CONTEMPORARY CERAMIC CAFESHobby Ceramics has been around in the USA for over 40 years and there are hundreds of Ceramic Studios in every state.In Europe we have had Hobby Ceramic studios for approx 20 years. However over the past 7 years there has been a huge growth in Contemporary Ceramic Cafes.
These outlets are Hobby Ceramic Studios without the frills, muck and mess. A place where you can pop in and paint a piece of pottery, have a coffee and a light snack or even a glass of wine.
Most of the new Contemporary Ceramic Cafes are situated in Shopping Malls or on the High Street. Stores can also be situated on a shopping parades that has plenty of passing trade.
Ceramic Cafes and Paint your own Pottery Studios are one of the fastest growing business opportunities in Europe
If you live in a Rural Area then a small studio will still work. The personality of the Ceramic Café owner will be the driving force. You must always keep a good selection of Bisque for your customers to paint. Good quality Bisque sells itself.
The ready fired Bisque mostly Imported from Italy and China is just stacked up waiting for your customers to paint and have fun.
You need a little teaching knowledge to be able to operate a Contemporary Ceramic Studio, We teach a four day course that will give you enough knowledge to open. You do not need a degree in Art, The knowledge we can pass onto you is the key to your success.
Most Studios have a large public area with tables and chairs surrounded by shelving stacked with an amazing selection of Bisque that will keep your customers coming back for more. There would be a choice of Underglaze colours and accessories to help your clients finish their desired project
Comtemporary Ceramic Studios are fun places for hosting childrens parties and ladies Hen nights. Most studios are extremely popular with children of all ages who create wonderful works of art.
Corporate Events are also becoming very fashionable where a group from an office can get together, have a fun and artistic time while creating there own Coffee cup or Mug. This form of artistic entertainment is known to motivate and stimulate the staff involved
The start up costs are slightly cheaper than setting up a Paint Your Own Pottery Store as you would not have to Invest into machinery you would need for Clay Work and Selection of Moulds for pouring Greenware.
Approx £3,000 would buy you a reasonable sized kiln, paint stock and Bisque to get you going Larger stores would invest a little more in Bisque. Your Contemporary Ceramic Café can also retail Underglaze paint and Bisque for people to take home to paint and return to you for firing in your Kiln
Once your clients are through the door it`s upto you to keep them amazed and enthralled in the work they produce. Never again will they have to buy gifts for their family and friends when they can make and take hand painted gifts for their loved ones.
By continuing to educate yourself and learn about our Industry you will be able to teach your clients even more techniques, Your clients will continue to grow with your business and become long established clients,
Ceramics has an entertainment value and people who succeed in this business are normally outgoing enthusiastic people who enjoy socializing with people in a Fun business
While looking for a location to start your business you should be looking at a public area of approx 50 sq metres where you would be able to seat approx 36 people. You would also need room to site your kiln allow for storage and small office space,
Contact us for more details
julia.grant@bisqueimportseurope,com
PAINT YOUR OWN POTTERY STUDIOPaint your own Pottery Studios are a little more Traditional than the Contemporary Ceramic Café. They tend to also offer Clay Work and occasionally the use of a Potters Wheel. Some also offer Greenware that is unfired Bisque Items that need cleaning and fettling . These items will then be fired in your Kiln to turn into Bisque for your shelves, most items would have been cast from Ceramic Moulds
Production of Greenware can be hard work and messy, but the thrill of producing Bisque Items that are unique for your studio is great. You also save a lot of money when you can produce an item for 20p compared with paying £1.50 for the same ready fired Bisque item. Once established Paint your own Pottery Studios show a better profit.
If you have a cellar, garage or out building you could use for your production you would be on your way. You would not want your production area within your store. It would cause a lot od dust and you would be forever cleaning your public areas.
The Kiln you use for firing your finished pieces would be the same kiln you would use for firing your Greenware to Bisque you just need a Kiln with a controller.
There are thousands of items that you can produce using a mould that will never be available in Bisque form. So it would make your Bisque very unique . You could even sell it onto other Ceramic Cafes or Paint your own Pottery Studios in your area.
After a little teacher training you should be well on your way to establishing your Paint your own Pottery Store.
To keep ahead of the game you must continue to keep training. If you are constantly creating new designs you will be keeping your clients happy, introducing a few new moulds to your collection every month will keep them coming back for more.
One major thing you need to remember although Ceramic Moulds are available in Europe most are shipped from the USA, so ordering in advance will be a necessity.
Although we stock some popular moulds these products are forever evolving and it`s sometimes hard to see which way a trend is going.
Apart from learning to teach your Clients you need to have a reasonable knowledge about promoting your business. We build a business management segment into our Teacher Training. If you know where and how to promote your business you have a better chance of success.
As for space required you should be looking at approx 60 sq metres for your public area so you can seat approx 60 people and have room for a couple of Potters Wheels for those that want to participate in Clay works
Contact us direct to learn more about our educational courses and seminars
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MOBILE PAINT YOUR OWN POTTERYIf you do not have space at home to host Paint your own Pottery parties, then you can hold the parties in your clients homes, like a party plan operation.
A bit like selling Tupperware or hosting an Avon Make-Up party. You can produce a small leaflet offering your services for Childrens Parties, or Family fun Nights, or even host a Make a Gift night.
The host or hostess would make the selection of Bisque that their guests would like to paint. You turn up with your selection of Bisque, paint brushes and accessories for them to be able to complete their projects. You then take the pieces away to fire in your Kiln and return them to the Hostess when fired.
Most mobile studios offer items from approx £8.00 - £10.00 for children and items ranging from £10.00 to £20.00 for adults. You can then take a selection of Bisque from that price range with you and the party people can make their own choice when they attend.
Some hostesses would like the items painted in Acrylics for their childrens parties, So the children just make and take the items straight home.
You will still need a Kiln that you can use to fire the finished items, but you could set that up in your garage or cellar.
Even if you own a Ceramic Café or Paint your own Pottery Studio youcan still offer a Mobile Service.
When we host a party this way we normally give the hostess or person that is celebrating a special gift. Everyone present will put a handprint or signature on the plate so it becomes a very special gift.
Some of the Mobile Studios currently operating visit childrens nurserys, schools, girl guides, scouts and brownies. They also hold weekly sessions in village halls or sports centres.
Many Contemporary Ceramic Studio owners started up their businesses as Mobile Studios, built up a reputation and had a ready made client base when they opened their new store.
Being a mobile operation you will not have to lay out for rent and rates for a business premises. You would however need a decent vehicle. A small car or van that has prominent logos on its side will bring you in plenty of new business,
You can set up a Party Plan Mobile Studio for as little as £1000.00. This would include a small kiln starter pack of bisque and underglaze colours.
For help and advice call today or email
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Some people love the idea of running their own business from home but are cautious about taking that first step.
Some people enjoy the experience of creating wonderful works of art in ceramics and giving them to family and friends
You could make and paint a selection of Bisque and set up a stand at a Craft Fair or Village Fete. Craft fairs are held all over Europe and there is something happening somewhere every weekend.
You would soon discover which are popular fairs for you to attend and you can also offer your clients Commission Works. That could be a baby plate a wedding plate or other wonderful memory piece.
There are always people e who collect Fairies, Elephants. Pigs ect, every time you make a sale give them a business card offering to paint something for them in their choice of colour.
If you are going to do the Craft Fair circuit do it well. Dress your table and have different levels to display your Ceramic pieces. An attractive stand will pull your customers in. Sit painting at the table to show, what you are selling is genuine hand made ceramic art.
Others take Finished Ware even further and Mass produce items for bars, restaurants and hotels. The scope is endless. If you are good at sales you could develop a wonderful little home business while still at work and then eventually make it your full time job.
So if you do not want to get left behind and the challenge is driving you forward to achieve something artistically give Finished Producing a go.
What have you got to lose contact
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