Operating a successful craft business.

Operating a successful craft business involves asking the right questions, and hopefully receiving the right answers.

The first question you should ask yourself, is what do you consider successful?  The second question you might ask yourself is, is this a realistic (or attainable goal)?  Do I really want to do what it takes to achieve this goal?

A successful pottery business requires many different considerations.

Are you going to have your own little workshop at home or are you going to open a full blown studio where you teach ceramics to others?  Are you going to own a kiln or are you going to pay someone else to do your firing?   Are you going to sell greenware and stoneware or are you going to be selling your finished pieces?  Do you want to or are you able to keep studio hours?

If you are going to be selling ceramics at craft shows we will assume you'll be selling finished pieces but still this leaves many questions to be answered.  Where will you work and how much storage will you need?  How will you package and transport your pottery to shows so it will travel safely?  How will you display your pieces?  Who are your buyers and how will you market your pottery to them?  What sets you apart from your competition?

Opening a Paint your own Pottery Studio?

Considering opening a Paint your own Pottery Studio?  You might want to visit  American Ceramics a site exploring this topic.  An excerpt is included below: 

Opening a Contemporary or Paint your own Pottery Studio

by Connie Speer-The Pottery Consultant

This is prep work you should do BEFORE you start calling around asking every manufacturer, distributor or other studios for information.

     Realize there are no guarantees in life, and that might go double for business. You can bet McDonalds does their homework before they open a new location, and they have tons of experience opening new stores. Does that guarantee every store will be a financial success? Unfortunately, no. So, what about you and your desire to open a contemporary studio? Do you think you have what it takes to make it?

     There are three critical issues facing a potential new studio owner in terms of whether or not they will be successful.  They are: 1) City and studio location 2) Marketing, advertising and public relations and 3) Business knowledge and common sense. These articles will cover these issues in the hopes of helping you overcome the odds of opening a new business.

     I'm going to tell you what you need to know to be a success. But, success means different things to different people. To one person, it might mean being able to pay all the bills every month and have a comfortable, (if not rich) existence; happy with not working in the corporate world, being creative, working and helping other people bring out the joy of doing ceramics. To another person, this might be completely unacceptable. They want to make lots of money, hire a manager and be off on vacations all the time. This situation is very, very rare. You better be willing to gamble your loan on it. Can you make a decent living? Define decent. 30K, 40K, 50K+? We're not talking about gross sales at this moment; we're talking YOUR salary. You most likely won't have a salary of 50K your first year, or even second year. (And what if you have a partner…or two?) You MIGHT make 50K your third year IF you do everything right and you're lucky. And what is right? Read on.

Location

     You hear it all the time, 'Location, Location, Location', yet, over and over again, prospective owners either ignore this or don't understand what it truly means.  In a nutshell, it means you have to open where the money is. 

 

Read more of Connie's article at American Ceramics .  While you're there check out their retail/wholesale ceramic and glass equipment and supplies.

National Artcraft Co. - Art, craft, and ceramic supplies for all your crafting needs. 

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