ChenowethArts Posted January 1, 2016 Report Share Posted January 1, 2016 In my continuing saga of producing limited-edition pieces for special occasions and feeling that I'm already too late...is Valentine's Day a realistic opportunity for something like his & hers coffee mug sets? There is still time to crank-out several sets and to get the word out, but I wonder if others are asking the same questions. What is the experience of the CAC crowd (both good & bad)? -Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJR Posted January 1, 2016 Report Share Posted January 1, 2016 Paul; If you jump on your wheel now and get throwing, you could probably pull it off. Think a week for drying, then bisquing, then glaze fire. I made a series once of "Divorce Pots"' for a Valentine sale. They were slab vases that fit together. If you split up, each of you could take one. They were done in Majolica reds. All sold. Don't ask me why. TJR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Fireborn Posted January 1, 2016 Report Share Posted January 1, 2016 I look through etsy a lot and I see a ton of his and her mugs. The his will be slightly bigger, but I don't really understand that much. My wife drinks 3x the liquid I do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bciskepottery Posted January 1, 2016 Report Share Posted January 1, 2016 A couple years ago, one of the shops I had wares at asked for V-day items, so I made some V-day ikebana vases. Dropped them off with no expectations. And they sold. Mugs are rather common and can be bought anytime, you may want something more unique or different for that "special" day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Min Posted January 1, 2016 Report Share Posted January 1, 2016 I'm thinking of doing some wedding pieces, what I have been seeing when looking into this is his & hers pieces but also his & his plus hers & hers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted January 1, 2016 Report Share Posted January 1, 2016 There still is plenty of timeThat said special event pots I feel are not worth the effort for meMaybe if your whole market is special occasions it may workI had a potter who made 50 small pitcher,s with the June wedding dates on themHe got the money up front 3 months out and later in Jiune the marriage was called offNeither party wanted the pitchers so he had 50 with dates in June that he gave away to anyone who would want oneI, m sure Valentine's Day you could sell something but why not make the thing something that appeals to folks everydayYour market is instantly larger and works on all days not just some sappy made up day to sell couples heartsOk I,m not a valentine fan that said all my mugs work for him or her as a matter of fact all my works works for both sexes as well as divorces Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mug Posted January 2, 2016 Report Share Posted January 2, 2016 I would make His and Her mugs that would sell all year round. If you make something too specific, dated items, like Mark mentioned You'll be sipping coffee from you own scrap pile. One off items are great, but you can get to specific. I would only date an item if it was 100% paid for. His and Her, Mom and Dad, items will always be popular. Pessimistic people and parents will always love the divorce items and sets that can be separated and stand on their own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtRoads Posted January 3, 2016 Report Share Posted January 3, 2016 As mentioned, don't date the items so they can sell year round. In a previous business I did a large Valentine's business (6 figures). I don't do that much for the pottery business. I don't make any special pottery. My experience was that Valentine's is a low end holiday for the most part. Upscale customers go for dinner and sometimes really nice jewelry. Or a dozen roses or a more simple bouquet. Or nice chocolates like Godiva. Most of my pottery customers don't really "gift" for Valentine's Day. I had Valentine kiosks in quite a few malls and had one at Cool Springs Galleria Mall, which is near you. The kiosks at Cool Springs, Wolfchase Galleria (Memphis) and Riverchase Galleria (Birmingham) did NOT perform that well. Customers were too high end. I might do like $4-5K in sales where malls with lower end customers would do $20K plus. For the most part, Valentines is a cheesy holiday. This year Valentine's Day is on Sunday. Terrible day for the florist as there is no opportunity for all the work place/office showboats. And not that good for gifts either. I see Saturday night dinner dates racking in tons of money. Maybe a card on Sunday morning, a single rose and off to a nice brunch or lunch. I will sell a bit of fashion jewelry. The women to women gifting friends, daughters, grand daughters, etc. With any type of gifts you have to think about "what" you are selling. All of my pottery sales for V Day will be to a few men that are filling a request from their girl friends or wives. They are either collecting Dirt Roads already or may have seen some Dirt Roads during the holidays. ^ Those His and Hers items ..... Mr. and Mrs items .... sell pretty well year round. But isn't that a different direction for you Paul? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeFaul Posted January 18, 2016 Report Share Posted January 18, 2016 As mentioned, don't date the items so they can sell year round. In a previous business I did a large Valentine's business (6 figures). I don't do that much for the pottery business. I don't make any special pottery. My experience was that Valentine's is a low end holiday for the most part. Upscale customers go for dinner and sometimes really nice jewelry. Or a dozen roses or a more simple bouquet. Or nice chocolates like Godiva. Most of my pottery customers don't really "gift" for Valentine's Day. I had Valentine kiosks in quite a few malls and had one at Cool Springs Galleria Mall, which is near you. The kiosks at Cool Springs, Wolfchase Galleria (Memphis) and Riverchase Galleria (Birmingham) did NOT perform that well. Customers were too high end. I might do like $4-5K in sales where malls with lower end customers would do $20K plus. For the most part, Valentines is a cheesy holiday. This year Valentine's Day is on Sunday. Terrible day for the florist as there is no opportunity for all the work place/office showboats. And not that good for gifts either. I see Saturday night dinner dates racking in tons of money. Maybe a card on Sunday morning, a single rose and off to a nice brunch or lunch. I will sell a bit of fashion jewelry. The women to women gifting friends, daughters, grand daughters, etc. With any type of gifts you have to think about "what" you are selling. All of my pottery sales for V Day will be to a few men that are filling a request from their girl friends or wives. They are either collecting Dirt Roads already or may have seen some Dirt Roads during the holidays. ^ Those His and Hers items ..... Mr. and Mrs items .... sell pretty well year round. But isn't that a different direction for you Paul? This was a great post, I was thinking of dong something for Valentines, but pulled it after doing some research following my read of your post. I have decided to do a husband / wife in love goblet series for year round gifting and to avoid all the kitch of V-day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted January 19, 2016 Report Share Posted January 19, 2016 I'm thinking of not doing any clay items for this day. My guess is my shops will sell a few items on Saturday as gifts.Its better to give a vase with flowers than a new mop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtRoads Posted January 22, 2016 Report Share Posted January 22, 2016 When I had a bridal registry, flutes and mugs with "Mr" and "Mrs" had a 100% purchase rate, if the couple registered them. The Mr & Mrs items were extremely popular among the 20 and 30 something buyers. You know some wedding gift customers look for a "signature" gift .... they give the same thing most of the time. I have several customers that have signature gifts with me but I don't do mugs or glasses or really anything that would host Mr & Mrs but I could see a Mr & Mrs set being a signature gift. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rae Reich Posted February 2, 2016 Report Share Posted February 2, 2016 When I had a bridal registry, flutes and mugs with "Mr" and "Mrs" had a 100% purchase rate, if the couple registered them. The Mr & Mrs items were extremely popular among the 20 and 30 something buyers. You know some wedding gift customers look for a "signature" gift .... they give the same thing most of the time. I have several customers that have signature gifts with me but I don't do mugs or glasses or really anything that would host Mr & Mrs but I could see a Mr & Mrs set being a signature gift. A "Mr & Mrs" Serving Tray? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtRoads Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 When I had a bridal registry, flutes and mugs with "Mr" and "Mrs" had a 100% purchase rate, if the couple registered them. The Mr & Mrs items were extremely popular among the 20 and 30 something buyers. You know some wedding gift customers look for a "signature" gift .... they give the same thing most of the time. I have several customers that have signature gifts with me but I don't do mugs or glasses or really anything that would host Mr & Mrs but I could see a Mr & Mrs set being a signature gift. A "Mr & Mrs" Serving Tray? I suppose you could do a set to put on night stands or a dresser. I'm not sure of using Mr. & Mrs. for actual serve ware ... can't see the point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 i mentioned this at a recent meeting of potters and was told that yes, mr and mrs were ok, but what about mr and mr? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 My groundhog day mugs where a flop- seems nobody cares about that animal? The movie was too long ago for them to recall the hype? Maybe the diet mugs with a heart cut out will be a hit for valentines day. When you pour fluids in they run out the open heart cutout.I better get them done soon only a few days left. Only kidding Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TJR Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 My groundhog day mugs where a flop- seems nobody cares about that animal? The movie was too long ago for them to recall the hype? Maybe the diet mugs with a heart cut out will be a hit for valentines day. When you pour fluids in they run out the open heart cutout.I better get them done soon only a few days left. Only kidding Our ground hog died two days before he was supposed to make his big entrance. I guess we are stuck in winter until we get a new one. TJR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 Tom I have been thinking about your (Divorce Pots) Over the decades I have made a lot of $$$$ on divorce-usally its a whole new dinnerware set-I must have made at least 6 because of this divorce day that some couples celebrate . I think divorce mugs may be the next big thing-a mug thats cut in half and a slab on the cut side so two mugs look like one pushed together with a handle on each one-That way each can have their favorite 1/2 when that day comes. I'm still unclear what to do with these 100 mugs with groundhog heads on the side? ​Did your guy die from old age or did it just get to cold for anything outside?Maybe a stars bale for the next one that shows up. This whole post of mine is a spoof except for the divorce dinnerware set-I do not have any groundhog mugs or diet heart cutout mugs I stay away from any custom work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 anyone who needs a groundhog is welcome to get as many as you can carry from my riverbank. they make underground dens and if you are not a little careful, you can break a leg stepping into a hole that was not there yesterday. i found that leaving several deposits from neighborhood dogs in the holes encourages them to move elsewhere. nothing else seems to work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
What? Posted February 6, 2016 Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 These are " My Heart Runneth Over" series. "My Cup Runneth Over" is a quotation from the Hebrew Bible (Psalm 23:5). Good for valentines day. I make Mr. & Mrs XXXXXX and date for friends weddings. I too have been mauling around the idea of divorce mugs or vases that fit together in the shape of a heart or puzzle piece connection since TJR brought it up.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChenowethArts Posted February 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2016 These are " My Heart Runneth Over" series. "My Cup Runneth Over" is a quotation from the Hebrew Bible (Psalm 23:5). Good for valentines day. I make Mr. & Mrs XXXXXX and date for friends weddings. I too have been mauling around the idea of divorce mugs or vases that fit together in the shape of a heart or puzzle piece connection since TJR brought it up.. Nice feel for the My Heart Runneth Over mug! I think we pick-and-choose these novelty, special occasion and custom mugs. I see to do more custom name-imprint mugs for friends than I attempt to do for sales...but the Valentine Mugs that I made this year (see the original post on this forum) are all sold. The last one shipped out yesterday. Who knows, next year I could be sitting around on February 15th with a bunch of red-heart imprint mugs looking for a place to do a clearance sale Peace, Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted November 8, 2016 Report Share Posted November 8, 2016 I plan on not making any thing for valentines day this coming year-it will still be my time off from clay. I'm making everything now for x-mas a more general holiday for strong sales than the couples day in February for dead flowers and chocolate. I think Easter and Halloween are bigger sales days now anyway. My exploding pumpkin mugs where a flop as the fluids just ran out the face cutouts and my Easter bunny casseroles never took off with the bunny lifters on the lids last year.Besides rabbit stew is losing popularity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcia Selsor Posted November 8, 2016 Report Share Posted November 8, 2016 Maybe a lamb cake pan would be more traditional for Easter. Marcia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SydneyGee Posted November 8, 2016 Report Share Posted November 8, 2016 "I think Easter and Halloween are bigger sales days now anyway." Easter and Halloween bigger than Valentines Day? No way. No one gives Halloween gifts, it's not a gifting Holiday. Children get candy, adults get drunk at weird rave parties. Easter you could make clay eggs, but I have never been given Easter "presents" other than a chocolate bunny and some hard boiled eggs. Valentines day is for couples. Hearts, roses, candles, romance. I think candle holders with tea candles would do well, as would matching mug sets. It is a gift-giving holiday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldlady Posted November 9, 2016 Report Share Posted November 9, 2016 sydney, if you notice a slight problem walking, it is because mark has pulled you leg with his jokes about halloween and easter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark C. Posted November 9, 2016 Report Share Posted November 9, 2016 Oldlady your letting the rabbit out of the casserole again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.