Come to Dallas for the three-day Modernism: Design, Furniture and Decorative Arts course, July 26-28! Classroom time includes lectures, discussions, films, PowerPoint presentations, resource guides, and the opportunity to connect with old friends, new friends and appraisal colleagues.
This exciting course for appraisers will cover the history of modern design from the 1851 Crystal Palace Great Exhibition to the present day. It will provide an analysis of key designers and manufacturers of furniture and decorative arts during the Modernist period, with an emphasis on fair market values and replacement values. Socioeconomic and political factors, including World War II, the Cold War, and Sputnik I, will be discussed, as well as material technology and mass production manufacturing advances that have driven design trends and markets.
Eames plywood elephant child’s chair, 1945
In 2016, the European Fine Art Fair Report reported that the market for design items is surging at auction in the United States and Europe, with sales of $343.6 million last year.
There's been an explosion of design in the past 150 years, and this course will help you appraise all of it. Just think: An item designed in 1917 is now 100 years old and could be considered an antique!
Rendering of the Red and Blue Chair by Rietveld
What else happened 100 years ago in 1917? Many crucial moments marking the beginning of the modern era and ushering in new and highly influential design and art trends, including:
The Russian Bolshevik Revolution
Architect and modern furniture designer Florence Knoll was born
Finally, in 2019, the Bauhaus will celebrate its 100 year anniversary since opening in Weimar, Germany. See how an understanding of the material culture of the past century can strengthen your appraising practice in Dallas this summer - register here!
You’re an appraiser – you can spot a fake Picasso, tell the difference between Ming dynasty porcelain and Qing dynasty porcelain and recite the USPAP manual front to back. But do you know how to attract new customers to your business? With changes like the explosive popularity of social media and the addition of new millennial collectors to the market, growing your appraising business looks a lot different than it did even five or ten years ago.
To keep you up to date, here are a few tips and resources, and even a tutorial video, that will help you show off your ISA credentials and connect you with more clients.
Step 1: Attract More Customer Leads with a Compelling Appraiser Profile
When looking for an appraiser, the first thing many of your potential customers will do is search online. In fact, the Find an ISA Member search tool gets over 2500 page visits per month. What are visitors seeing when they come across your profile? The best way to get noticed is to make sure your profile is updated with all your most recent information.
To update your profile, simply log in to the ISA website and click “Manage Your Profile.” Add a picture, bio and your specialties to make your profile stand out. Don’t forget to add your location so customers near you can find you easily!
An example of a great profile in the Find an ISA Member search tool
For more detailed instructions on updating your profile on the ISA website, read our blog post with screenshots and more.
Step 2: Get Reading! Take Advantage of Free Marketing Guides
If you’re a member of ISA, you have access to the ISA Means Business Toolbox, which is a set of resources designed to give you all the information you need to connect with customers and market your business.
Don’t have a big budget? Check out this post for ideas that will bring you new leads but won’t break the bank.
Starting from scratch? We have a guide to starting and marketing your new appraising business from the ground up here.
Step 3: Download Pre-made, Customizable Resources
To save you time, ISA has put together a number of downloadable resources that will help you get your marketing campaigns up and running within minutes. It’s as easy as clicking the download button and customizing as necessary.
Show off your credentials with ISA member logos, perfect for your website and social media
Let the public know why it’s important to choose an educated and certified appraiser with a brochure complete with your logo and business information.
Give a professional presentation on personal property appraising with a ready-made PowerPoint.
Step 4: Connect with Other Appraisers
Join us at one of our educational events, follow ISA on Facebook and Twitter, and get involved with the ISA Ambassador Program.
One of ISA’s best resources is its membership and collegial atmosphere, with many people ready to share what they know about appraising and marketing with you.
Need More Help? Watch our Marketing Resource Tutorial
We’ve put together a short video tutorial that gives you a tour of each of the benefits included in the ISA Means Business Toolbox, from downloading assets for your site to customizing your brochure.
ISA’s goal is to ensure that each of its members has the tools they need to bring in customers and display their knowledge of appraising. We always have more tools on the way, so keep an eye on the ISA Now blog and the Toolbox for future updates. If you have a specific business need that ISA can help with, feel free to email us at info@isa-appraisers.org.
