A new way of talkin'
On Sunday I learned a new way of talkin' and a new way of walkin' with the presentation of a two hour Webinar for Fusion The Ontario Clay and Glass Association.
Teaching has been my vocation most of my adult life. Teaching pottery for the past 20 years all over the globe. Covid came along and what has defined me ended over night. When Chris Snedden of Fusion asked me to do the webinar I enthusiastically said "absolutely!
Here is what is so amazing. For that 2 hours we had 228 sign up from around the planet- UK, Virgin Islands, Australia, USA and coast to coast- Canada. You can't travel the world so you have to bring the world to you.
In the 50's then maxim of commerce was build a better mousetrap and the world will beat a path to your door. In other words make great pots and they will find you.
The 60's and 70's brought service. Things like credit cards, packaging, hang tags, etc. Wrapping your pots in newspaper and putting them in a old bag was not what we expected when buying an expensive pot.
The 90's and up to March 2020 was the "offering a great experience". Potters have usually done this well with studio visits, kiln openings, special shows, studio tours with awesome food and gallery openings. So we're all wondering what's next.
I think from March 2020 it will be the innovators that succeed in this New Abnormal. I have often said that people don't just buy your work. They buy you! I have had the privilege of being asked to present at potters conferences in Japan, China, Korea, Wales, Italy and all over the US and Canada. I call them bus man's holidays. Work and see the world. It also was a very important vehicle for the selling of my work.
With these Webinars the world becomes your oyster. You are not only presenting to people within striking distance of the conference but now the entire world can participate.
There is nothing like being in a room with a good teacher. That is the best case scenario but until we can back to being together the Webinar will have to do. Maybe it will be an add on service even when we get back to doing what we love. Being social. I did love the Chat option on Webinar. It made me feel you were there in front of me. I do believe that teaching is the most important job in the world. Good teachers produce excellent students.
Thank you Fusion and all of you that tuned in. This old dog is trying to learn new tricks.
Be well and safe. T
Comments
This was my response....
Hello….
Thank you so much for your message and kind words about my work. All of my ceramics are handmade by me, it is a very labour intensive process - there are no short cuts.
Unfortunately, that means I can not offer sales or discounts like bigger brands can. Each piece of my work has been made with love and care and will last a lot longer than mass produced pottery (offered at cheaper prices) and it's much better for the environment than factory manufactured items.
I am forever grateful for all the sales and support I receive - it means I can continue to do what I love.
https://karaleighfordceramics.com/shed-diaries/2020/3/2/why-i-never-discount-my-work-and-neither-should-you
Location location location
Price is also location-dependent it seems. In the USA, Canada and Denmark - mugs are priced much higher. It’s not unusual for mugs to be sold for $50- $70 (£54 - £39), and I am not 100 per cent sure why this is the case - if anyone can shed light on this I would love to hear from you. Likewise mugs for sale in a gallery or a ceramic specialist market are often sold for higher prices than mugs in at generic craft market. Is this due to the patrons of those places being more likely to be informed about the making processes involved and therefore more willing to spend the amount the piece is worth?
https://karaleighfordceramics.com/shed-diaries/2018/11/25/lyx8lp1ipvu5vyhl883m9t54nj6g2f
What is Clay Voices?
https://www.instagram.com/clayvoices/
Not just for deliveries, but having a mobile shop to sell my ceramics.
Do I need to worry about the cops if I park on the street, to attract the passersby?
I don't want to end up getting shot in the back or lynched.
Let’s look at the bright side of things — 25 years ago, the outbreak would have been much more devastating to people and businesses worldwide.
after the outbreak, the number of online purchases considerably increased.
Are you using social media to your advantage?
Every ceramic and guild shop should have one!
https://contented.cc/2015/04/18-year-old-arts-student-creates-ceramic-dispensing-vending-machine-to-question-how-much-we-value-art/
a custom vending machine to dispense hundreds of ceramic works
https://cfileonline.org/art-hans-chew-ceramics-vending-machine/
The perfect machine for the age of social distancing and isolating.
The Art-o-mat company takes old cigarette vending machines and repurposes them to dispense original works of art. What started out as a single art project turned into a collective and you can now find these machines at hundreds of locations across the country.
https://www.simplemost.com/these-repurposed-vending-machines-dispense-original-works-of-art/
https://www.artomat.org/about/
https://www.artomat.org/
Egg Vending Machines May Be the Future of Farm-Fresh Eggs
Some grocery stores are running short on eggs, so farmers are finding ingenious ways to take their eggs straight to the customer.
https://www.allrecipes.com/article/egg-vending-machines/
DIY Vending Machine - make your own pottery and ceramics vending machine.
DIY Vending Machine - Arduino based Mechatronics Project
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHQBsswUeT0
Venduino 2 | Arduino Vending Machine Updated
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jnEXtNtzNw
https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/events/2013/12/03/grayson-perrys-seven-lessons-in-creativity/
KNOW YOURSELF
take the terrifying road of ‘doing your own thing
The history of ceramics straight to your IG feed. Follow and tag your friends, students and teachers. #historyofceramics
https://www.instagram.com/historyofceramics/