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Boundless Gallery Closes, What's Next and a Special Offer from FASO

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 EaselBoundless 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).
In any case, Empty Easel generously offered Boundless artists an extended free trial of their web site solution for artistsand made the call for other art website providers to consider doing so as well.

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.

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Comments

26 Responses to Boundless Gallery Closes, What's Next and a Special Offer from FASO

I actually had a Boundless Gallery web site for almost a year. I was somewhat discouarged by Boundless Gallery for a couple of reasons: 1) They nickel and dimed you. If you wanted extra services, you had to pay for them, such as weekly coupons, although they did do a "Discover an Artist" feature every month (I knew something was up when I was featured every 2 weeks). 2) Unlike FASO, they did not help the artist market their art. 3) They may have been innovative but their staff was young, fresh out of college, and did not seem to have a good business sense. They started a site called The Artist Finder, which I signed up for. But they never promoted it.

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.

I'm sure I'm not the only one with this thought, but I've been a gold member since June and I never got any free ebooks.

Clint,
Your offers to help BG current clients is very generous and shows your professionalism.
Hopefully they will take you up on some of your specials. It is sad to see them go out of business, however as my late father always said to me every day of his life, " the cream always rises to the top" ......and FASO is the cream in my eyes as well as many other artists eyes.

I wasn't a Boundless Gallery client (I have my own site) but it's always sad to hear when a venue for selling art closes. Good on you, Clint, for your offer to help the refugees.

Karen

I am sad to see another gallery close down. It is sad for the owners of Boundless Gallery as well as the artists. We just had a fabulous gallery that has been in open in Los Olivos, California for almost 20 years close yesterday. It hits home.

Clint,

I don't have an account with BG but I know someone that did. I'll forward this to him.

It's great that you and others are willing to step up and fill the gap.

Donald

Hi Clint,This is terrible news for Boundless but, they seem to be resilient and hopefully will come back with new and different plans. We are so fortunate to have you and Faso to exhibit our work. I've been with you for many, many years and remember when you were just getting started. How you have excelled! Your helpfulness should be a real asset to Boundless

Peace and Joy,
Helen Horn Musser

Clint, Thanks for being compassionate to other online art companies. Maybe the word compassion has been stretched pretty thin these days, but there is no other way to put it. I wish all those artists the best.

I never heard of BG or else I would have art listed on it. I have many spokes or channels on the net where my art is listed. This reminds me of the failed online art website Calliste Art Gallery that I joined years ago and it went Kaput.
Yes, it is sad when a company fails, but like they said, their business model failed.
It does point to the fact that without consistent sales and the high cost of living, making a profit is not possible and business must close down.
I own two websites and have let one go stagnant while my FASO art website www.estherjwilliams.com takes up all of my time. I do see great value in Twitter, Facebook, Wordpress and Blogger though. I use them as leads to my FASO site or as in Facebook, social networking.
The importance of my FASO website is the look of a professional art portfolio and up to date news, events, exhibitions. Plus, I love it when I get to have a red dot, meaning a sale next to an image!

As usual your generousity,kindness and business acumen is very apparent. It reminds me why I am so happy to be nestled in with the FASO team.

Heart of Gold, that Clint has

How kind of you to offer help to the Boundless Gallery folks. I am very happy with my site on FASO and hope to be on there for a long time.

I think it is a great idea to offer these artists a fineartstudioonline.com option. I feel they will be very pleased with the services rendered and will make a seamless transition to the new website. My best to the founders of Boundless Galleries.

Good food for thought, Clint, and a generous offer indeed.

The internet is like the old saying about sharks: They have to keep moving or die. Although we now know that is not a fact for sharks, it is true for the internet. Thanks, FASO for seeing those shifting needs and changing currents and keeping us up to date.

Dear Clint, I used to have a gold account that allowed more than the ten I get now. At $28. a month I found it to be too pricey! You must be making a ton of money on this site maybe you could help out the artist community in this economy by lowering your price.

I've never heard of 'Boundless Gallery' but nevertheless, it's a kind offer you made Clint and I'm sure whomever takes you up on it will not be disappointed.

I wasn't a client, but I agree that it's always sad to see anything with the arts suffer. Best of luck to anyone involved.

I had never heard of Boundless Gallery but I am sorry to hear that it closed. Your offer to help is a good idea and I'm sure those who take you up on it will be pleased with the results.
I'm having the same thought as Joyce Durkin--those ebooks sound pretty good-did I miss an opportunity to get them?

Thanks, Clint, for all that you do!

Bravo, Clint, you're an excellent business example for all of us...

I must agree with Fay, in that I feel that anyone who tries out your serice will be pleased with it. I cannot imagine a more comprehensive package of services than what you offer here at FASO. I have only just recently become a client of FASO but so far my experience has been that you live up to your offers of fantastic customer support. I had a much quicker tech support response from FASO than from any other company (inside or outside of the art world). Your support personelle deserve every bit of praise that can be heaped upon them. (btw, I needed their help due to my own technical ineptitude rather than that there was something wrong with the site)

Many thanks for offering this wide variety of services.
Poppy

Music does affect how you think and how you paint. My pet peeve is eatung in a restaurant playing loud, pulsing music with a strident beat. It is hard to enjoy a meal with unpleasant music in the background. It's the same with painting. If I have music while working, it must be pleasant and uplifting. Having perfect pitch can be a pain between the ears sometimes, and reminds me that I must be kind to my music muse.

Write another comment . . .

I was a BG client for a number of years. When they closed I looked frantically for another place to have my website. I chose FASO BEFORE I knew of this wonderful offer. When I sent a note to the help desk (excellent service), they told me of the offer and changed my billing. FASO is really there for the arts community. I got my website up quickly and it was easy. This is turning out to be a blessing instead of a disaster!

Good for you Glynis, They are the BEST!

I have been receiving automatic mails from FASO and thinking about subscribing for more than a free ride.
At the moment I'm at Art School. More thinking. Am I ready to subscribe for more than a free ride?
Well, my latest stuff is "sketchy" because that's what my courses are.


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