8 Tips for Sourcing Artisan Gifts for Your Event

Gifting is evolving. Media attention around fast fashion has made t-shirts and baseball caps less appealing. A box of sweets or a nice bottle of wine are no longer a sure thing, as people become more health-conscious. And who wants a memento they will never use and end up throwing in the trash?

Attendees are looking for an authentic, local experience when they travel to an event, and nothing says that more than a handcrafted gift by a local artist. Many artisans also embrace a charitable mission, making people appreciate the items even more.

For example, Visit Atlantic City found a company that ticks all three boxes, Mud Girls Studio, and sources their coffee mugs and coasters for meeting planner clients. “Their organization transforms the lives of women facing adversity by offering them training, employment, and a pathway out of poverty,” said Visit Atlantic City spokesperson Jessica Kasunich. “Every item sold represents a step toward self-sufficiency.”

These 8 tips will help you find makers who can produce handcrafts in quantity and prepare you to ask the right questions.

Finding Artists

1. Seek Out Artists With National Distribution

You might fall in love with a piece from a maker who’s a one-man show, but it’s unlikely that he or she will be able to produce the volume you need. Seek out artists like Luke Adams Glass, a glassblowing studio in Norwood, Mass. that has an entire team of artists creating its pieces, which are featured at gift shows and sold to retailers across the country. Portland, Maine–based Sea Bags creates handmade tote bags from recycled sails, and has a corporate gifting department that can work with you to customize them with company names and logos.

2. Search Online

The major online player for handcrafted goods, Etsy got rid of its function that used to allow users to search by location, and now includes imported goods that are not handmade. However, it still is a showcase for thousands of artisans, and their locations are included in their profiles. Other sites to search include Amazon Handmade, Novica, Faire, Artful Home, and handmade.com. There are also juried local and regional organizations that showcase their members online, such as the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen.

3. Check Out Local Artist Co-ops When You Visit 

These stores, where artists are co-owners in a collaborative or rent space to show their work, offer a variety of mediums and price points. Take notes and photos as you explore the store, and research the artists when you return home to see if they are able to accommodate your quantity and schedule. Keep in mind that you should be able to negotiate a price that’s lower than retail (see below).

4. Reach Out to the CVB

Some CVBs pride themselves on promoting local and sustainable gifting suppliers from their communities, and already have established relationships. One example, recommended by Discover the Palm Beaches, is 4Ocean, based in Boca Raton and known for its handmade beaded bracelets made of recycled plastic. The company has removed 11 million pounds of plastic from oceans and coastlines worldwide.

Sourcing and Collaboration

5. Ask for Wholesale Pricing

Depending on the artist, the wholesale price can be 20-50% off the retail price. Artisans approach wholesaling in two ways. The first is by number of units, typically 25-50, which they require for wholesale purchases. Others set minimums, such as $300, for wholesale pricing.

6. The More Lead Time, the Better

Lead time depends on the artist and the medium. Adams can ship out an order of 100 ornaments in as little as one week, 100 suncatchers within a couple of weeks, and 500 suncatchers within 4 weeks from January to May (production slows down in the warmer weather). A smaller studio would require much more time. Most professional photographers can get matted photos printed in large quantities at a discount and already have suppliers in place to order the mattes and cellophane sleeves, so they can usually turn around an order in a short period of time.

7. Emphasize the Benefit to the Artist

Share information about your group’s demographics, if they are local (with the potential to become regular customers), and how often you could include the artist’s gifts in your programs. Include an artist bio and contact information with each gift, so attendees can make purchases online. Introduce them to other planners and organizations who can help them grow the corporate gifting side of their business, like a local DMC or the CVB.

8. Include the Artist in Your Event

Houston is home to many leather craftsmen, so one meeting planner researched local shops that featured a variety of artists and approached the owner to see if she would be willing to gift a small leather item to 50 high-end attendees at her meeting. In turn, she offered to set up a pop-up shop during the opening night party. Attendees were able to shop for pocketbooks, vests, leather journals, and trinkets — and it was a win-win for both sides.