Boundless Gallery, an online art gallery that has been in business for about seven years has closed down.
We're always sad to see innovative art services close their doors.
Boundless Gallery Closes
The Boundless Gallery home page now simply reads, "On March 1, 2010 BoundlessGallery.com and partner sites ... ceased operation....We would like to thank you for your support and hope you will continue to purchase original art."
According to a letter from Peter Gregory, Boundless Gallery's founder, that was republished on Empty Easel, Boundless Gallery decided to close because:
"[Our] business model doesn’t make sense on today’s internet...Since the “Great Recession” started, BoundlessGallery.com has been losing money. The art market as a whole is off 50 to 80%. The lack of sales have squeezed our high-end service, because there are less high-end sales . . . The combination of these factors mean that there is great stress on businesses like BoundlessGallery.com. We have decide that we don’t want to lose money for the next several years while the art market recovers...Life is short and sticking with a failed business model is for fools. We all have other things to do and more exciting horizons to search for. Thanks again for your time, trust and support over the years.”
What's Next for Boundless Gallery Artists?
While we're very sad by the loss of such an innovative art service, closings such as this illustrate why we have always recommended that artists control their own online web site. It's somewhat risky to rely totally on another site for the bulk of your online presence. The site could close down (as in this case), change their business model, change their design, or customer targeting. Similarly relying on free services to provide you with an online presence can be risky too. If you're not paying for the service (as in the case of something like Facebook, Blogger, Wordpress, etc), then you are not truly a customer, and you have virtually no sway with the company.
We've always felt that artists should own their own domain name and host their own website as the hub of their online marketing. Then other sites become "spokes" designed to promote your artwork and drive people back to your main website, your "hub." If you were utilizing Boundless as one of your "spokes"....then yes....it is sad to lose a great place to market your artwork, but, this announcement is softened by the fact that you still control your own destiny. (Incidently, this is also the reason that with brick-and-morter galleries you should insist on getting the names and contact info of all your buyers. If the gallery goes out of business, you should have a way to market your art to your past collectors. And morally, nobody should have a problem with that concept).
We, at FineArtStudioOnline, think that is a great idea. As such we would like to invite all Boundless Gallery artists to give our service, FineArtStudioOnline a try.
$250 Value Special Offer by FineArtStudioOnline for Boundless Gallery Artists
Since we understand that this transition may be difficult for you, we've put together a very special offer for Boundless Gallery artists who are new to FASO:
* For Boundless Gallery artists only, we are extending our free trial period from 60 days to 180 days. That's four extra months of free web site service. (a $112 value)
* In addition, after you become one of our customers, we will provide you with a downloadable copy our 40 page ebook "11 Essential Elements of the Artist Website" (a $29.95 value) .
* We'll also provide a copy of our 19-page ebook, "Become an Online Art Magnet" - it's filled will valuable traffic-building tips so you'll know what how to draw visitors to your new web site. (a $15 value)
* We'll discount our optional "quickstart" price from $300 to $200 if you want us to load your images and information onto your new website for you. Of course, there is never an additional charge for you to upload your own information. (a $100 savings)
* All FASO Gold websites include a domain name, so you will have your own "home" on the Internet. If you had a domain registered through Boundless, we will help you transfer it at no charge to you, and it will be included with your FASO website from that point forward.
*Once you sign up, you get access to our remarkable artist support team and a toll-free number, which you can call to get help, 7 days a week.
If you are a Boundless Gallery artists and would like to give this special offer a try, click here for more details about the $250 Value Special Offer.
Sincerely,
Clint Watson
Software Craftsman and Art Fanatic
PS - I, personally, don't know the team at
Boundless, but have long admired (and sometimes been jealous of) their innovation and technical prowess. If any of the
Boundless team members read this post, I would like to say that if we at
FineArtViews or
FASO can do anything to help
Boundless stay open, assist
Boundless artists during the transition, or support the
Boundless team, please
contact me, and if there is a way that is feasible for us to assist....we will.
via fineartviews.com
They also helped me create a page on my Facebook page called My Art, which would take my FB friends directly to their site. I thought that was pretty cool, but I was unable to manage that page myself (i.e., remove art, mark it sold, etc.)
I like BG but in all honesty, FASO is far more professional and this is a site I will not give up easily. That said, I wish the folks at BG continued success. And I think it's honorable that FASO is offering such a nice deal to the BG artists.