It's a miracle! I can see!

How many times over the course of your life do you have moments of divine clarity?  You know.  Those "Ah ha!"s when you can see your future a little more clearly.  When your path is a little more defined.  When the little light bulb in your brain shines a little bit brighter because you've identified your purpose. Those moments for me are pretty rare.

It's common knowledge that in order to make a living as a full-time potter you have to do production pieces.  Everyday household items that have mass appeal and can be produced quickly and inexpensively.  I've resisted this path partly from pride, boredom and lack of time (especially recently).  Who wants to make the same dull thing over and over and over?  Craig likes making mugs and bowls but not me!  I love making my little friends with occasional housewares mixed in.  But not everyone's in the market for cute bird houses or banks.  And Craig rarely gets into the studio these days.  What's a potter to do?

After abysmal internet sales over the summer (granted, I've let my inventory dwindle) and only one show scheduled for the fall (too much other stuff going on) I've been feeling that I've got to shake things up. 

When I look back over the last year or so in my pottery business the message as been there:  Do production pots.   Crystal clear, plain as day.  But I'm stubborn.  I'm gonna do it my way.  If I make it they will come (and buy it).  Right. 

"How's that working out for ya, smarty pants?" 

--Wee Little Devil on My Shoulder

Sunday Craig and I went to the Peters Valley Fall Craft fair.  There were more potters there than usual so loads of inspiration.  I got to talking with this one fella who wasn't having a very good weekend.  He had done the show last year and did pretty well but this year he hadn't even covered his booth fee ($$$).  His items were primitive sculptures and wall masks.  He pointed to another potter down the row from him who he said was doing very well.  That guy was selling.... you know it:  mugs, bowls, platters, etc.  So this guy (I can't believe I never got his name or a card!) said he was gonna try again next year but he'll have one side of his booth with housewares and the other side with his art pieces.

So my clarifying moment came on the way home when Craig and I were discussing this and the prospect of doing such a big show.  I think seeing the sharp contrast between the success of the two potters at the show really drove it home for me.  Sometimes I can be a little thick and it takes getting whacked over the head with something like the side of a barn before it sinks in enough to register.  If I'm gonna be a profitable potter and grow my business I need to conform and do production.  (heavy sigh)

The truth of the matter is if your market won't come to you, you need to go to your market.  This doesn't mean I'm giving up on what I love to make.  It just means I need to focus more on what people are more likely to buy.  I'll just have to work my quirkiness into the dull stuff to make it more fun for me and my customers.  I have to remind myself that as much as I love when others love my little characters I get just as much pleasure out of someone loving one of my mugs.  There is a very personal connection between the maker and the receiver when something you've lovingly crafted with your own hands gets passed into someone's loving and appreciative hands. 

Now, where did I leave my glasses?

Meandering Through the Mire

So, again, I got stopped in my tracks when I let the dogs out this morning!  God's color pallet never ceases to amaze me.  Not to mention it's gotten up to 57 degrees for the past 2 days.  That makes me very happy!



Come on Spring!!!












But I digress.  I really wanted to share my latest "mini-me" banks.  I've been making larger animal banks for a while starting with 3 lbs of clay.  At Christmas I got a custom order for 3 smaller banks and decided to make some for my shop as well.  So, using half the clay of the big ones I made up these babies.
 

Penguin, ladybug, snail, owl & lion.

Unfortunately, I can't charge half the price.  The clay is the least of my expenses.  It takes less time to throw the main forms but the detail work and glazing are just as time consuming.

I struggle with pricing all the time, as I think most artisans do.  Putting a value on material and time is pretty easy.  But putting a value on your creativity and experience is so abstract and subjective.  To clarify my point I did a search on Etsy for handmade mugs and found prices ranging from $2 to $12,000 (yes, I double checked the number of zeros).  I'm pretty sure self-confidence is the driving factor here in both cases.  One undervalued and the other just a wee bit inflated.  I'm sure you can figure out which one had 200+ sales and which one had none.  =/

How do you evaluate your competition?  If someone is selling something comparable to what you sell and they're charging much less or way more than you, do you adjust your prices?  Up or down?  Or can you justify them and be confident enough to keep them where they are?  Just curious to see just how conservative I am.

It's a challenge finding that happy medium.  I know I can't make a mug for $2 and I'm pretty sure no one would spend an excessive amount (I can't even bring myself to type that number again!) on anything I've made.  When I priced my first birdhouse for a studio show I was embarrassed to charge anything!  Even at the prices I'm asking now some people balk.  I've gotten past the phase of second guessing my prices.  Enough people can see the time and creativity that goes into a piece to keep me in business.  It's not quantity (though that would be awesome!) but quality craftsmanship that's taking me to my target audience.  So I'll bypass the "price it to sell" marketing strategy and plug away where I am.  I'm comfortable somewhere between having low self esteem and being an ego maniac.

Well, this post went in a completely different direction than I intended but, like I said, pricing is something I struggle with.  I guess what it boils down to is realizing and defining your own worth without getting arrogant about it.

Year End Wrap Up

We tried different things this year.

We stuck with the tried and true this year.

We questioned our processes.

We were confident in what we have done.

We expanded our horizons.

We played it safe.

Basically, our biggest change is on your screen.  We became much more aggressive in cyber marketing and social networking.  From what I've been learning this is such a new avenue that there are no experts at it yet.  Scary but exciting, too.  I feel like I'm on the cutting edge sometimes.  Not that I'm doing any edge cutting but I'm learning along with the rest of the world and that's pretty cool!  I've also been trying to learn how to take e-shop stats and analytics and use them to our advantage.  Uuum, yeah, I'll let you know when/if I ever wrap my brain around that one!

Last show of the year.

We did a few more craft shows than we (I) did last year and will be increasing that number again for next year.  I'm a big chicken when it comes to shelling out the big bucks for the high-end shows but after a couple of very disappointing shows this year I think we're gonna take the plunge for at least one biggie this coming year.  Again, scary but exciting.

I've made a living in the "real" world doing bookkeeping so I've always had a to-the-penny handle on our finances.  This year I've made an effort to dig a little deeper into sales analysis.  For example, instead of just recording how much I make at a show I now record how much of each item sold. Not that I had no idea before but now it's on a spreadsheet so I can see the whole year at once and start tracking what the trends are at each show, spring vs. fall, over several years, etc.  This should help us determine where we need to concentrate our efforts more and where we need to cut and run.

As for playing it safe the most important thing I've learned very recently:  When working with glazes ALWAYS wear a dust mask!  During my last glazing session I was doing some fussy painting where I have to hold the pot pretty close to see that I'm getting the glaze where I want it.  When I went to blow some of the dry glaze away I actually ended up inhaling some of it.  NOT GOOD!  A fever, serious coughing, trip to the Dr. and I'll live but big lesson learned!  Never again will this cotton-headed-ninny-muggins glaze without a mask!  Oye!

Overall, we had a great year!  Our show sales went up 65% from last year and our Etsy sales went up 35%.  Not too shabby!  Even though we've been selling for a few years now, I feel like I've moved a little more from a hobbyist to a professional artist, at least in my mind, which is where most of my challenges stem from.  I've found people actually seeking us out which is the most gratifying feeling. 

So, my friends, as we close out 2011 

and look into the face of 2012,

learn the lessons life is always teaching,

explore your gifts,

embrace your passions,

be cautious but fearless,

do what you love and love what you do,

and most of all,

be grateful for every little thing.

HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS 

AND A SAFE AND FRUITFUL NEW YEAR!

A Poopy Day!

After last week's very successful craft show I was all ramped up (though a little nervous about my inventory level) for this weekend's show at a new venue.  It was at a huge county tech school in a very nice area about half an hour from NYC and run by promoters that I've worked with before. My expectations were high. 

After driving an hour to the school, there was already a line of cars/vans lined up in front of the school when I arrived so I parked about 6 car lengths from the doors.  I found my booth space and come back to the van to unload and realized I forgot my cart!  I have this old beat up cart that I can wheel 6 bins on at once.  Maybe because I hadn't brought it the prior week, because I knew there were firemen to help out, it didn't occur to me that I hadn't loaded it.  It was on my packing list.  Obviously, I needed to check that list one last time!  To quote the ever lovable Charlie Brown - "Aaugh!"

So, two by two, I start carrying in my bins. Arms aching, mood grouching I texted a little rant to my husband about the cart. Things started turning around! He's coming out in this direction later and will bring my cart. Also, 2 wonderful guys took pity on me and helped me bring in the rest of my stuff! My space was good and pretty close to the entrance. The extra time I had allowed for post-setup/pre-show browsing was gone. Oh well.

The show started at 10:00. Usually, there's a flock of early birds waiting for the doors to open at most shows. No flock. Hmmm.... Curious. After a while it became clear a slow trickle was the best it was gonna get. I hadn't realized this was the first year for this show and several of the more seasoned vendors were commenting how there's a glut of shows in this area making them less of a novelty. Great!

Needless to say I didn't do well. I don't think anyone did.  Several vendors packed up early (a big no-no!) and the mood of disappointment was cast over everyone. But my husband had delivered my cart so loading up went much smoother than the morning travesty. Unfortunately, the headache I felt coming on when I finally left was a raging migraine by the time I got home. Straight to bed for me. The difference in stress level between last week's show and this week's was huge! Making a profit definitely helps take the edge off of a bad day.

Our next show is local and less expensive. Since it's about 10 minutes from home I'll have my boys come out to help with the unloading and loading. But our last show of the season is the following weekend out in the same area as last week with the same promoter.  I've done that venue before and had a good show but my expectations have been knocked down a bit.  I have to learn to expect the worst so I won't be disappointed. This is not a philosophy that fits me at all.  =/

From our family to yours - Have a safe, peaceful and thankful Thanksgiving!

Success!

Everyone arrived safe & sound!

So I had my first craft show using "The New Packing System" and it went swimmingly (does anyone even use that word anymore?)!  Setting up took about the same amount of time, which I expected, but breaking down?  Breaking down was so quick!  Okay.  Not super-quick but quicker than usual.

I had a hard time with larger items not fitting back where I thought they were supposed to go.  I might have to label some of the spaces that are for specific items until I'm more familiar with the whole layout.  But considering my caflarfles I was pulling out of the lot 45 minutes after the show ended!  That's a record for me.  Unfortunately, I have to qualify my speed by informing you that this show was at a firehouse and all of those strong, brave firemen were on hand to help us load our cars (they wanted their truck bay back!).

This coming weekend I'll be at a high school that I haven't shown at before and I'm pretty sure the firemen or any other helpers won't be available.  This will be a truer test of the time it will take.  I'll let you know.

Push-me-pull-you

Shortly after graduating high school I worked at a florist starting as a driver then learning floral design and working in the shop.  After 2 years of starting in August to prepare for Christmas I couldn't do it any more and quit.  It made me feel like a Scrooge dreading Christmas, which is one of my favorite holidays.

This weekend was our first craft show for the fall/holiday season.  This is the earliest that we've done a fall show and my mindset is focused on the harvest season and Thanksgiving.

The show was in a church and vendors were spread throughout the building.  When the show started at 9:00 music started playing in the foyer, which was about 10 feet from the "Board Room" where I was set up with one other vendor.  A gentleman came in with a little boom box and asked if we would mind having music playing in the room.  Since my roommate was occupied he directed the question to me.  I declined because I've found the music can be distracting and just adds to the din when there are a lot of people in a small space.  As shoppers started coming (we had a very good show) I didn't even notice the music.  When it started quieting down after lunch I noticed it again.  It was Christmas music.  Of course!  What else would they be playing?

I'm sure there have been hundreds of marketing studies done on the effects of music on shoppers and being a vendor I want the shoppers to buy my amazing items.  ;-)   But as a shopper I cringe when I hear Christmas music before Halloween.  Probably because I've been a shopper longer than I've been a vendor I still have that negative reflex.  It was clear that many of our customers were gift shopping so maybe the music helped.  I just need to embrace my cringes and accept my roll in the pre-holiday madness. (heavy sigh)