Customer Reviews

Becoming A Corporate Art Consultant

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Reading and using this book as a reference is like having a business coach on your bookshelf. It was written by someone with a lot of experience, with a great deal of intuitive business intelligence, and by someone who is extraordinarily giving with information. If all the suggestions in this book were implemented, it would give someone a distinct competitive advantage in the field. You get the honest sense that Ms Markoff very much wants you to succeed in this field.
The book is packed with detailed information, and I personally found the traditional marketing and social marketing sections to be especially powerful. This book would be especially helpful to someone considering the field or just starting out; it could save you from making many costly mistakes. Markoff's scope of detail into a very professional customer service oriented workflow would also be an excellent reference even for someone with experience in the field.
Being an artist, I purchased the book to see what challenges art consultants face in marketing artists' work. I would highly recommend the book not just to aspiring art consultants, but I think it should be required reading for art students and beginning artists as well. For artists to create mutually beneficial relationships with their representatives, it is imperative that they understand the needs and processes that are undertaken on their behalf. Artists could also benefit from applying the many excellent business practices described in this book.
Not many books stay on my desk - this one will!

If there were ever a great business for visual artists to be in besides painting full time, becoming a corporate art consultant would have to rank as #1 on the list. Barbara Markoff brings decades of experience to write the definitive guide for anyone wishing to get the goods and learn about the corporate art market. She gives clear advice, great analogies and lots of useful forms. The only thing that could be better would be to have a chance work as an intern and watch Barbara work in-person. She doesn't leave anything out. If you have what it takes to follow her formula for success, all you need to know is in the book. Get it and get going on a great side career -- or full-time career!

Barbara Markoff's book is an invaluable reference tool for those interested in becoming corporate art consultants: artists and interior designers who wish to work with art consultants, gallery owners, framers and all those in related design fields who wish to understand the field of art consulting.

Barbara generously shares her years of experience as a corporate art consultant as she defines the skills needed and the steps to be taken to be successful in this field. The book takes us through the process of building and marketing an art consulting business, how to build relationships with artists and clients and the nuances of working with them, preparing proposals and quotes, closing the deal, framing and installation, and how to get paid. She describes the special requirements and expectations of specific market segments, how to differentiate your business in this field and the practical aspects of packaging, shipping and receiving artwork. The book is also full of practical resources including sales scenarios, essential forms and websites for source materials. Nothing is left out.

Barbara is an expert in her field and an excellent communicator. Not everyone could take such an unbiased and even position when describing the inner workings of an industry but Barbara does this in an accurate, honest, clear, easy to understand and thorough manner. It is refreshing to read her balanced and realistic guidance about the best path to take, while understanding the hard work and rewards involved in being in such a fascinating field.

Barbara is a highly respected speaker and teacher and you couldn't do better than to navigate your way to success by following the path she charts so clearly.

Becoming a Corporate Art Consultant is very difficult in today's economy but Ms Markoff has made the case for success. The book covers step-by-step exactly what it takes to achieve your goals. You can tell this book was written by someone with years of experience. Networking is sharing and Markoff understands that. She generously gives you the best of her knowledge. The information is not just a common sense approach but an approach formed by her day to day dedication. Reading this book you know she did everything she recommends: she cold called on the phone, doggedly pursued leads and never gave up. I was especially impressed by the marketing and branding information. Markoff not only relies on traditional methods of marketing but ventures into new territory with social media and networking. Her approach again is to simplify and make the task at hand not so overwhelming. She speaks in simple, easy to follow language. But they are winning terms. I highly recommend this book to anyone that has considered becoming a Corporate Art Consultant or someone in the industry that wants to increase their success.

What Barbara teaches allows any retail picture framing business to create a commercial division by simply offering a unique, but very needed, service. Commercial clients do not have the time or knowledge to know how to determine what type of art to bring in-house or how to attractively display it. Being a specialist in this area allows for a new revenue stream to be added any existing business in this industry. This book is a must-read for any Owner looking to add new clients to their account base and add dollars to the bottom line.

This book is a must have for any entrepreneur interested in becoming an art consultant. What really struck me is the immense amount of knowledge Barbara Markoff has amassed over the years and the excellent way she organized and delivered it to the reader. It really is an invaluable guide for anyone interested in this field. The many excellent bullet-point suggestions add to the usability and easy take-away for the reader. These value-add "recommendation lists" include everything from How to Choose A Networking Group to, Tips for Telemarketing to, Rules and Guidelines for Framing Corporate Artwork to Marketing and Branding Tips. Just an amazing array of subjects and suggestions. You cannot help but thinking, this author has been there and done that and is confident enough in her own skin to fully describe her many experiences for all to partake. BTW, many of Markoff's recommendations, particularly on the marketing and networking side are applicable to so many other businesses as well. So in that regard Becoming A Corporate Art Consultant has much to offer anyone trying to build a successful business who wants to see how best practices are thoughtfully applied in a real-world setting.

Written in an easy to follow format, Barbara Markoff's book is a comprehensive step-by-step guide for anyone who wants to be or is in the art consultation business. Markoff covers prospecting, networking, sales, corporate visits, the installation process, and follow up. Each chapter is chock full of information. This is a no-nonsense guide to exactly how to proceed if you want to sell art to the corporate, hospitality, and heath care markets. She discusses art choices in detail with lists of vendors and advice on how to contact individual artists. She also makes framing recommendations for those who are not professional picture framers, covering recommendations, supplies and resources. The last chapter of the book includes a wealth of forms and sample letters. Whether you are a picture framer, a designer, an art consultant, or a design professional, this book will be helpful. If you are just getting into the business, this book is essential.