How to turn your "clay" abilities 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. 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 see a lot of very talented people that invested all of 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,
and more.

[Morty Bachar]



Hi Deana,

 

All are very good questions.  We helped in building several studios answering these questions among many other.  See link below for more details on how our consulting services be used: http://lakesidepottery.com/Pages/Pottery%20Consulting%20Services.html

 

And another link for studio useful tips: http://lakesidepottery.com/Pages/Tips.html

 

 

How do you insure constant flow of customers?

This is by far the most important question and where most of a studio / school owners should spend the time in particular before opening the doors to the new facility.  Your time should be spent on:

- Generating affiliations (e.g. your local towns continuing education, nature centers, city camps, etc.)

- Building a solid and high quality web site (90% of our new customers find us on the web when searching for classes, workshop, gallery, workshop custom made commission pottery). 

- Regularly scheduled newsletters with your programs offerings and some added value content such as tips, art shows or craft / art fairs in the area.

- Press releases

- Even posting

- Free introductory workshops

- Help local art teachers in public and private schools.  If you are good, they’ll talk about your studio with parents, administration and students

 

What should I sell as a potter

- Whatever you are very good at

- Do not display items that are less than great.   Take a deep breath and dispose everything that is less than perfect (or give it to charity).  First impression is crucial./body>

[Deanna Baechtel]

great article would love to hear more about it, how do you insure constant flow of customers, what should i spend my time on, what should I sell as a potter, and how should I design my studio.