Pottery & Ceramics Studio

Pottery and ceramics businesses create functional pieces (mugs, bowls, plates, vases) or decorative art through wheel throwing, hand building, or sculpting.

You craft pieces, fire in kiln, glaze, and sell through craft fairs, Etsy, galleries, wholesale to retailers, or your own studio.

Success requires pottery skills, artistic vision, understanding glazes and firing, and business management.

Pricing functional pottery at $20-80 per piece, decorative art $50-500+.

Building sustainable business requires consistent production, signature style, and multiple revenue streams.

Startup costs are significant - kiln ($1,500-5,000), wheel ($400-2,000), clay and glazes, studio space, and tools totaling $5,000-15,000.

Some potters start using community studio access reducing initial investment.

Building business involves creating inventory through production cycles, professional photography, craft fair circuit, Instagram showcasing process, and potentially studio sales or classes.

Revenue comes from direct sales (craft fairs, online), wholesale (40-50% off retail), gallery representation (galleries take 40-50% commission), and teaching pottery classes.

Operating costs include clay, glazes, kiln firing (electricity), studio rent, and materials.

Challenges include kiln access requirements, space needs for production and storage, physical demands, pieces breaking in firing, and time from creation to sale.

Success requires developing signature style, production efficiency, understanding what sells while maintaining artistic integrity, and diversifying revenue through sales, wholesale, and teaching.