Pottery Studio Behind the Scenes: Top 3 Pottery Items Purchased at the Last Art Festival
From mugs to trays, big vases to itty bitty vases, butter dishes to cups, ring holders to bookshelf buddies, oil pourers to snack dishes, Meesh Pottery’s got quite the variety of items at each Art Festival and Market. To see where I’m selling, check out my Vendors/Events page.
Tracking what types of pottery pieces sell at each Art Festival or Market with Square Point of Sale helps me better understand my buyers — what they like and what they are looking for from one season to the next.
For example, in summer, people tend to go for smaller kitchen items like spoon rests and sponge holders.
In winter, since there are a couple big holidays around then, people will go for larger pieces like large vases and serving bowls (featured is one of my large wavy bowls, and you can read about my process making them here).
Do buyer trends influence what art you make?
For some, the answer would be yes.
For me, I’d say no.
I love studying market data, but as a small batch potter, I don’t let the data influence me too much because I like to make what I want to make when I want to make it… so if people are really interested in butter dishes but I’m not in a butter dish mood, I just won’t make a butter dish. Sorry!
I know artists will sometimes have to make art that sells in order to pay the bills, but I do believe it is important for the soul of the artists to make the art they want to.
I know some people receive pleasure and satisfaction from making pottery regardless of what they are making; however, for me, in order to feel the joyful liberation I’m after in making pottery (see my about me page), it’s important for me to not experience my craft as a chore, and for me to make what my heart and hands want to make on any given day.
Following my heart and hands is why I have so much variety in my work — I’m feeling youthful and boba-obsessed? Unicorn time! Nostalgic for summer? How about a tray that manifests the view I want to have some day.
As a part time potter with two other jobs (not including motherhood, I am a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant & facilitator with Liberation Learning Collective and an administrator/instructor at Follow Your Art Community Studios - come take a class with me!), I know it is a privilege for me to be able to afford to make the art I want to make.
Such a privilege has also granted me the ability to experiment more, take more creative risks, and make silly videos (Yes, I did dress up a greenware vase with a child-sized princess gown to make a Bridgerton spoof).
In the spirit of transparency, and because this information could help another potter, I’m happy to share my top sellers!
And finally, the top 3 pottery items purchased at my last Art Festival:
#1 - Ring Holders
My teeny tiny lucky blue elephant ring holders were a hit (see them here)! All 20 baby elephants and 3 of 6 large elephants found new homes.
Take-away: People like a lower price point.
I have pieces in my booth ranging from $12 - $295. The tiny elephants (which I love to make) were my cheapest items at $12-$18 depending on size (the big ones were $40). The lower price point was attractive to buyers who wanted to support a local artist, bring something handmade home, and also have something useful (the elephants are so tiny they could fit on a windowsill and the edge of a sink).
I can price my itty bitty elephants lower because they require less effort, materials, and kiln space. You can get a mass manufactured one from Amazon for $13.99 or a one of a kind handmade one for $12-18? I mean… the more sustainable small-business friendly option is also quite obvious.
#2 - Mugs
Mugs were a very popular purchase. From a batch of 28 mugs in total, 16 colorful and carved mugs (in my signature style) and 3 Muggie mugs sold, with prices ranging from $25-$65 a piece.
If you are interested in knowing how and why I price my mugs the way I do, check out this blog post: How Much Does a Handmade Ceramic Mug Cost and Why?
Take-away: People like mugs.
Are you ready for this? According to Verified Market Research, “Coffee Mugs Market size was valued at USD 7.4 Billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 9.5 Billion by 2030.” Insert mind blown emoji here. WOW! Why do people like mugs? A couple untested theories:
Coffee consumption is on the rise. According to the National Coffee Association, “7 in 10 Americans drink coffee every week; 62% drink coffee every day.” Theory #1: Americans drink a lot of coffee, and they want to improve their home-brewing coffee ritual with an extra special artisan made vessel (fa-brew-lous idea!).
According to the US Census Bureau (who knew the US Census tracks these things?!), “on any given day, over 159 million Americans are drinking tea.” Theory #2: Americans drink a lot of tea, and they want to improve their tea ritual with an extra special artisan made vessel (again, fan-tea-stic idea!). While we’re on the subject of tea, if you are curious, my favorite is this wild blueberry tea by Republic of Tea.)
#3 - Vases
Since January, I sold 8 vases of various shapes and sizes. Vases are wonderful ceramic pieces to buy because they can be beautiful statement pieces in a home. Add flowers to them and oh! Let the ooh and ahhs commence.
Take-away: Vases make great gifts.
While people like mugs, picking out a mug for someone else is a tad more stressful (will they like this handle? how’s the mouth feel? do they drink espresso or 20oz?) than picking out a vase. Vases make great gifts because you can even put some fresh cut flowers in them, and who doesn’t like a bouquet of flowers? (Reader, if you don’t like fresh flowers or are allergic to them, it’s okay, too, Lego makes some pretty awesome fake ones).
That’s a wrap! Grateful to Square Point of Sale for the accurate reports, and for everyone who came by Melrose Arts Festival and supported me by purchasing my artwork! See you at the next market!
Note: This blog is not sponsored. However, as a Blick.com and Amazon associate, I do earn from qualifying purchases. As an artist, every bit of support counts!
