ARE YOU AND YOUR WORK READY TO SELL?
YOUR WORK
- For utilitarian wares … No cracks, warps. Glazes should fit well and be food safe with no crazing or crawling.
- Lips and bases should be smooth so they do not scratch.
- Pots should be well designed, balance and weight should not be awkward. They should look good together.
- Use your own pots and alter their design until you are satisfied with them.
YOU :
Are you ready to step outside your comfort zone?
You will need to take on promotions, sales, photography, Internet site management, sales, invoicing, shipping and bookkeeping. You are starting a new small business so go to the library to get books on it or take a course on running a small business in your local night school system.
WHERE DO I START??
Start by asking yourself a few questions.
What kind of pottery do you want to make? You cannot do everything. Narrow your focus. What do you truly enjoy making?
How much work can you realistically produce? Consider a realistic schedule that allows time for your life as well. Will you work full or part time?
You also need time to photograph your work since great pix are crucial to web sales at all levels.
HOW DO I DECIDE ON THE RIGHT VENUES FOR SALES?
More questions for you …
Do you want to sell your work or have someone sell it for you?
Are you comfortable talking about your work with strangers? This is important since not being able to talk to potential customers is a sales killer at shows. Hiding at the back of your booth or behind your phone costs you money.
If you prefer sales at a distance ...
You can hit the Internet. Open group pottery sales sites to see if the work they carry looks anything like yours.
BUT … Galleries are inundated with online submissions. The best route is to look up their guidelines for submissions then work hard to make a good impression.
Web sales venues are changing every day. It is best to try to contact someone actually doing the selling there to get good info how to work them.