Resources

NAMTA provides an array of products and services developed to assist members in business. Be sure to download all the resources available to you as a member.


♦ 101 Tips for Art Materials Retailers

Many of the industry’s most experienced and respected art material retailers have shared a little of their wisdom with NAMTA and you are the beneficiary. 101 Tips (that don’t include pricing) for Art Material Retailers will immerse you in page after page of advice from a group of experts who, collectively, have more than 500 years of experience selling art materials.  Login required


 

♦ Art Materials Retailer Magazine

SUMMER 2017 Digital Issue

Published quarterly by Fahy-Williams Publishing since 1998, Art Materials Retailer Magazine addresses the issues facing the art supply industry and provides a forum for retailers and manufacturers to share information that can benefit everyone, along with interviews, retailing tips, NAMTA news, and loads of product information.

NAMTA Members - fill out this form to have Art Materials Retailer Magazine delivered to you by mail.



♦ Artist & Art Materials Studies

This report is the ONLY summary available of the trends, size and growth of the art materials market in the USA and Canada. Login required

2015 Artist Survey Results 
Get the results of a December 2014 survey of more than 6,000 artists in the USA and Canada, including artworks created, art materials, content use, social media, spending by product category and retail channel, feedback for retailers, demographics, and returning to art. Report includes data from all three study years (2009, 2012, 2015), and professional, student, and recreational artists. Login required

2015 Retail Survey Results  
Get the results of a 2015 survey of 150 art materials retailers in the USA and Canada: core financial metrics, growth trends, product trends, marketing and business best practices, challenges, and feedback for suppliers. The report includes data from 2009, 2012, and 2015. Login required

Study Overview, 2015 and Previous Studies
Non-member Price


♦ Retail Operations Manuals

Managing People  
Volume I - A must-read for retail employers.
Topics include placing an ad for a job opening, the application, the Interview and the selection process of new employees, plus employee handbooks, policies and procedures reviews, incentives, and staff education. Examples of interview forms included. Login required

Advertising and Marketing  
Volume 2 - Create a marketing plan and shape your brand, determine how much you should be investing in advertising and marketing, set up an annual advertising and marketing calendar to maximize your return on that investment, determine strengths and weaknesses of traditional media, effectively manage digital advertising/marketing channels available - plus worksheets and tips from experienced art material retailers. Login required
Volume 3 - Merchandising has traditionally been about the process used to conduct retail sales. What products do you sell, how to present them to your customers and at what price. While art materials retailers have traditionally engaged in the task of retail merchandising in a physical location, the internet has now made it possible to apply these same basic principles online in a virtual store. Merchandising – has been written specifically for art materials retailers. Whether a novice in the business or a veteran retailer looking to explore the changing dynamics of art materials sales, you’ll learn more about how this important facet of retailing can be managed in both brick-and-mortar and/or online environments.Target marketing, selecting vendors, shipping issues and costs, planograms, inventory control, managing your product mix, pricing strategies, working with sales reps and so much more are addressed in this manual. Login required


New in 2017  
Business Plan   
This book has been created to be continually utilized. Your business plan is not a one-time exercise. 

While the first time that you create your Business Plan will likely be the most intense, re-reading and tweaking it annually is necessary to keep it relevant and useful. Each year there are likely to be changes to the retail landscape: new niches of retail open up; competition moves in and out of your trade area; art trends change. NAMTA members click here to read this new Retail Operations Manual.

 

♦ Mentoring

The NAMTA Mentor Program is designed to assist NAMTA Members* who are in the planning stages of opening an art materials business, or have recently opened their new business and in need of some guidance. Once you have completed the request form, NAMTA will work to pair you with a member who is experienced in the industry and willing to share their knowledge with you. 

Interested in being a mentor?  Click here for more info and forms.

* Program for active NAMTA members only.

 

♦ Articles for Retailers
Login required



by Tom Shay

Newsletters

December 2016

April 2017 


Art Advocacy Website
Interesting Facts and Information about Art Advocacy for everyone. 
www.namtaartadvocacy.org

♦ Toolbox Forms

Toolbox Forms a little assistance To provide a little assistance NAMTA has created a toolbox of forms and ideas to help you - from the employment application to interview questions, employee evaluations, exit interviews, and various operational forms and information.  Login required

♦ 2017 Promotional Retail Calendar

Promotional calendars can assist art materials retailers with their marketing and promotion plans. Special events and promotions draw attention to your store, create excitement and boost the bottom line. Here's a month-by-month list of potential promotion events NAMTA has compiled for you.  Login required

 

♦ Essential Reference Guide

The Essential Reference Guide (ERG) was written in 2004 and it still used for staff training by some NAMTA members. After studying the files, members are encouraged take the online test.  Members who pass the test will receive a Certificate of Acknowledgement from NAMTA.  Login required


♦ Bibliography 

This guide contains a collection of books, DVDs and websites where you can find trusted information about the art materials. Almost every item is recommended by a NAMTA member.  Login required

♦ ART Matters Posters

Two colorful posters, three different sizes to download and print for your office, store, or to give to your local schools and art organizations.  Download for Free

 

♦ 10 Business Tools

From the 2012 Artist & Art Material Survey, 10 Business Tools include retailer financial benchmarks, retailer marketing adviser, online retailer areas for improvement, product growth trends, along with product development insights.  Login required

 

♦ eNews

  • NAMTA members receive NAMTA's eNews by email every other week. 
  • The most current issue is always posted on the Home Page of NAMTA.org. 
  • Read past issues here- eNews Archives - that you may have missed.