by Aaron Pogue
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Web Sitings
by Aaron Pogue |
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FunctionalArts.com is an online gallery specializing in handcrafted furniture. To ensure quality, each work is individually juried onto the site and all purchases are guaranteed for three days after their receipt by the buyer.
When Launched: January 2000
How Funded: The site is privately funded by various individuals.
Mission Statement: FunctionalArts.com is committed to providing the largest selection of handcrafted fine furniture and accessories available, according to co-founder Kitter Spater. "We feel that craftsmanship, style and quality are the most important elements in buying a piece of furniture," he adds.
How Promoted: The site is promoted through direct mail, public relations, and phone contact with interior designers and architects.
Size of Staff: 3
Cost to Participate: Artists are charged a 30 percent commission on all work sold. (A 10 percent shipping and handling fee is charged to the buyer.)
Founders' Background: Each of the three founders bring to the site unique expertise: Kitter Spater was a furniture artist before entering the field of interactive design; Erica Casano, whose parents are woodturners, specializes in the recruitment of artists and customers; and Greggory Guido has a financial background.
Contact: Erica Casano (802-860-7502; ecasano@functionalarts.com)
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Billed as "original art for original people," ArtMecca.com is an online venue available to all artists. There are no juries, leaving setup fees and the commission rate as the only obstacles to joining the site.
When Launched: January 1998
How Funded: ArtMecca.com is privately funded by Angel Investors.
Mission Statement: According to partner Steve Rubenfaer, the site's mission is two-fold: To give any and all artists the venue to sell their work to a global marketplace; and to introduce art to the mainstream public. "We want to dress down art," says Rubenfaer.
How Promoted: The site is promoted through online and offline partnerships, print advertising and a grassroots word-
of-mouth effort. Artists are given their own URLs and are registered with major search engines.
Size of Staff: 15
Cost to Participate: Participating artists are charged a $125 setup fee, which includes 18 images. Each additional image costs $2. The site charges a 25 percent commission on all works sold online, while charging a 35 percent commission on works sold offline through the company's corporate art team and other offline marketing programs.
Founder's Background: The three founding partners, Jennifer Wrigley, Tonya Norris and Frayne Sunahara, started ArtMecca.com after working as partners in a software consulting firm.
Contact: Karyn Marcus, artist curator (800-414-4230; artists@artmecca.com)
| Web Sitings provides information on online craft sites. Inclusion in this column does not constitute an endorsement. |
Aaron Pogue is editorial assistant of The Crafts Report.
Copyright© 2001
JANUARY 2001: TABLE OF CONTENTS