New Potter Vending

BarbaraM

I have met a local potter here in the Sierra Mountains who is really excited about making bonsai pots. She had never known much about them until I saw her work and my eyes lit up. Her current work is so close to "IT" that she will only need to tweak a few things. Her earthen glazes and the asian essence of her pottery is very attractive. We spent the morning discussing the elements of a good bonsai pot such as glaze, texture, shape, feet, drainage, gender, and high firing. She looked at my collection and at my library of bonsai books. It will be exciting to see what she creates. She thinks the idea of making custom pots for specific trees is really really exciting.

Now for you potters who sell at shows, we have a question. How many pots do you usually bring to vend at a club show vs. a convention? She has sold at art type events but obviously not at a bonsai show. She is interested in focusing her art for Bonsai. Any information on getting started would be helpful.

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"What I like about bonsai is that it has a beginning but no end. A bud today becomes a branch tomorrow. It is like searching for the rainbow's end; the farther it is pursued, the farther away it is." John Naka

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bonsaial1

I can't speak as a vendor, but I can speak as a buyer for almost 26 years with over 150 pots.

Many varibles.

First price point is important. Like anything, someone with very desireable pottery will draw a premium price. Average pottery that is similer to what everyone else is making will draw average money.

Glaze Is also important. Diciduous trees seem to be on the rise and very good glaze work with organic overtones sells very well. Subtle glazing is also very important, no garish colors. Use complimentary colors when double glazing.

Pot shape, is most important to me. There is a plethora of potters out there making pots on a wheel. Many here know my frustration with wheel thrown pots. I seek varity in pots. Make a few but be the inovator out there and make some rectangle pots for some of those deciduous trees that are in need of a good pot!

Pinch pot are in! A potter making very good accent pottery can sell a hundred a day at a good convention. Good glazes and innovative shapes will sell them fast. I also buy them for collecting, so I buy twice as many cause half will never see soil!

I would expect to sell 15 to 30 at a club show while if the pots are unique and demand is high 100 to 150 might sell at a convention. Big pots at prices over $50.00 sell much slower than pinch pots in many colors and shapes at $15.00 to $20.00 a piece.

Jim Barett at the Nov. convention sold many pots but sold out, I mean sold out at the Shohin convention 2 1/2 months later. With the same stock, go figure! Of course I helped cause I bought 17 pots that weekend from Jim alone.


Cheers, Al

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BarbaraM

Thanks Al. That is some very helpful advice. Hey, do you display your unpotted pot collection? Do you put them on your nice shohin stands?

__________________
"What I like about bonsai is that it has a beginning but no end. A bud today becomes a branch tomorrow. It is like searching for the rainbow's end; the farther it is pursued, the farther away it is." John Naka

bonsaial1

I used to but I don't have the room aymore. I mostly collect Shohin pots and Shitakusa pots. I have boxes of small pots all over the place, in closets, in the rafters in the garage, sitting in boxes on the patio. My wife always asks me, why do you need to buy another pot? You have so many it look like every other pot you have?

I say, why do you need to buy that pair of shoes? It looks like the other 75 pairs you have in the closet. At that point she usually just goes back and reads her book again. Touche! (of course this sets men back twenty years with a verbal victory, at least in my household!)

Regards, Al

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BarbaraM

Al,

I get the idea for sure. The only time my husband got critical about my bonsai spending I mentioned the cost for his trips to SF to watch the Giants play. He has never said another word.

__________________
"What I like about bonsai is that it has a beginning but no end. A bud today becomes a branch tomorrow. It is like searching for the rainbow's end; the farther it is pursued, the farther away it is." John Naka

Dale Cochoy

Barbara,
Are you expecting potters who support familys by doing bonsai conventions to help your friend become a successful competitor?

Tell her to FIRST check the costs of doing a show.

Vending space
food
hotel
tolls
auto repairs
donation requests
GAS
etc.

Have you bought gas lately?

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If you want to be Different....
You have to DO something Different!
__________________________________________

Some people NEVER take the time to do a job right the first time....
but, they always seem to make the time to do it over again...
____________________________________________
Dale Cochoy
Wild Things Bonsai Studio
Yakimono no Kokoro Bonsai Pottery
Hartville, Ohio

BarbaraM

Thank you Dale. that is practical advice!

Gas is insane. $4.18 - $ 4.45 around here. I assess the cost of gas into every errand. Being rural I drive a bit to get to town. $3.75 to get to the market.

Cost of gas is why I didn't go to the Modesto Spring Show this weekend. It would have been over $40.00 in gas.

The expenses for a convention vender are important to consider. I appreciate your advice for my friend.

__________________
"What I like about bonsai is that it has a beginning but no end. A bud today becomes a branch tomorrow. It is like searching for the rainbow's end; the farther it is pursued, the farther away it is." John Naka

bonsaial1

I went to the Modesto show as well as the Monterey show. I stayed the night in Monterey.

Factoring in motel, fuel, eats and goodies we spent $772.00 for a weekend get away with bonsai on the side. Motel, fuel and eats was $375.00, that means I spent $397.00 on goodies.

What in the heck did I buy?

Lone Cypress, 17 mile drive, Pebble Beach California

Cypress Bonsai, Katsumi Kinoshita, Monterey Bonsai Club Sensai

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nsmar4211

Hey Dale, you forgot some stuff

Table coverings
Booth Decorations
Business Cards
Website expenses
If place doesn't provide covers, a tent!
"" a table
Extra chairs
Poss. a portable fan
Sunscreen/Bug repellant
Wrapping/packing materials
Or, bags
Receipt books
Ahhhh the list goes on

And I don't know too many sucessful bonsai potters who don't have bonsai themselves. I'm not saying she can't do it, but she'd be at a disadvantage. Course, she might get into bonsai after a show... and then there goes all her profit LOL.

She might be better off going to a couple shows and seeing how the potters around her do before investing in a booth space... course, you don't want to go in and say, "I'm a potter and I'm going to be competing with you!"

Maybe you and her can partner up, you do trees, she does pots, sell the combo split the money?

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