FAQ section for artists
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can sell their work at ShopColumbia?
Currently, ShopColumbia sells work created by current Columbia students and recent alumni. If a student is currently selling at ShopColumbia when he/she graduates, the student is eligible to remain selling in the store for up to three years past graduation.
Is selling your work mandatory?
No, selling your work is completely voluntary. ShopColumbia was developed as an extra service provided to students to earn income, gain exposure for their creativity as well as gain hands-on experience working in a retail environment.
Why does ShopColumbia charge a consignment fee?
ShopColumbia charges a consignment fee to participating artists when a work is sold. The consignment fee is 25% of the sales price for current students and 40% of the sales price for recent alumni. ShopColumbia’s consignment fee is significantly less than a typical commercial gallery or boutique’s rate of 40-60%
The consignment fee allows ShopColumbia to cover it's operational expenses--staffing, promotional expenses, advertising, packing materials, software licenses for the point of sales system and the transaction fees of processing credit cards. The consignment fee will ultimately allow ShopColumbia to grow and serve more Columbia artists.
The consignment fee is also a learning experience for artists to consider sales price and related expenses that affect the amount that the artist will receive.
Why are alumni charged a higher consignment fee?
The consignment rate for students is discounted significantly less than what most commercial galleries and boutiques charge. The rate is discounted for students since ShopColumbia’s mission is to showcase student work and to serve as a learning laboratory for students.
Also, ShopColumbia is housed within Student Affairs and is funded partially through Student Activity Fees. Since alumni are no longer enrolled and paying Student Activity Fee, they are charged a higher consignment rate.
Why should student artists participate?
Learning to sell and market your work is one of the skills that all artists must learn. Learning how to price your work, package it and promote it is vital for the success of every artist. It is beneficial to learn the process while still in college as ShopColumbia is a learning laboratory that affords flexibility and allows for trial and error.
By selling at ShopColumbia, you can start marketing not only your work, but also yourself as an artist. ShopColumbia attracts an audience comprised not only of the Columbia community of faculty, staff, and students but to the greater Chicago community as well as tourists. The staff at ShopColumbia actively markets and promotes our artists to help launch their professional careers. Eventually with the implementation of an online store, ShopColumbia will reach a global audience and customer base.
And finally, money. College is expensive and we want to provide a creative venue for students to earn extra income.
How do I sell my work at ShopColumbia?
All work for sale at ShopColumbia is approved by a curatorial board. The board meets on a monthly basis to review new work. Once approved by the board, artist sign a consignment agreement for a semester term, and bring in additional inventory. To learn more, check out the Submission Guidelines and Processes. If you have questions, stop by the store and visit the ShopColumbia or email shop@colum.edu.
Why doesn’t ShopColumbia sell all alumni work? Or faculty and staff work?
We would love to! However, the store has limited space and financial resources. Since is our mission is to serve students, priority is given to them. As the store develops and grows, we will continue adding artists when we can best accommodate them.
What is the curatorial board looking for?
The curatorial board is looking for a diverse collective of Columbia talent. They are looking for: creativity, uniqueness, clean presentation, quality construction, and salability.
Why wasn’t my work selected?
Most times when work isn’t selected, the board has suggestions for the artist. Often a work is not fulfilling one or two submission criteria. A work might not be packaged to protect the print. The work might be priced too high or too low. The board might recommend that a loose print be matted or framed to better appeal to customers. The board might have reservations about the construction of the item—is it safely constructed and is it durable? The size of the work might determine if the store has the space to present the work. If the work is seasonal, the board might suggest bringing the work in at a later date. Or there might be similar work already in the store and the board is seeking greater variety.
My work was selected, now what?
If your work was approved by the board, you will need to come into the store and complete the consignment paperwork. Paperwork includes: a current consignment agreement, an Illinois W9 tax form, and an artist information form. When you come in to sign the paperwork, you will also bring additional inventory as directed by the ShopColumbia Student Content Manager. Consignment agreements will be renewed on a semester basis.
How long is the consignment period?
The consignment period is for one semester. At the end of the semester ShopColumbia and the artist can reevaluate the consignment agreement. If work has not sold during the last period, ShopColumbia might suggest adjusting the pricing or the packaging or might suggest that the artist submit new work to the store. If a work hasn't sold or is not reconsigned, ShopColumbia might be the wrong market for the work.
When is there going to be an online store?
Soon. ShopColumbia is currently in the process of developing a webstore and developing policies for work to be sold online. It is our hopes to launch the webstore by the end of 2009 or early 2010.
What is a Student Powered Product?
Student Powered Products is merchandise created exlusively for ShopColumbia utilizing student designs. All designs are licensed specifically for an item in the store. Examples of past Student Powered Products include: magnets, mugs, t-shrits, posters, calendar, coloring books and pins. If a design is accepted, artists are compensated and credited for the use of their designs. ShopColumbia pays for all manufacturing expenses.
How do I get my designs produced onto a Student Powered Product?
ShopColumbia will be accepting designs each semester for review. If you want to submit designs, email jpgs to shop@colum.edu. Deadline for submissions will be posted online at the http://colum.edu/shopcolumbia.
I sold work at the store, when will I get paid?
ShopColumbia processes payment at the end of each month. After the paperwork is completed within ShopColumbia, it is then forwarded to the college’s accounting department. Because of the large quantity of artists being paid each month, artists can expect to be paid within 90 days after the sale.
It’s been 90 days since I sold a work and I haven’t received a check yet. Now what?
If it has been 90 days after your work has sold, please contact ShopColumbia. Either stop into the store or email shop@colum.edu. Rarely, payments do get lost with the United States Postal Service. The store will stop payment and reissue a new payment for you. Also, to ensure accurate delivery, if you move please notify ShopColumbia ASAP.
Does the college take out taxes from my payment?
No, but the college does track the amount being paid to each artist. If an artist earns more than $600 from sales, the college will submit the artists’ W9 to the IRS and the student is responsible for declaring the earnings from the year on their taxes.
I’m looking on the consignment form, what is Artist Price and what is Sales Price?
Artist Price is the amount that you, as an artist, wish to receive when your work is sold. Sales Price is the amount that ShopColumbia will sell the work at in the store, including the additional consignment fee.
How do I figure the Sales Price and Artist Price?
If you have questions, ask a ShopColumbia staff member. We are glad to help!
The equations for students paying a 25% consignment fee is as follows:
The equations for alumni paying a 40% consignment fee is as follows:
Download the FAQ's
- Who can sell their work at ShopColumbia?
- Is selling your work mandatory?
- Why does ShopColumbia charge a consignment fee?
- Why are alumni charged a higher consignment fee?
- Why should student artists participate?
- How do I sell my work at ShopColumbia?
- Why doesn’t ShopColumbia sell all alumni work? Or faculty and staff work?
- What is the curatorial board looking for?
- Why wasn’t my work selected?
- My work was selected, now what?
- How long is the consignment period?
- When is there going to be an online store?
- What is a Student Powered Product?
- How do I get my designs produced onto a Student Powered Product?
- I sold work at the store, when will I get paid?
- It’s been 90 days since I sold a work and I haven’t received a check yet. Now what?
- Does the college take out taxes from my payment?
- I’m looking on the consignment form, what is Artist Price and what is Sales Price?
- How do I figure the Sales Price and Artist Price?
Who can sell their work at ShopColumbia?
Currently, ShopColumbia sells work created by current Columbia students and recent alumni. If a student is currently selling at ShopColumbia when he/she graduates, the student is eligible to remain selling in the store for up to three years past graduation.
Is selling your work mandatory?
No, selling your work is completely voluntary. ShopColumbia was developed as an extra service provided to students to earn income, gain exposure for their creativity as well as gain hands-on experience working in a retail environment.
Why does ShopColumbia charge a consignment fee?
ShopColumbia charges a consignment fee to participating artists when a work is sold. The consignment fee is 25% of the sales price for current students and 40% of the sales price for recent alumni. ShopColumbia’s consignment fee is significantly less than a typical commercial gallery or boutique’s rate of 40-60%
The consignment fee allows ShopColumbia to cover it's operational expenses--staffing, promotional expenses, advertising, packing materials, software licenses for the point of sales system and the transaction fees of processing credit cards. The consignment fee will ultimately allow ShopColumbia to grow and serve more Columbia artists.
The consignment fee is also a learning experience for artists to consider sales price and related expenses that affect the amount that the artist will receive.
Why are alumni charged a higher consignment fee?
The consignment rate for students is discounted significantly less than what most commercial galleries and boutiques charge. The rate is discounted for students since ShopColumbia’s mission is to showcase student work and to serve as a learning laboratory for students.
Also, ShopColumbia is housed within Student Affairs and is funded partially through Student Activity Fees. Since alumni are no longer enrolled and paying Student Activity Fee, they are charged a higher consignment rate.
Why should student artists participate?
Learning to sell and market your work is one of the skills that all artists must learn. Learning how to price your work, package it and promote it is vital for the success of every artist. It is beneficial to learn the process while still in college as ShopColumbia is a learning laboratory that affords flexibility and allows for trial and error.
By selling at ShopColumbia, you can start marketing not only your work, but also yourself as an artist. ShopColumbia attracts an audience comprised not only of the Columbia community of faculty, staff, and students but to the greater Chicago community as well as tourists. The staff at ShopColumbia actively markets and promotes our artists to help launch their professional careers. Eventually with the implementation of an online store, ShopColumbia will reach a global audience and customer base.
And finally, money. College is expensive and we want to provide a creative venue for students to earn extra income.
How do I sell my work at ShopColumbia?
All work for sale at ShopColumbia is approved by a curatorial board. The board meets on a monthly basis to review new work. Once approved by the board, artist sign a consignment agreement for a semester term, and bring in additional inventory. To learn more, check out the Submission Guidelines and Processes. If you have questions, stop by the store and visit the ShopColumbia or email shop@colum.edu.
Why doesn’t ShopColumbia sell all alumni work? Or faculty and staff work?
We would love to! However, the store has limited space and financial resources. Since is our mission is to serve students, priority is given to them. As the store develops and grows, we will continue adding artists when we can best accommodate them.
What is the curatorial board looking for?
The curatorial board is looking for a diverse collective of Columbia talent. They are looking for: creativity, uniqueness, clean presentation, quality construction, and salability.
Why wasn’t my work selected?
Most times when work isn’t selected, the board has suggestions for the artist. Often a work is not fulfilling one or two submission criteria. A work might not be packaged to protect the print. The work might be priced too high or too low. The board might recommend that a loose print be matted or framed to better appeal to customers. The board might have reservations about the construction of the item—is it safely constructed and is it durable? The size of the work might determine if the store has the space to present the work. If the work is seasonal, the board might suggest bringing the work in at a later date. Or there might be similar work already in the store and the board is seeking greater variety.
My work was selected, now what?
If your work was approved by the board, you will need to come into the store and complete the consignment paperwork. Paperwork includes: a current consignment agreement, an Illinois W9 tax form, and an artist information form. When you come in to sign the paperwork, you will also bring additional inventory as directed by the ShopColumbia Student Content Manager. Consignment agreements will be renewed on a semester basis.
How long is the consignment period?
The consignment period is for one semester. At the end of the semester ShopColumbia and the artist can reevaluate the consignment agreement. If work has not sold during the last period, ShopColumbia might suggest adjusting the pricing or the packaging or might suggest that the artist submit new work to the store. If a work hasn't sold or is not reconsigned, ShopColumbia might be the wrong market for the work.
When is there going to be an online store?
Soon. ShopColumbia is currently in the process of developing a webstore and developing policies for work to be sold online. It is our hopes to launch the webstore by the end of 2009 or early 2010.
What is a Student Powered Product?
Student Powered Products is merchandise created exlusively for ShopColumbia utilizing student designs. All designs are licensed specifically for an item in the store. Examples of past Student Powered Products include: magnets, mugs, t-shrits, posters, calendar, coloring books and pins. If a design is accepted, artists are compensated and credited for the use of their designs. ShopColumbia pays for all manufacturing expenses.
How do I get my designs produced onto a Student Powered Product?
ShopColumbia will be accepting designs each semester for review. If you want to submit designs, email jpgs to shop@colum.edu. Deadline for submissions will be posted online at the http://colum.edu/shopcolumbia.
I sold work at the store, when will I get paid?
ShopColumbia processes payment at the end of each month. After the paperwork is completed within ShopColumbia, it is then forwarded to the college’s accounting department. Because of the large quantity of artists being paid each month, artists can expect to be paid within 90 days after the sale.
It’s been 90 days since I sold a work and I haven’t received a check yet. Now what?
If it has been 90 days after your work has sold, please contact ShopColumbia. Either stop into the store or email shop@colum.edu. Rarely, payments do get lost with the United States Postal Service. The store will stop payment and reissue a new payment for you. Also, to ensure accurate delivery, if you move please notify ShopColumbia ASAP.
Does the college take out taxes from my payment?
No, but the college does track the amount being paid to each artist. If an artist earns more than $600 from sales, the college will submit the artists’ W9 to the IRS and the student is responsible for declaring the earnings from the year on their taxes.
I’m looking on the consignment form, what is Artist Price and what is Sales Price?
Artist Price is the amount that you, as an artist, wish to receive when your work is sold. Sales Price is the amount that ShopColumbia will sell the work at in the store, including the additional consignment fee.
How do I figure the Sales Price and Artist Price?
If you have questions, ask a ShopColumbia staff member. We are glad to help!
The equations for students paying a 25% consignment fee is as follows:
• If Artist Price is known, multiply the Artist Price by 4 and then divide by 3 to determine the Sales Price.
• If Sales Price is known, multiply the Sales Price by 75% (.75) to determine the Artist Price.
• If Sales Price is known, multiply the Sales Price by 75% (.75) to determine the Artist Price.
The equations for alumni paying a 40% consignment fee is as follows:
• If Artist Price is known, multiply the Artist Price by 5 and divide by 3 to determine the Sales Price.
• If Sales Price is known, multiply the Sales Price by 60% (.60) to determine the Artist Price.
• If Sales Price is known, multiply the Sales Price by 60% (.60) to determine the Artist Price.
Download the FAQ's