Alexander Berdin-Lazursky - Samara Billy Milligan: some know him as a designer and photographer, others as a musician, and a year ago, the list of hobbies was supplemented by ceramics. Every evening Alexander moves from the office computer to international company to the potter's wheel to create a new batch of dishes, improve the skill of working with clay and porcelain, and then pass it on to students. With the support of the “Masters of Russia” project, we talked with him about whether it is realistic to make money on pottery, who chooses exclusive dishes instead of standard cups from Ikea, why ceramics consist of solid fakapov, and most importantly, how long it takes to become a real master.
Equipment for 260 thousand and the first perfect batch
It just so happened that I have quite a few hobbies in life: I am a photographer, designer, musician, teacher, turner of the sixth category - and this is not the whole list. Family and friends are used to what I do different things, so when it came to ceramics, no one was even surprised.
I got into pottery because it allows you to get the real thing. It's one thing when you develop a website design for a month, and then the lights are turned off - and there is nothing in front of you, and another thing - when you have a real object in your hands with its structure, material, weight and shape. It hooked me a lot. Then I thought that the dishes are the perfect thing, in the creation of which I can apply all my design skills.
I like to learn everything on my own, without mentors, and even five years ago there was no one in Samara who could help me in my new hobby. I took a couple of lessons at the Union of Artists, but quickly realized that this was not what I needed. There, people are focused on sculpting sculptures, panels, paintings and stained-glass windows. Dishes for them are too commonplace, and for me even a mug is a huge mystery, because you need to take into account a bunch of factors - the thickness of the wall and bottom, the curvature of the touch to the lip, the position of the handle and its shape, heat capacity, color, weight. In the end, I bought equipment and set up a workshop at home right next to the bed - wrapped everything around plastic wrap and sat like Dexter. My wife sleeps at night, and I twist. The potter's wheel and oven cost me 260,000, but I figured that was a great motivation not to turn back.
I found answers to any questions in Google. But ceramists have begun to create chatiks only now, a year ago they did not exist yet. For the first six months, I did a lot of things, but from time to time the products died: they exploded in the oven, spread or broke during turning. It is a pity that I never found a teacher, because under the guidance of a professional, the result can be achieved dozens of times faster.
Now I notice that the guys who come to us, after three classes, do things that I reached only after six months.
I like to take risks, so I never made samplers: I put the whole batch into the oven, and not each mug individually. At some point, the stars converged and all the products survived. I matched the icing, the shape, and the colors. But it turned out that the most difficult thing is to repeat your success. I suffered for another month - I seemed to do the same thing, but nothing came of it. I had to change the technology once again in order to get a good result all the time.
At that moment, I handed out almost all the dishes to friends. People often ask for a product if they see that you are producing something. I agreed with pleasure, but warned that I would soon begin to do even better, and the gift had already been presented. This did not stop my friends, but in vain, because it is much more profitable to ask me for something now.
Workshop and collaboration
After nine months of working at home, I realized that it was time to look for a workshop. The fact is that it is quite difficult to keep the apartment clean when you are constantly diluting and grinding clay. Even then I had an ideal picture in my head: I was sitting somewhere on the first floor, spinning dishes on a potter's wheel, and people were passing by, looking through the windows and asking me something. In the end, everything came true.
Once Sasha Lyulyakina came to me, said that she had graduated from a pottery school in Voronezh and offered to join forces. I agreed, and we rented a room on Chapaevskaya, 92 - we found it through friends and quite quickly. And most importantly - it is fully consistent with my idea of an ideal workshop.
Since I do ceramics after my main job and can't spend all day at the potter's wheel, we started looking for someone cool who could work in the workshop with Sasha all the time. As a result, we made friends with the girls from the Lepco creative studio - they sculpt with their hands, not on a circle, so we strengthened each other, became an excellent team, and now I don’t know a ceramic organization in Samara more solid than ours.
Now the workshop works as a co-working space, and I like it. People come, pay 300 rubles per hour and can use all the materials they see. The guys create, and we suggest if you need help. It seems to me that this is the perfect way to create an artistic atmosphere for people who are engaged in one thing.
The only problem is that many still do not know that you can come to us just like that, so I also organize training courses. One of them lasts three days - during this time a person receives basic skills and can independently make dishes for himself. It costs 4,500 rubles and is very popular because it allows you to understand whether you like ceramics in general. The second course will cost 18,000 rubles, but with it you can master much more techniques and forms. In addition, during the entire training period, there is an opportunity to use co-working space unlimitedly to hone your skills.
earnings and demand
I still don't have client base. I'm a designer and I don't want to do sales - much more I like to make and draw. But when there were too many dishes at home, I decided that I could sell the best copies. I gave the first mug to the buyer myself, but for this I had to leave the house, take the money, give the thing away - it's too stressful for me. Now my friend Nastya Ryazanova from Garden N studio is selling products. We met because I shot weddings, and she worked in the same field as a florist. I just donate things to her store, and now it's the only place where you can buy them.
The cost depends only on how much I want to part with this or that instance. The materials are not very expensive, but I sit with this mug for three days, and then I bake it for the same amount. And all this time there is a chance to lose the product. And let's not forget about his five sisters, who crashed at some stage before they managed to get the perfect copy. If an illustrator worked with a mug, then it will cost about 3,000 rubles, because this is a unique thing that a master of his craft had a hand in. The dishes, on which only I worked, cost 1000 rubles. It continues to be unique, but does not bear the imprint of several people with whom I have to share the profits.
I never aspired to make money from any of my hobbies. It so happened that since childhood I have lived with the constant feeling that I could die right now. If I start wasting time on things I don't like, it will be very unwise. I like to design, so every day I go to work in the office with pleasure. And then I leave with joy, because I go where I like, maybe even more. It seems to me that if you love something, then sooner or later all the costs will pay off.
Materials and technology
Working with ceramics is a long process. First you take a lump of clay and knead it so that there are no air bubbles left inside. This matters because otherwise the dishes may crack. Then the most beloved part for many is the potter's wheel. You twist the clay and it takes a certain shape. After that, the product dries for about a day and then the clay becomes hard, but still remains wet. This is the ideal state when you can grind it, make a neck or attach a handle to the mug. Then the clay dries for a few more days and the dishes are sent to the oven for nine hours. When the product has cooled, paint it or cover it with glaze, and then send it back for baking.
As a rule, I buy Spanish, German or French clay - in these countries they have learned how to make masses that are pleasant to work with. Sometimes I take porcelain, but it is quite expensive - 3,000 rubles will have to be paid for 10 kilograms. From such a bar, about 15 cups will be obtained, some of which will go into marriage.
Basically, everyone uses purchased glazes, but you can make it yourself. I did it, and it's a whole new level. Working with a purchased one is the same as processing photos with ready-made presets on Instagram. I got into my own recipe because I didn't want to deprive myself of one of the dimensions of uniqueness.
Failures in ceramics
Ceramics is very fickle, so a person quickly ceases to value what he does. And this essential quality for the artist, because it helps to gain freedom of expression. When you are ready to lose your job at any moment, it becomes possible to quickly and flexibly create something new.
I can do everything right, but in the end there will be a crack on the mug. If it fails to grind off, the product will have to be thrown away. At first it's very frustrating, considering how much time and work you put into it, and then you start to take things lightly. This is an interesting school of life.
Ceramics consists of failures - my entire instagram is full of them. Every now and then I beat the cups off the stove with a hammer, because they are welded tightly or pull out a product that has melted, boiled, peeled off or exploded. The most annoying thing is when the thing that the artist painted bursts. Creative people react differently: some are very worried about their work. But the last time I was lucky - the girl just said that she would draw more. I was very glad.
There is gold on almost every one of my works, and this is not an accident. Imagine that you are in the XIV century, there is darkness around and a huge temple stands among it. Inside everything is in gold, loud music plays, best artists modernity is painted on the walls. And it’s safe there and sometimes even fed. In general, a person gets everything he wants, and more gold - as an emphasis on what is there and everything else. So when I use gold, it's like I'm telling people, “Look, there's something else. This thing deserves to have gold on it.
Ceramics begins to develop. Already, we have moved from Khokhloma patterns to cats, flowers and realistic grenades. It looks nice, but I understand that these are not unique things, but just decorative elements. Soon the fashion for all this will pass and modern ceramics - author's - will come to the place of obsolete products. Artists will begin to strive for uniqueness and express themselves through shapes, textures, colors.
My ceramics also cannot be called modern yet: first you repeat, then you start to modify the result, and only then isolate something of your own. I am still at the stage of repetition - I look at English ceramists and study their style. Modern American ceramics touches me a little less, although there are more author's crazy styles.
The pottery boom is coming, so the amount of information is growing rapidly. People create their own workshops, and it's very cool. In Samara, the sphere is developing explosively fast. Recently I organized a meeting of potters, which was attended by ten people - and that's not all. I keep track of what my colleagues are doing, because you always need to be aware of what is happening. True, I'm much more interested in studying Foreign experience- I get acquainted with new techniques and test them.
I love my job because it's not a job at all. I plan to turn what I do from creativity into art - I want to create something beautiful. I think when a couple will write about me English magazines, I can say that I am doing something really important for the world.
Pottery is always at the peak of popularity. The technology of their manufacture has not changed for several thousand years. Even materials such as glass, metal or plastic could not influence the popularity of these products. Since demand constantly exceeds supply, pottery can become a promising direction for creating a small and quite profitable business.
Where to start a business?
At first glance, it may seem that it is enough to simply open a pottery workshop, purchase raw materials and equipment, and you can start earning money. In fact, you need to carefully prepare before opening such a business. To be successful, you need to become a master potter. The manager who manages the business must carefully study the production process, as well as familiarize himself with the basics of pottery.
Legal registration
Such a line of activity should be registered under the code “Production of decorative and household ceramic products”. If issued individual entrepreneur, the number of hired workers should not exceed 5 people. In this case, you can choose a simplified taxation system. Thanks to this, you do not have to keep accounting records and fill out tax returns.
room
To organize pottery production at home, you need a small room with an area of 50 square meters. meters. In addition, it is necessary to allocate a separate area for a warehouse, with an area of 15 sq. meters. There you will store the finished product.
It is desirable that the pottery workshop be located on the first floor of the building. As for communications, the premises must have electricity, sewerage and running water. Also, do not forget about air conditioning and ventilation.
Equipment
For the manufacture of ceramic products, you must purchase a potter's wheel.In addition, you will need:
- Scales;
- Clay kneading machine;
- Kiln for roasting;
- Forms for frames and various figures;
- Paints and brushes.
You will have to invest about 300 thousand rubles in the production of pottery. This is a small starting capital that any novice entrepreneur can raise.
Before purchasing equipment, it is necessary to study the special literature in order to familiarize yourself with some important nuances.
Do not immediately buy new equipment. Sometimes you can find used pottery equipment in excellent condition through advertisements in newspapers and the Internet.
Staff
If you have an irresistible desire, as well as a certain amount of perseverance, you can do everything production processes on their own. But it is much more efficient to use hired labor.
To work in a pottery workshop, you can hire people:
- For kneading clay;
- Product molding;
- Roasting;
- Artistic design and painting finished products.
Technology for the manufacture of clay products
Home production of pottery is as follows:
- A solution of a certain consistency is kneaded from clay and water. Different grades of clay are used as feedstock;
- The mixture is sent to the potter's wheel, where the master makes dishes from it. Various figurines are made using special molds on a potter's table;
- Roasting in a kiln. This is the longest process. The longer the product is fired, the more durable and stronger it is;
- Finished product coloring.
If you are interested in pottery production, you can watch videos on the Internet on specialized resources. Also, see other ideas for making money in the field of manufacturing materials and products, for example,.
Income
Pottery almost always finds its buyers. To organize the sale of finished products, you can take it for sale in supermarkets or souvenir shops. This is not the most profitable way, so you should try hard to become a regular supplier of a large souvenir chain. In this case, the volume of one batch of products will be at least 1000 pieces.It is worth noting that pottery as a business brings good profits. To increase income, you can open training courses at the workshop. Many modern people who are tired of the daily hustle and bustle are happy to be creative. You can also organize refresher courses. In this case, you will have to purchase additional equipment for pottery production and Consumables.
In addition, you can engage in the manufacture of pottery to order. Large companies often order large batches of souvenirs with their logo or symbols. pottery business will be successful if you choose a competent pricing policy. For permanent wholesale buyers it is necessary to provide a special system of discounts.
Purchase of raw materials
It is important to know that clay for pottery production can be of different varieties - white, red, and also with lime or sand impurities.
Before you start purchasing equipment, decide what kind of clay you will be working with. The choice of equipment and its cost largely depend on this.
Experienced potters mostly use red clay. The most important thing is that it contains a little lime. Experts advise finding one specific place where you can constantly take raw materials. It is desirable that the clay be oily and contain no more than 1% metal oxide. You can learn about the deposits of such material from local geologists or local historians.
Features of pottery
Before you start sculpting, you need to prepare the mixture. The traditional technology of pottery production involves squeezing air bubbles out of the clay. That is, the mixture must be thoroughly interrupted. To do this, the workpiece must be rolled up several times on a wooden board. With the help of a wire, it is cut into pieces and thrown against the table with force. After that, the workpiece must be twisted several times in a spiral. This is a very important process, on which the number of marriages largely depends.
Many aspiring entrepreneurs are interested in how to learn pottery? The most important thing is to be patient, because this art requires a long polishing of skill. If something doesn't work for you, don't be upset. Think of those potters who worked several thousand years ago. They didn't have special equipment and literature, from which you can draw the necessary knowledge, but, despite this, they created real masterpieces.
Summing up
Nowadays, finding courses in pottery is not difficult. Therefore, having a desire, you can easily master this profession.
Experts recommend not to turn your apartment into a workshop. Use for this cottage, garage or rent a room. Otherwise, you will pollute all the rooms, burn the wiring, clog the sewers and, as a result, quarrel with all the neighbors.
The pottery workshop will bring good profit if you have enough a large number of clients. After you settle organizational and production issues, immediately look for reliable distribution channels.
Use advertising for this, and also take part in various art exhibitions. Suggest souvenir products in small shops in the city center, at railway stations and airports. If you take into account all these recommendations, the pottery workshop will become a profitable and promising business.
Attachments: from 135 000 rubles
Payback: from 4 months
An excellent option for an aspiring entrepreneur with creative potential would be to open your own pottery workshop. This, at first glance, non-obvious idea can be worthy object to invest effort, money and time. How to implement this project you will learn from this article.
business concept
Ceramics has been a companion of our everyday life since time immemorial and to this day does not go out of fashion. And the growing popularity of hand made products makes it even more relevant. Clay products can be very diverse - purely utilitarian or purely decorative. Dishes made on the potter's wheel: jugs, plates, mugs, dishes, etc. - can be used for their intended purpose or as decoration. You can make souvenirs, jewelry, decorative tiles, photo frames and much more from clay. Sufficient if available a large assortment lack of potential buyers will not be. There are also many options for selling products. You can sell products in bulk for subsequent sale through stores, make products to order, and put them up for sale in various souvenir shops. It is also possible to sell goods directly to customers - directly in the workshop or through your own shop or shop.
Various kinds of master classes are quite popular at present, including those on the manufacture of ceramic products. By equipping your workshop with additional tools and pottery wheels, as well as providing enough publicity to attract customers, it is quite possible to organize classes for everyone.
What is required for implementation?
You need a suitable space to work. It shouldn't be big, but it should be able to fit everything. necessary equipment, materials and finished goods. If you plan to conduct courses and master classes, then you should choose a room with a convenient location, as well as equip it with additional furniture and fixtures.
The main tools will be a potter's wheel, a clay kneading machine, scales and, perhaps, the most expensive element - a kiln for firing products. Finding material for modeling - clay - is not difficult.
Pottery wheels come in various designs (manual, foot, table, floor, mechanical, electric). Each master selects a circle individually, based on personal preferences and convenience.
For the production of standard products, such as souvenir magnets, it is convenient to use ready-made molds. This will speed up the process and get the same neat products.
At the initial stage, the entrepreneur himself can work in the workshop on his own or with one assistant. While the scope of work is small, it is quite possible to combine production and organizational work. However, as the business develops and the volume of work increases, additional staff will be required.
In no case should you neglect advertising. As in any other business, it is the engine of trade. The more potential clients and customers learn about the workshop, the more likely to succeed. One of the most effective channels today is the Internet. You can organize your own website and online store or use the services of existing resources.
For legalization entrepreneurial activity it is advisable to open an IP of this kind.
Step by step start instructions
- Market analysis, study of competitors, product demand, options sales.
- Drawing up a business plan and seeking funding.
- IP registration.
- Search and rental of premises (repair, if necessary).
- Selection and purchase of furniture and equipment, tools.
- Search for suppliers of raw materials and purchase of the first batch of working material.
- Advertising and promotion of a business project.
Financial calculations
A pottery workshop is a business that requires investment. An entrepreneur cannot do without initial costs, because funds will be required to rent premises, purchase equipment and materials for work.
The amount of start-up costs for each individual project will differ depending on the scale of the activity. As an example, consider the option of a small pottery workshop in which the entrepreneur works independently.
Start-up capital
The initial investment will include:
- rent of premises - from 20 thousand rubles per month;
- potter's wheel - from 30 thousand rubles;
- kiln for firing products - from 40 thousand rubles;
- clay mixing machine - from 30 thousand rubles;
- scales - from 5 thousand rubles;
- advertising - about 10 thousand rubles.
In total, the minimum amount required to open your own small pottery workshop will be 135 thousand rubles.
Monthly expenses
Monthly expenses will include rental payments for the premises and advertising costs, which together will amount to about 30 thousand rubles.
Payback periods
The pottery business can pay off in 4-5 months.
Business Features
Opening a pottery workshop is one of those cases where a simple hobby can grow into your own financially successful project.
This type of activity is ideal for people who are passionate about working with clay. Otherwise, you will have to first master this craft or immediately hire professional craftsmen.
Just making pottery is not enough. It is necessary to first find out which of them will be in demand, otherwise the entrepreneur risks being left with unsold goods. The best option is to work on pre-order.
Outcome
Own pottery workshop a good option for a budding entrepreneur, allowing to realize creative potential and earn a stable income. The risks associated with such a business are minimal, and relatively small amounts of financial costs allow you to start operating almost immediately.
Is pottery a promising business? This craft opens up opportunities for creativity, learning and earning. Its history goes deep into the millennia: many centuries ago, people molded vessels and pots from clay, decorated them with carvings and glaze. Mass production pottery in the 21st century has shifted pottery to the entertainment industry. We tell you what the technology of pottery production is, what materials are used for production and what you can earn on.
Pottery production has been known since ancient times. This craft created the necessary containers and vessels in everyday life. The main material for it is clay. The story began with handmade: a craftsman sculpted a product from a piece of clay, and then fired it in a kiln or dried it in the sun (in hot countries). However, quite a long time ago, at the beginning of the first millennium, a potter's wheel appeared - a machine tool that, with the help of rotational force, gives products an even symmetrical shape. In addition to the beauty of the vessels, this device ensures a higher production speed.
In addition to making pottery, potters produced bricks, tiles, drainage pipes, and even architectural decorations. Interestingly, in the Middle Ages, earthenware vessels were invented to improve the acoustics of temples: they were immured into the walls. These can be seen in Novgorod, Pskov and Moscow.
Russian pottery masters also worked with their hands and in circles, creating items that were in demand and needed in everyday life. This skill was not rare: in every family there were people who were able to make the necessary vessel. From the end of the 19th century, dishes own production factory, and pottery from the sphere of vital skills moved into the field of folk art and hobbies.
Pottery - making pottery, various vessels, toys and even architectural elements from clay
Pottery materials
The main material for pottery is clay. A special potted variety is considered optimal for the manufacture of vessels, although there can be quite a lot of options for the composition of the clay mass. They are divided into dense (porcelain, biscuit, parian) and porous (faience, terracotta). Clay may contain quartz and gypsum. These components make products more durable.
Most often, finished products, but after firing, are painted with glaze. The goals are not only decorative, but also practical: the paint does not allow moisture to penetrate into the product and destroy it. There are several ways to apply glaze: etching, sprinkling, dousing or hand-painting.
Production technologies
Pottery for beginners at home is quite a feasible task, although working in a special workshop is much more convenient. The reason for the simplicity of this work lies in its antiquity: initially people worked by hand or with the help of very simple devices, and the modeling skill itself was very widespread.
The manufacture of the product begins with the preparation of the clay mass. The quality of the vessel depends on its quality and features. The so-called pot clay is usually used, its composition is considered optimal. The uniformity and density of the mass is important. Now such material can be easily bought in hobby stores. Harvesting clay on your own is problematic: you need to find a good place, collect material, clean it from pebbles and impurities.
When the mass is ready, you can start molding or sculpting. Some types of products are made in forms and frames, vessels are formed on a potter's wheel, figurines and whistles are molded by hand. This can be a creative or purely mechanical process, depending on the wishes and goals of the master.
Burning
The formed product must be fired so that it retains a stable shape. Clay is fired at very high temperatures - from 1000 degrees. For a different composition of the mass, a certain temperature is required:
- clay - 1000–1200 degrees;
- ceramics - 1100–1300 degrees;
- porcelain - 1200–1400 degrees.
Difficulties can arise with low-quality compositions. For example, there are examples when purchased powdered clay boiled already at a temperature of 750 degrees and the product deteriorated. Therefore, the choice of raw materials must be treated very carefully, check the manufacturers so as not to waste time and money.
It is advisable to use gas or electric ovens: they are easier to manage, soot and soot do not form in them, which spoil the surface of the products. The atmosphere in the kiln during firing also affects the appearance of the vessels and figurines. For example, you can cause clay to oxidize and give it a more brownish tint.
The basis of the workshop is the potter's wheel
Glaze application
Glaze is a glassy coating of clay products. Its purpose is not only decorative. First of all, glaze is necessary to protect the product from moisture, which can get into its structure and destroy it. The protective coating is applied during or after firing. The basis of such a coating are quartz, kaolin and feldspar. To make the glaze colored, oxides and metal salts are added to the composition.
Methods for applying glaze to pottery:
- pulverization;
- spatter;
- dipping;
- watering;
- plugging;
- brush painting.
When staining, defects sometimes occur, such as bubbles or cracks. The pottery maker must anticipate their causes and prevent them. To do this, you need to monitor the uniformity of application, grinding raw materials for glaze and choose the right temperature for firing.
Necessary equipment
The basis of the workshop is a potter's wheel. This device is quite familiar to everyone: a rotating device that allows you to form symmetrical volumetric products. There are several varieties:
- manual (set in motion with one hand, and you need to work on the workpiece with the other hand);
- mechanical foot (rotation force is provided by the legs, both hands are free to work);
- electric (the most common now, rotation provides electric current, the master works only on the product).
For business, especially if you plan to conduct training in pottery, you need an electric circle. A compact machine can be purchased for 30 thousand rubles, a more professional one - for 45 thousand. The rotating part of the circle is called the turnstile. One turnstile is always included with the circle, but you can buy additional ones, for example, large and smaller sizes.
In addition to the potter's wheel, a muffle furnace is needed: it can heat up to a certain temperature. high temperature(up to 1400 degrees) and maintain this temperature for the desired period of time. You can buy a pottery oven for an average of 30-40 thousand rubles, but it is better to lay a larger amount - in the region of 100 thousand rubles. The firing time depends on the material and volume of the product. Sometimes it is required to fire clay 2-3 times for glazing.
What can you make money on
Pottery is now more folk craft than the mode of production. A master working on a potter's wheel will not be able to compete in terms of production with industrial enterprises. And the quality of his products is likely to be inferior.
An option to earn money in pottery is the manufacture of decorative toys, whistles, bells. They are sold in museums, souvenir shops, tourist shops.
The most promising in terms of income is a master class in pottery. The opportunity to try yourself in a new role, work with your hands, make a souvenir or a useful thing in the household attracts many. Such lessons are enjoyed by children and adults. Pottery courses can be organized only if the entrepreneur already has skills in this craft (otherwise, teaching people will not work).
Let's consider each option in a little more detail.
There are several options for making money in pottery, one of which is training.
Pottery
The sale of pottery - dishes, household vessels, as well as decorative figurines and whistles - can generate income. Such souvenirs are not mass-produced, although the demand among tourists for them is quite high. If you manage to find distribution channels in this direction, in the spring-summer season and new year holidays you can make a profit.
You should not expect big money: one figurine is sold for an average of 100-150 rubles at a cost of up to 30 rubles. If you make 500 pieces, you can earn 75,000 rubles. The downside of this method is that creating such souvenirs is not as easy as it seems at first glance. We need accuracy, pleasant colors and original ideas.
Another idea is to sell dishes and vases over the Internet. The tendency to use only natural materials in the interior will work in favor of the master. If you take beautiful pictures of the products, tell more about them and maintain pages regularly, you can find many customers.
Master classes for children
Another more profitable direction is master classes for children. Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other cities have already joined this work. The advantage is that the audience of potential visitors is simply huge, and special knowledge is not needed to conduct children's master classes. Experiences are important for children, not knowledge and skills. Often these classes are attended by families.
Classes are held in small groups and last an average of 1.5 hours. Children are told a brief history pottery, show finished products and teach how to work with clay. This is an easy and enjoyable job. The only negative is the cost: you need to rent a large room, renovate it, put up furniture and buy a few potter's wheels. One oven is enough. It is also necessary to develop training programs and provide for variability for different ages.
Education
You can also earn on more advanced training. Some people are really interested in mastering pottery at an advanced level. Perhaps they plan to earn money later on or build a business, so they are ready to pay for the lessons. This direction of work should be combined with children's master classes and independent production.
Not quite the usual option - books. If the master has already accumulated solid work experience and knows the craft well, you can try to write tutorial and publish it in a limited edition.
Many are willing to pay to learn how to work on a potter's wheel and make their own dishes.
Financial investments and payback
An average of 150 thousand rubles will have to be spent on equipment for the workshop: an oven and a potter's wheel. Working tools like thread, modeling kits - another 10 thousand rubles. Raw materials for several months of work - approximately 30 thousand.
Suppose an entrepreneur plans not only to produce on his own, but also to train other people. Then there will be more costs: several potter's wheels, rent and repair of premises, more tools and raw materials, as well as advertising. All this can be put on average in 500 thousand rubles. The total cost of starting a business will be 800 thousand rubles.
We found out that you can earn about 75 thousand rubles per season by selling products. Master classes should bring the bulk of the income. A 1.5-hour lesson costs from 500 rubles, groups - 10-12 people. If you conduct 4 classes a week in fully loaded groups, you can earn 24 thousand rubles in a week, and 96 thousand in a month.
It is quite possible to earn at the level of 100 thousand rubles a month in your own pottery workshop. Including the purchase of consumables, payment of rent and utilities You can recoup all investments within 8-12 months of active work.
Conclusion
Pottery is a promising craft in terms of earnings. The most profitable is the organization of master classes for children and adults. You can also earn money by selling dishes and souvenirs. Opening a workshop costs an average of 800 thousand rubles, which can be recouped in 1 year of work.
On the manufacture of ceramic products, you can build profitable business, both in large-scale and full-scale production, and as part of the opening of a small pottery workshop. The latter option, as experience shows, is even more cost-effective.
Basically, this direction of activity is chosen by entrepreneurs who already have some experience and are familiar with the specifics of pottery.
In this case, it will be faster and much more efficient to implement a business idea, but, on the other hand, lack of experience is a fixable matter, and everyone would be willing to study the nuances of manufacturing ceramic products. Moreover, such products are now used in great demand which is growing every year.
room
To accommodate a pottery workshop, a room with an area of about 70-80 sq.m. will be required, which should be divided into a production area, a warehouse for raw materials and finished products, a staff room with a shower room and a bathroom.
It is recommended to separately equip a room for glazing products, since the composition of the glaze contains substances that are harmful and hazardous to health, for example, lead, working with such a composition requires the use of respirators, a professional ventilation system, and water and electricity supply is also required.
As for the location of the pottery workshop, large ceramic manufacturers, if possible, place their workshops closer to suppliers of raw materials or clay deposits. A small pottery workshop can be located within the city, but not necessarily in the center, this will help reduce rental costs.
Equipment
Necessary equipment for a pottery workshop - directly production units (potter's wheel, clay kneading machine, oven, glaze mill, scales and ready-made stencil forms for small items), handy tools (potter's knives, shovels, threads, files, compasses, spoons and other pottery tools), furniture for craftsmen (tables, chairs), equipment for storage and storage of raw materials (tanks, racks, shelves).
Approximate calculation of costs at this stage:
Potter's wheel - from 900 to 1500 dollars;
Clay kneading machine - 950 USD;
Scales - from $ 180;
Tool - from $ 150 and above.
Firing of ceramic products is carried out in muffle furnaces. The average cost of one furnace is 2-2.5 thousand dollars.
Some pottery specialists, in order to save on the purchase of a muffle furnace, manage to convert electric stoves for the needs of firing.
Raw material
The cost of purchasing the first batch of raw materials (clay, enamels, paints, glazes) will be 1500-1600 USD. Clay is imported mainly from Ukraine. One ton can be purchased at a price of 100 USD. and higher.
Staff
Usually in small pottery workshops up to 50 sq.m. 2-3 masters work. The salary of such workers is 400-450 dollars per month, it all depends on the fullness of employment, the level of qualification of specialists.
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An accountant is also needed, the functions of a manager for the purchase of raw materials and sales are often assumed by the owner of the workshop, appearance products are handled by an incoming or full-time designer, graphic designer. It will depend on the imagination and creative flight of thoughts of this specialist the lineup and success of the products.
Specificity of activity
It is most profitable to start such a business in resort areas and cities with high tourist attendance, then ceramic products - original and authentic - will definitely be in demand. Of course, it is important to take into account the fact that there are competitors or suppliers of a similar group of goods.
Many believe that it is difficult for local pottery manufacturers to compete with cheap Chinese products. But it is worth remembering that a mass product is not as interesting as an individual development, besides, Chinese products, although cheap, are not of high quality.
When creating products, it is important to remember that each region of the country has its own history and traditions, which are reflected in ceramic souvenirs and paintings. And the clay, which has been mined for centuries and the way it is processed, is a kind of calling card areas, for example, Slavic, Gaivaretskaya, Cherry ceramics and others appeared, which Chinese manufacturers certainly cannot repeat.
It is not necessary at the first stages to engage in the manufacture of a huge range of ceramic products at once. The most popular dishes, decorative plates, mugs, magnets, vases.
The sources of income for a pottery workshop are profit from the sale of products directly, as well as popular in Lately pottery workshops, courses and workshop and equipment rental.
Prices for such services: the cost of a master class per person - from 10 dollars, the rent of a workshop - from 35 USD. at one o'clock.
Markets and distribution mechanisms
The main sales markets are retail chains, small firms, flower and gift shops, souvenir shops, wholesale markets, small boutiques of gifts and souvenirs in large shopping and entertainment centers.
Effective advertising of services and sale via the Internet, own website, presence of an online store, promotion of goods through social media, electronic bulletin boards. In such electronic and printed sources, it is convenient to place information with a price list on products, as well as prices for pottery training services.
Investments and profit
The starting price for a simple clay product (using a stamped magnet as an example) is $1.5-1.8.
At a cost of 0.7-0.9 c.u.
Summing up, we note that the total investment for starting a business will be 7800-8000 dollars.
The payback period of a business project with intensive advertising promotion, active sales and search for potential customers, high quality products, unique design and creative fantasies of the artist does not exceed 12 months.
Video: pottery workshop from the inside
