Guest Blog: Are the Portland Maine street artist vendors taking sales away from stores or farmers?

A guest blog by Jim O’Reilly, Portland Maine Street Art Vendor:

As I read through some of the commentary relating to the current street artist controversy and the proposed “crafters’” market, some thoughts about it have emerged and I think some aspects are perhaps being overlooked.

It’s been suggested that the presence of street vendors or artists is taking away from either farmers or shop owners. Whether or not that is true remains to be more thoroughly examined, but I’ll get into that shortly. One thing that I think ought to be pointed out is that many of the street artists are in great need of this modest cash flow that they’ve managed to tap into. There are struggling single mothers, unemployed folks, underemployed people, people recovering from disabilities, fallout from corporate downsizing, and a whole host of situations and back stories. Now of course, this isn’t true of all the street vendors. Some could be very wealthy for all I know. But I think it’s safe to say that it’s true of most. These are often people on the lowest rungs of the economic ladder.

I mention this primarily because some of the commentary would suggest that the street artists are the antagonist preying on the unfortunate shop owners and farmers. In reality, these people selling their wares on the sidewalks in many cases could only dream of being so fortunate as to own a retail store or a small farm. This method of selling on the street may be one of the very few options they have that could perhaps be a stepping stone they need towards some day having a store with a roof and heat and electricity and plumbing, and the ability to sell any day year-round. Those are luxuries that the brick-and-mortar shops have and of course they pay considerably to be in that situation. If they think it’s so advantageous to be out on the sidewalk, they’re welcome to come join us. Of course, they do need to sell their own creations.

I don’t understand why anyone, shop owners, farmers, or street artists, should be afforded extra protection from the hazards of a free-market economy. What if shops could only be open once a week? What if farmers were no longer allowed to sell to grocery stores on Mondays? If you prevent a street artist from doing his business you are surely taking money out of his pocket. Where is the morality in this thinking? Why is he or she any less deserving of the ability to pay his or her bills?

It should also be noted that I personally purchase many of my art supplies locally. This is most likely true of other street vendors. We then frequent the local eateries and coffee shops to keep us going throughout the day. And then much of the cash generated from sales goes right back into the local economy. There is a symbiosis of sorts at work.

Focusing more specifically on the Farmer’s market: having sold at a number of these markets I’ve had a chance to talk to many people from many areas around the country. People love the atmosphere of an outdoor market with farm stands, art stands, and the live music! Just because they buy a painting or a bar of soap, doesn’t mean they won’t also buy the food they need to eat. We’re not pushing art on a population of nit wits. These are intelligent people capable of making good decisions about what to spend their money on. They’re not likely to blow all their food money on art. The reality is that most people walk right by us and go buy their vegetables. Or they stop and look at what we have to offer, perhaps make some nice comments, and then… they go buy their vegetables. Perhaps 5% of the people actually buy something from us, and then they go buy their vegetables.

I remember a lady commenting on the vibrant and festive atmosphere of the market at Deering Oaks this summer. She went on to tell me about the markets where she’s from and how they not only have artists, they also have people selling prepared food and beverages and places to sit down and eat. It draws huge numbers of people and it’s a big success for all involved. She said its almost like church every week where people all congregate and it’s a magnificent celebration. She thought, as do I, that it is laughable to assume that the presence of some art or craft vendors is somehow a bad thing. It’s certainly reflects a myopic outlook.

Mind you, not all farmers are opposed to the artists. I’ve had farmers buy my art. The ones I’ve met are extremely nice and reasonable people.

And finally, a point I’d like to get back to is that of whether or not street vendors do in fact cause any appreciable financial impact on farmers or shop owners. It’s been suggested by many, but has it been studied by anyone? Can any farmers or shop owners show this to be actually true? I realize the street vending scene has grown considerably in recent years. Have any farmers or shop owners been able to point to financial records that show a downturn in sales that is attributable to the rise of street vendors? Or is it all conjecture? And even if sales have declined in recent years, how would you separate that from the general malaise of the economy at large?

At a time when unemployment is so high and many are struggling to make ends meet, people should be applauded for taking the problem into their own hands and going out on the street to earn an honest dollar. Street selling is not for the faint of heart. It’s a difficult job that we do. I don’t relish waking up at 4 AM and setting up my table in the dark and then sitting for 10 or 12 hours in the cold or heat. But my situation calls for it and so I do what is required.

A number of people who try this job, give up after day one. You have to have a good product that people want to buy. You have to be able to sell that product. It’s grassroots free-market economics at its best. Street vendors should be accepted and supported as hard-working members of society who make the world a prettier and better place.

Jim O’Reilly, Portland Maine Street Art Vendor
© 2011 Jim O’Reilly.
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