Sell your design products and artwork
Managed by UAL’s Careers and Employability team, we sell design products and artwork created by UAL students and graduates to the public. Items are sold through our shop in Holborn (Central London) as well as through our online shop notjustashop.arts.ac.uk
How it works
- Students and graduates from all UAL Colleges can apply to sell their work in the shop via our open calls.
- New products and artworks are chosen via selection panels, made up of not just a shop staff, students and industry contacts.
- Products are purchased wholesale, so you will be paid up-front for the stock you supply.
- Fine artworks are taken on a sale or return basis for a 3-month period, if sold you receive 70% of the sale price and not just a shop receives 30% commission.
- Profits from the shop are reinvested back into our enterprise learning programme, which supports UAL students and graduates with their businesses.
Eligibility
In order to be stocked in not just a shop:
- You need to be a student or graduate from any of UAL’s Colleges or Institutes
- You should be studying towards or have completed a BA, MA, PHD or FdA level course
- You need to be submitting your own products (i.e. products which you have designed and made yourself, or have been outsourced for manufacturing, or been commissioned by you)
- You cannot be on a Student Route (Tier 4) study visa
- Works should be inclusive and represent our diverse customer base. Works shouldn’t be offensive, indecent, obscene, pornographic, menacing, abusive or defamatory
- You must have more than one product to sell (this includes prints, but excludes one-off artwork pieces).
- You should be applying with work that fits the categories we currently stock:
- stationery
- accessories
- souvenirs
- homeware
- artworks and prints including paintings/drawings/original 2D pieces (unfortunately we cannot accept large-scale work currently), limited-edition prints in a range or series (editions of 25 or less), photographs, sculptures, textiles, digital prints in a range or series (i.e. more than one) in an edition higher than 25 or open edition
- jewellery
- gifts
- ceramics
- games and toys
- small furniture items
- beauty and wellbeing.
If you are interested in selling your products or artwork in not just a shop, we strongly recommend you visit us first to see the space. Our shop staff are always happy to talk to you and can answer lots of questions you might have about our open call process.
We particularly welcome applications from those currently underrepresented in not just a shop and more widely in high street retail. This includes students and graduates who are: disabled or have a specific learning disability; Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic; LGBTQ+; are the first in their family to attend university; or are from a low socio-economic background.
We’re committed to better representing the communities we serve.
International students
On a Student Route (Tier 4) visa? The UK government states that you cannot be self-employed, which means we are unable to sell your work through not just a shop.
You can still engage with not just a shop by:
- entering our competitions and live briefs – most of which are open to international students
- coming to our business and freelancing events.
Product and artwork open call
Our Spring/ Summer open call is now open, the deadline for applications is Monday 15 January at 10am. To find out how to apply to be sold in-store, please read the information below.
Upcoming deadlines
Monday 15 January 2024, 10am
July 2024
How to apply
To apply for our open call you should:
- Choose your route.
- Guide to selling in not just a shop (PDF 5.7MB).
- Fill in our application form for your chosen route.
There are two routes to apply for our open calls, depending on what stage you are at with your business. Please read the information below and complete the route that is most relevant to you:
Route 1 (New to selling)
Apply using route 1 (Word 418KB) if any of the following apply to you:
- you have not sold to retailers before via wholesale
- you don't have any current stockists
- you have never sold anything before, or are unsure how to price your work
- you have sold directly to customers (for example to friends and family, via social media, markets or your own website/Etsy)
- you have two or more products in a range or series.
Route 2 (Wholesale experience or fine art work)
Apply using route 2 (Word 799KB) if you have sold to retailers before via wholesale or you are applying with limited edition or one off artworks.
This route applies to you if you have:
- existing stockist(s)
- a good understanding of your wholesale and retail pricing.
- more than one limited edition prints or photography (in an edition of 25 or less)
- one-off fine art work pieces (sculpture, painting, textiles, drawing).
Read our open calls handbook (PDF 557KB) before starting your application as this will answer many of the questions you might have.
It’s important you get your prices right to ensure you attract buyers whilst also making a profit. If you’re unsure about your prices, please refer to our guide on how to cost and price your work (PDF 435KB). If you need help with pricing, make a note of this in your application and we can advise you.
Application support
One-to-ones
Current UAL student? Need advice on applying for our open calls? You can register for a 20-minute online one-to-one with the not just a shop team for advice on how to submit your best application.
Whether you're a new business, have never sold work before or just need to chat through the form, we can help you with the application process.
We can provide advice and feedback on the following:
- pricing your work
- retail expectations (such as quality, function, durability, final presentation, unique selling point, and packaging)
- manufacturing options (for example handmade, print on demand, outsourced)
- quantity of products needed for application and sale
- photography of your products
- application questions and queries
- selecting and editing your products for application
- which route you should apply to.
One-to-ones are usually scheduled a month in advance of the deadline and will be booked on a first come first serve basis. Priority will be given to students, particularly those from diverse backgrounds and under-represented groups, however, you are welcome to request a one-to-one if you are a graduate. When available, the link for these will be available in the section below, in the meantime you can email notjustashop@arts.ac.uk to be put on a waiting list and be the first to receive the link.
not just a shop one-to-ones: Building a range from 1 product
Date: Tuesday 12 December, 11.30am - 2pm
Time: Multiple slots during opening hours
Location: not just a shop
Are you a UAL student or graduate with 1 product and need advice on how to build a range? Come to these 20-minute one-to-one sessions with our not just a shop team to get support on how to expand your product offering to be able to apply to our product open call in the future.
We particularly welcome bookings from those currently underrepresented in not just a shop and more widely in high street retail. This includes students and graduates who; are disabled or have a specific learning disability; Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, LGBTQ+, are the first in their family to attend university, or are from a low socio-economic background. We’re committed to better representing the communities we serve.
In these support sessions, we can cover how to take one product to create a range, by considering different colourways, materials, a variety of size options or product types.
After this session, you should have at least one clear action or area to develop in order to help you progress to the next stage in applying to sell in-store.
Please note these sessions are only for people with 1 product.
not just a shop one-to-ones: Application support
Date: Tuesday 5 December (1pm - 3pm), Friday 8 December 2023 (9.30am - 11.30am)
Time: Multiple slots between periods above
Location: Online
Are you a UAL student or graduate and need advice on filling out our not just a shop product application or have questions on how to submit your products? Come to these 20-minute one-to-one online sessions with our not just a shop team to get support on how to submit your best application.
We particularly welcome bookings from those currently underrepresented in not just a shop and more widely in high street retail. This includes students and graduates who; are disabled or have a specific learning disability; Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, LGBTQ+, are the first in their family to attend university, or are from a low socio-economic background. We’re committed to better representing the communities we serve.
In these support sessions, we can cover pricing, product photography tips, line sheet support and product description. Whether you're a new business, never sold work before or just need to chat through the form, we can help you with the application process.
Areas of support include:
- Pricing your work
- Retail expectations (such as quality, function, durability, final presentation, unique selling point, packaging)
- Manufacturing of products (such as handmade, print on demand, outsourced manufacturing)
- Quantity of products needed for application and sale
- Fine art applications (editions, one-offs, sale or return)
- Photography of your products
- Application questions and queries
- Selecting your products for application
- Spaces are limited, so please only book one session per person.
What's on
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Showcase Ready: Get retail ready! Sell your work in not just a shop
If you’re interested in selling work after your show, hear from the not just a shop team about what you need to do to get retail ready.
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Our Jan 2023 selection panel
Samantha Newell, Co-Founder and COO at YARD + PARISH
Samantha Newell is Co-Founder and COO at YARD + PARISH, an eco-luxury retail platform featuring the work of Black creators. The concept store curates innovative lifestyle brands and has been featured in Vogue, Glamour, and GUAP. Samantha is a 2021 Black British Business Awards finalist and speaks publicly about sustainability, diversity, and entrepreneurship.
Lewis Campbell, Employability Practitioner at UAL
Lewis Campbell is Employability Practitioner for CCW and has been a part of the Careers and Employability team for 5 years. Lewis’s role is to embed employability and enterprise education into the UAL curriculum. Lewis is passionate about equality, inclusivity, and diversity in the arts, ensuring this is addressed in all areas of his employability and enterprise practice.
Zeena Shah
Zeena Shah is an Art Director, Stylist, Designer and TV Presenter, based in East London. Her name has become synonymous with a love of colour which she shares alongside her interiors addiction on her Instagram channels; @heartzeena and @heartzeenahome. A textile designer by training, having studied at Chelsea School of Art and Design, Zeena’s love of surface pattern continues with her series of DIY craft tutorials and Sunday Crafternoons. Her book How to Print Fabric and illustrated colouring book, Scandia encouraged the masses to get creative and her latest book, Marbling sets to bring back this much-loved craft. Zeena is on a mission to spread the craft love with her colourful and creative style.
Sophia Nasif, LCC College Officer at Arts SU
My background is in creative production in film and TV. I have a BA in Illustration and Animation from Kingston University, where I was a panellist for their own shop, Not My Beautiful House. I came to UAL to study for an MA in Photojournalism and Documentary Photography and now work as one of the 6 Sabbatical Officers.
Resources
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Not just a shop interior
Follow us on Instagram
Before you start your application, have a look at some of the products we already stock by browsing our Instagram.
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Becky Moriarty at Camberwell. Photo by Alys Tomlinson
Costing and pricing your work
Read our advice on how to cost and price your work (PDF 435KB).
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Yeshen Venema,
Home: Creative Shift x not just a shop live brief
Find out about our recent live brief with Creative Shift
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Mohammed Adel painting in the studio. Photo Alys Tomlinson
Support for visual artists
Artquest provides the professional information, advice and projects that visual artists need to understand the art world.
Meet the team
Natalie Stevens, not just a shop Manager
I oversee not just a shop’s retail operations including buying, visual merchandising, staffing and management of the space. I also run student engagement projects such as competitions, internships, open call applications, product commissions, external pop-up shops and special projects. Contact me at notjustashop@arts.ac.uk
Clio Delcour-Min, Retail and Student Engagement Coordinator
I’m responsible for the day-to-day running of not just a shop, including taking sales, stock control, and maintaining and updating displays. I also support student facing opportunities such as competitions, live briefs and open calls, and provide support to our current sellers. Contact me at notjustashop@arts.ac.uk
Eleanor Binns, E-commerce Coordinator
My role centres around managing our online shop. This includes adding new products, updating images, writing content and shipping orders. You’ll also find me helping out in our shop in High Holborn during the week. Contact me at notjustashop@arts.ac.uk