us to chat chat chat!

Liberty’s had emailed me with some questions to be prepared for. These included questions about my trade prices, the RRP for the products, my ideas for where my products would sit in their store and who my ideal customers were. When the moment came for my 3 minutes with the buyers it seemed to rush by in a bit of a blur! Luckily I know the answers to the questions like the back of my hand as I’ve been selling my products for over 3 years now but for someone new to the business I would recommend making sure you really know you’re stuff before you go as there is no time to look things up or to hesitate over answers. Another top tip is to have a trade pack ready to leave with the buyers, I was told that not many people had prepared for this.

The feedback on my products was that they were great but not the style that Liberty are currently looking at, they are moving into contemporary, graphic styled designs for their ceramic ranges. Emily Simpson, the buyer from the Home department who spoke to me, recommended a few stores who might be interested in my designs and told me I was doing the right thing by attending the Country Living Fairs because she believed that was just the right audience for my products.

I was asked to leave my trade pack with them, with all the details of products, prices and how to order so they had the info if they decided it was a range they’d like in the future. Emily also gave me her business card and asked me to keep in touch with any new designs, or new ranges which I develop. So I see that as a success! Although there was no order on the day I did receive great feedback and now I have a contact at Liberty who is interested in my designs!

So it was a valuable experince for me with the only downside being the long wait, just take a good book with you (especially jewellers, there was a very large queue of jewellers) or take a friend that you haven’t seen for a while and have a good gossip while you wait!

I would recommend it to other Designer Makers as it’s great to get the feedback from the buyers, just make sure you’re ready for the 3 mins, it’s fast and you need to make the most of it.

http://www.liberty.co.uk/fcp/content/best_of_british/contentform

Clare’s work has been chosen to be included in an exhibition in Paris. Thirteen exhibitors will take part in ‘Le Design à l’heure anglaise’, Design Factory’s first international gallery show. The exhibition runs from 10 June to 28 July  at l’Atelier, a prestigious gallery located at Viaduc des Arts, close to the Bastille area of central Paris.

http://bit.ly/lMk5VO

Clare visited Paris for the opening of the exhibition and had the chance to explore Paris. Here are a few photos from her trip.

pssst! I’ve got a bit of insider information for you!
There is an offer in Country Living magazine this month for 15% off Clare Gage ceramics. Is it time to add to your collection?

Come along!

Royal Wedding Cup and Saucer. Clare has made a special cup and saucer to celebrate the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Details have been added to personalise Clare’s textile textured Cup and Saucer for William and Kate. Their initials and wedding date are stamped on the inside and stitch details are in patriotic colours!

Available to buy online at http://www.notonthehighstreet.com/claregage/product/royal-wedding-cup-and-saucer

Woo Hoo! the Clare Gage stand has won another award!

Here are the details of two shows where you can find Clare and her work in the next few months.

Spring Shopping Weekend- Buxton Dome Saturday 16th April and Sunday 17th April

www.theweekendshoppingcompany.co.uk

Fabulous Place Summer Event- The Roundhouse Derby Saturday 2nd July and Sunday 3rd July

www.fabulousplaces.co.uk