How to turn your pottery knowledge into a business

[Morty Bachar]

Lakeside Pottery is a ceramic art teaching facility in Stamford, CT with over 4,500 enrolments in the past 7 1/2 years. We have experianced that in addition to pottery and sculpting abilities and successful teaching techniques, marketing is by far the most important aspect of having a constant flow of people that are interested in learning "clay" and using your pottery/ceramic facility. Unfortunately, I've seen very talented people that invested their savings but without the understanding that most effort of any successful business is marketing (and not your artistic knowledge).

Of course, the artistic, technical, teaching talent and personality are very important aspect for success. However, this ability must be constantly marketed effectively to insure constant flow of customers who pay the bills.

If I see interest in this topic, I will continue to post tips and ideas sharing what we learn through our very busy 7 ½ years at Lakeside Pottery focusing on the following:
1) Are you qualified to start a pottery business
2) How much capital you need and where to get it
3) How to create mission statement and business plan
4) How to design a studio
5) How to design your offerings (classes, workshop, gallery, events, etc.)
6) what equipment to purchase that meets your vision
7) Successful firing
8) how to insure constant flow of customers / students / pen studio artists?
9) What you should spend your time on
10) High web ranking
and more.

[Benjamin Coffman]

please, i'd love to hear more about this!