Last week we had a round of our Venetian Plastering classes with new students from all over the country. One of the great benefits of our Stucco Italiano Certification (VP2) and Advanced (VP3) courses is the opportunity to not only perfect your techniques by working on the sample boards, but to also get the feel of working on larger surfaces, and even real walls. Scroll down to see photos of Gary helping remodel our new conference room, building his real-world Venetian plastering expertise.
If you’re a former student of ours and are looking to update your skills, consider taking advantage of our Portfolio Builder and Product Update Workshop next month: November 14-15. You pay for supplies only, have the chance to work on large surfaces, and learn the hottest new finishes. And of course, network with your fellow artisans as we go out to dinner Friday night!
Tadelakt is quickly becoming the favorite finish for many of our customers and their clients. The finish is known for its beautiful exotic aesthetic and its durability, especially water-resistance. In fact, Tadelakt is traditionally used in the Hammans, Moroccan steam baths.
Our friend Steve Manby up in Vancouver just did an impressive job applying Tadelakt on some columns.
I’m going to show you examples of three simple tools that some of our most successful plasterers are using to spread the word about the exciting work they do. Whether you are a beginner embarking on your Venetian plaster career or an experienced artisan, you don’t have to spend money on expensive ads to benefit from today’s most effective promotional tools.
The three methods I’m going to share with you require only internet access, a digital video and/or still camera, and a willingness to showcase your wall finishing skills. In between jobs? Devote your day off to any one of these tools and you’ll be on your way to building your customer base while still having fun. And for those of you who are computer-phobic, they are less complex than you may think. The simple techniques I’ll discuss are:
1. Taking photos.
2. Making videos.
3. Starting a blog.
1. Taking Photos.
Have you ever tried to describe the beauty and benefits of Venetian plaster to someone who is completely unfamiliar with it? The easiest way to explain a finish is to show it. For Venetian Plaster artisans, the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” rings especially true. What better way sell your clients high-end finishes than to let them see the incredible results for themselves?
Tom Williams sent us these photos of an Intonachino Medium and X-Fine project-in-progress in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, sure to inspire envy in anyone using an inferior finish.
We use flickr to share our photos. Click here to create your own photosharing page, or email us your Venetian plastering photos and we’ll post them here on our blog.
2. Making videos.
This is a very concrete way to showcase your undeniable talent. Use any digital video camera to document your process. If you don’t have a video camera, remember that many still digital cameras have the ability to make short videos– the perfect length for uploading to youtube to share with the world! Lars Hansen of Hansen Handcrafted Finishes taped his process while working with Tadelakt for an outdoor shower on a modern home. Here’s the first installment:
Check out his new youtube channel to watch more, or sign up to make a youtube channel of your own. To reach an audience interested in Venetian plastering, send your video link to us and we’ll embed it on our blog.
The other great thing about youtube is that it ranks high in Google searches, which makes it easy for people searching for Venetian plaster artisans in your area to find you!
3. Starting a blog.
Use your own stories to introduce yourself to your clients. Often a personal touch makes the difference in getting hired by a client. Sharing your successes online is a great way to generate buzz and network with others in your field.
Randy Orr just posted these kind words about us on his blog:
“I have to give a quick yet special thanks to Aaron and Kay Lynn at SAFS (Seattle Architectual Finishing School) for supplying me with the Marmornino in such short notice. I know we all may have had experiences with manufacturers or distributors from time to time, where the customer service can make us cringe. But you guys at SAFS came through! And so did FedEx. Thank you so much!”
Randy was kind enough to link to us, which prompts us to link back to him. This means exposure for both businesses and everybody wins!
We use wordpress for our blog, but blogger and typepad are other options that are a bit more beginner-friendly, with clear step-by-step instructions that will have you blogging within minutes.
If any of these techniques inspire you, send us a link to your photos, videos, or blog and we’ll post it here for even more exposure! Have fun and good luck.
