By Chris Cathers
Buyers and representatives of retail businesses interested in offering fine art and Kentucky-made products to their customers can register now to attend The Kentucky Crafted Market at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena.
Wholesale Trade Day at The Market allows business owners or buyers to select merchandise from a high concentration of Kentucky-made products in one location.
The Market is open exclusively to buyers from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 13. Buyers are owners or employees of a business who have the power to initiate purchasing contracts with an artist. Proper business credentials must be provided before buyers can enter the show, and may include a copy of a resale certificate or a business/vendor license, and a business card.
Buyers who attend The Market can place wholesale orders directly with any of more than 130 producers of art, craft, regional food products and books who exhibit at the show.
Market registration for buyers is open until Friday, March 6. Businesses can register by visiting The Kentucky Crafted Market online. Buyer registration is free, but buyers are required to provide credentials at the door.
Any business that resells products at retail may register for the exclusive wholesale day by visiting The Kentucky Crafted Market buyer registration webpage, artscouncil.ky.gov/KAC/Showcasing/2020Market-Buyers.htm. Other representatives from businesses who qualify to attend that day include corporate gift buyers, art galleries, bookstores, clothing stores, craft galleries, department stores, drug stores or pharmacies, florists, garden centers, gift shops, greeting card shops, home furnishing shops, hospital gift shops, hotel/resort gift shops, interior designers, jewelry stores, mail order catalogs, museum gift shops, music stores, specialty food stores, and toy/children’s store.
Corporations who want to provide Kentucky-made gifts can find a wide range of options. An interior designer looking for a piece to tie a room together can either find it at The Market or commission one of the talented Kentucky Crafted artists to create a one-of-a-kind piece.
If you are a retail business owner wanting to feature Kentucky art and craft, The Kentucky Crafted Market is a one-stop shop.
“It’s a very good environment for anyone who wants to draw in business offering Kentucky-made art and craft,” said Lisa Deavers, executive director of Gallery on the Square in Franklin and a frequent buyer at The Kentucky Crafted Market’s Trade Day. “There are a great variety of businesses that can find some wonderful work at The Market. Furniture retailers could highlight and sell one-of-a-kind accessories instead of mass-produced items. Distilleries, who already sell a distinct Kentucky-made product, can also highlight the uniqueness of an artist’s work in their retail areas. Parks can definitely put Kentucky’s best foot forward by offering Kentucky Crafted art and craft in their gift shops. And if you own a retail business and have never been to The Market but you want to expand your inventory to include Kentucky art and craft, you’ll find the trade-only day to be a great opportunity to meet and talk with artists in a relaxed atmosphere.”
Business owners are encouraged to take advantage of this free opportunity to peruse the best of Kentucky art and craft. For more information, call (502) 564-3757.
Chris Cathers is executive director of the Kentucky Arts Council.
Yes, I do consider music an art. I play music and its like a different understanding. You can put so emotion through and different then from others. So, yes, its an art.