The Lighthouse 2003
| Organisation |
The Lighthouse |
| Project |
Life, Work, Design, a combined applied arts and retail development in the remodelled Gallery One |
| Artform |
Crafts |
| Location |
Glasgow |
| Application type |
Full project |
| Date |
2001 - 2003 |
| Status |
Completed |
| Grant |
£69,500 |
| Total project cost |
£168,000 |
Established in 1999, The Lighthouse is Scotland’s Centre for Design, Architecture and the City. Its role is to promote awareness of design, architecture and urban issues as having a significant social, economic, cultural and educational impact on peoples’ lives.
The Lighthouse has several gallery spaces over its six floors and is situated in a central location in Glasgow.
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To incorporate a contemporary applied arts outlet within the remodelled Gallery One space on the first floor, entitled Work, Life, Design. The space houses a changing display area for contemporary industrial and domestic design, in partnership with the Vitra Design Museum in Germany. The retail outlet will balance this with selling displays of the best in UK crafts, with particular emphasis on Scottish makers, along with Lighthouse branded goods. |
- To provide a new retail outlet for Scottish craft makers
- To provide access to applied arts for Glasgow and visiting shoppers. Particular emphasis is placed on the potentially lucrative market of the corporate sector that use the building for conferences and corporate events.
- To develop new audiences for design, architecture and crafts through a range of special promotions and marketing initiatives
- To increase revenue for the building
- In December 2001, after 4 months build and fit out, The Lighthouse opened its retail shop form.
- A Crafts Advisory Panel, which included Clare Beck from the Crafts Council who was appointed by Scottish Arts Council as an external assessor, was formed to work with the Lighthouse team.
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Initiatives set up in year one included new formations, a series of three events showcasing contemporary craft. new formations 1 featured 4 designer-makers, two well known and established artists and two new talents. new formations 2 featured the work of 12 makers and included ceramics, jewellery, glass, textiles (printed, woven & knitted) and mixed media. new formations 3 focused on textiles, to link with a Lighthouse exhibition on textile designers, Timorous Beasties. Exhibitors included Anne Kyro Quinn, Lesley Osbiston, Cecilie Telle, Hannah Lamb and Joanna Kinnersley Taylor. |
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- The sales turnover in the shop after the first year of trading was just under £100,000, providing revenue of £38,000.
- The expenditure on stock for year one was considerably higher then originally anticipated. However, the revenue was slightly greater than anticipated.
- The Lighthouse is currently converting 12% of its visitors and has achieved an average 'basket spend' of £16.23.
- The main craft sales are coming from jewellery and textiles, with lower sales on glass and ceramics.
- Sourcing and maintaining supplies of quality craft can be complex and time consuming.
- There is growing interest and awareness from consumers, the craft sector and the media, with a direct correlation between marketing and sales.
- The Lighthouse has developed fruitful links with Artisan, Made in Scotland and Applied Arts Scotland, all of which have led to mutually beneficial projects and developments.
- The immediate challenge is sustaining the development over the next three to five years.
Keren McPhee
Marketing & Sponsorship Officer
The Lighthouse
11 Mitchell Lane
Glasgow G1 3NU
Tel: 0141 225 0114
Fax: 0141 221 6395
E-mail: keren.mcphee@thelighthouse.co.uk
Web: www.thelighthouse.co.uk
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