Pottery Studio Behind the Scenes: Top 5 Pottery Items Purchased in 2024
From mugs to trays, big vases to itty bitty vases, butter dishes to whistles, ring holders to bookshelf buddies, oil pourers to snack dishes, Meesh Pottery’s got quite the variety of items at Art Festivals, Farmer’s Market, and online shop drops.
Tracking what types of pottery pieces sell 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.
Do Buyer Trends Influence the Art I Make?
While I enjoy studying market trends, as a small-batch potter, I let my creativity guide me. My art business is not my primary source of income. For me, pottery is about joyful liberation, not obligation. To stay true to that, I create what my heart and hands feel inspired to make on any given day. That said, I know it is a privilege for me to be able to afford to make the art I want to make, take creative risks, and experiment.
My experimentation can hopefully provide some useful data about what people will gravitate towards for potters who are hoping to make a more steady income from their pottery!
The top 5 pottery items purchased in 2024:
—> But first, some important notes:
I want to recognize that what I make and how much of each product I make influences the results of this list. For example, had I increased their quantity three-fold, spoon rests, which are coveted for their lower price point and functionality, would have likely made this top list (they sell out fast!). Or, for example, had I only sold garlic grate plates (there is a vendor in Florida who does just that), then, of course, garlic grate plates would have been #1. Remember that available product and quantity of available product will have an impact on sales.
The other variable is my audience: who I’m selling to and where I sell. I make and sell a very wide variety of products, and while my online shop audience is broad, my market audience is local to Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire, and what is popular in any given region will also have an impact on sales.
#1 - Mugs
Mugs (like this one) were by far the most popular purchase, with my mugs priced between $25-$65 a piece. My most popular mug by far was my porcelain happy Muggie Mug, who has his own comic by the way! You are welcome to share it with people curious to learn how a wheel-thrown mug is made!
If you want to know 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?
Did you know? 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”!
#2 - Vases
Vases make great gifts and beautiful statement pieces for any home, whether tiny ($20-$45) or large ($200-$350).
My vases are canvases for my artistic expression, showcasing intricate designs and motifs that reflect my values and aesthetics as a creative (which I discuss here).
When it comes to gift-giving, unlike mugs, which come with questions about handle feel or size preferences, vases are a lower-stress choice. Plus, you can make the gift extra special by adding fresh-cut flowers!
#3 - Ring Holders
My small lucky elephant ring holders were a hit this year (see them here!). I started out making them in blue, but then started to make them in pink, green, and other colors.
I attribute their success to 1. cuteness, 2. transportable size, 3. fuctionality, and 4. lower price point.
I can price my little elephants lower ($15-$20 depending on size) 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? I vote for the more sustainable small-business friendly option!
#4 - Cups / Planters
The cup has been a fundamental vessel throughout human history. Early cups, such as those made by the Egyptians and Mesopotamians, were often crafted from clay and served both practical and ceremonial purposes. Over time, the cup been made of many other materials, but the clay cup does remain!
The nice part about a glazed ceramic cup is that it is wonderfully versatile. It can be used for drinking, for dipping paintbrushes, for storing pens and pencils, or as a planter for an adorable succulent!
The versatility of the cup and the medium range price point ($35-$60) appears to appeal to buyers who want a piece of ceramic art that can also serve many purposes in the home.
#5 - Bowls
I personally LOVE LOVE LOVE throwing large bowls on the wheel. I love the challenge and the feeling of overcoming that challenge.
I also love how a large bowl gives me a large surface to decorate.
In terms of purchasing habits, people shopping Meesh Pottery liked larger serving bowls. My theory is that they like that larger bowls are functional statement art pieces for dinner parties and beautiful ornamental pieces for the kitchen counter.
Seasonal Trends
Depending on where you live and what audience you serve, you might notice seasonal behavioral habits.
Note: While bowls and cups/planters didn’t make the top lists each season, steady bowl and cup sales did ultimately make them top selling items in my year end report!
In my own markets & festivals in Eastern MA / Southern NH, I observed the following:
Winter (Jan-March)
I didn’t make any market sales or have any online shop drops between January - March 2024, but I did have a large custom order of plowls!
Spring (March-June)
The top selling items were:
mugs
ring holders
vases
trays
Summer (June-September)
The top selling items were:
ring holders
mugs
vases
spoon rests
Fall (September-December)
The top selling items were:
mugs
vases
ring holders
4. seasonal items (ex. pumpkins, holiday figurines, ornaments, etc.)
That’s a wrap! Grateful to Square Point of Sale for the accurate reports, and for everyone who supported me in 2024 by purchasing my artwork! See you at the next market in 2025 & stay tuned about future online shop drops by signing up for my Newsletter!
