DirtRoads Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Quote from Mark C June 16, 2015 Are you in this spot? Tell us how you got there. And do you plan to alter your future strategy? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest JBaymore Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 The standard business practice is....... price goes up until supply and demand level off. best, ......................john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 The standard business practice is....... price goes up until supply and demand level off. best, ......................john Thats exactly what I have done the past few years is slowly raise prices on selected items.I will add that this intire process has taken 40 years and I'm trying to downsize a bit. Our local pottery market has lost many potters over the years so there are less of us full timers these days-no kids starting up anymore. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted June 16, 2015 Report Share Posted June 16, 2015 Our local pottery market has lost many potters over the years so there are less of us full timers these days-no kids starting up anymore. Do you think that's a trend decline in new artist, more specifically in the ceramics business? Or do you think it will start back up again when economy improves eventually? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted June 17, 2015 Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 I'm in this spot too. I'm not exactly sure how I got here. I feel like I've been playing inventory catch-up for 10 years. I have taken many steps over the years to increase production. But the more I produce, the more I need. These days I am cranking it out at speeds I couldn't even fathom a few years ago ... 4 or 5 glaze loads every 2.5 weeks. I'm still playing catch-up. Three big shows coming up in July, and probably won't have quite enough. Oh well, if I sell most of my stock that will still be a juicy month. This year I tried hard to cut back further on my wholesale work. I told all of my accounts in January that I would not be available for wholesale for the first six months of 2015. I recently put together my 2015 wholesale catalog, and it's a one-pager. I'm only offering the things that are super easy to crank out (no more pitchers, no more casseroles). The catalog clearly says "limited delivery dates available in September and November." I thought that by making my offerings scarce, some of my accounts would lose interest. After all, there are lots of talented potters who they can turn to instead. I mailed the catalog out last Friday, and my September delivery dates are already sold out. I have no interest in an overall increase in production this year. So I will probably cut back on fall shows instead. Last year I did 14 shows, this year I will probably end up doing 12. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted June 17, 2015 Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 It is awesome to hear you all are doing so well. It is great to see that hard smart work pays off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEP Posted June 17, 2015 Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 Thanks grype! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pugaboo Posted June 17, 2015 Report Share Posted June 17, 2015 Great going all of you! You are showing us that working hard and sticking it to it does pay off in the end. Congratulations even though you are tired I bet it feels good to know you have income coming in on a regular basis. T Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chantay Posted June 19, 2015 Report Share Posted June 19, 2015 You two are a true inspiration.I was telling my kids about you both in a general sort of way. Explaining how hard work with the motivation to learn the necessary skills, in your case how to run a business and sell your product, lead to your success. Now, I could say a few snarky comments about the current situation with politicians and our government, but I won't. I'm trying to keep my blood pressure down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rae Reich Posted June 26, 2015 Report Share Posted June 26, 2015 Maybe I'm just feeling negative about sales trends, but after 40 years of selling, I'm afraid it seems to me like our sales do better when the economy is down. When things start to pick up, folks stop comforting themselves with affordable/functional and begin buying gold jewelry and "investment" art. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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