A few years ago a number of local artists set up a display at the Creston Rec Center as part of a Wine/Art event. When I questioned how we were going to handle sales (if any), two of the ladies pulled a little square gizmo out of their pockets.
That was my introduction to Square!
All you need is a Square reader and an internet connection for you to use your smart phone, Iphone or tablet to accept credit cards for your sales. There are no monthly fees; just a small percentage paid for each transaction - if you don't use it, it doesn't cost anything. You will need to have a reasonably up-to-date version of Android on your device but that is about it!
I admit that I didn't handle signing up for my Square - my husband did it - so I don't know any of the details for that but from what he said it was a piece of cake.
My problem is a bad memory for technical things. I don't get a lot of visitors to my gallery because I am not on a heavy traffic route so I haven't had the chance to use my Square very often. There were a few occasions where I messed up trying to use it so I finally typed out a little instruction sheet that I keep with my reader.
At any rate, the Square has been a bonus to my gallery and I recommend it to everyone. After I got mine, I suggested a friend with a B&B try it; she did and has used it numerous times with no problems at all. Then I recommended Square to my hairdresser and now she uses it too!
Today, I got an email from Square with a special offer to any friend who gets Square on my recommendation through this link - squareup.com/i/1572B3D9
If this link doesn't say something like "Mellowood Studio invites you...." please go to my Facebook Page and find my post there and use that link because I get a deal too if my friends sign up. - https://www.facebook.com/val.vanderpoel
I hope you will check it out because it will increase your chances to make sales.
PS> There are a number of ways to use square that don't require the customer's presence or physical card but I haven't tried them so I can't offer any advice.
Boy I wish I would had read this back in January as I am trying to figure this all out too. I ended up with PayPal but not the mobile side of it, not even sure they have a mobile side of it. Now I know Val to ask. Are you doing any online print on demand or like DPW as a online gallery type of thing? I don't sell much but as Lslie says you got to,show it to have a shot at selling
ReplyDeleteHi Nelvia, My husband has a Paypal account that we use for sales on the website and so far we have only used the Square when people come to my home gallery but as the Square doesn't cost until you use it there is no problem having both. I do not do 'print on demand' and don't know what DPW means so don't do that either. Except for art cards of some of my paintings I stick to originals. For me selling is not so much about making money as about getting rid of some paintings so I will have room to display more. I think that marketing is the biggest challenge for artists and most of us just don't have a clue. Good luck with your endeavours in selling your art.
DeleteVery useful information, thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome Rolina - it is a great way to handle sales!
DeleteI have used square for a couple of years now. Its really useful
ReplyDeleteHi Ona. A friend of mine told me that they are working on getting debit cards going for the Square which will make it even more useful - some progress is good!
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