Now what?

[offcntr]

It seems I’m always playing catch-up.

I’ll come back from a show, take inventory, and come up with a list of everything l’m low on. Add in whatever special orders I’ve taken, and I’ve got a nice big throwing list to take into the studio. And a patterns-to-glaze list when I get to that part of the process. Load the kiln, fire the kiln, sort and price and pack the pots, then drive off to the next show to sell them.

Rinse, repeat.

That was my January. My end-of-year inventory (taken for tax purposes, actually) had some gaping holes in it after Holiday Market. I was low on plates, mugs, casseroles, medium cookie jars. Completely out of several patterns of soup bowls, almost out of serving bowls. I went back into the studio right after New Years and knocked out a firing by the first week of February.

Now what?

Saturday Market doesn't open until April 7. Ceramic Showcase isn't until the 27th. I've got plenty of time to make and fire another kiln-load before Showcase--and I really ought to, I need to finish my sculpture for the gallery--but have no clue what else to make.

Oh, I'm low on incense dragons, and have orders for two sizes of plates and bowls, but other than that, I have no idea. I know I'll need pots after Showcase, but I won't know what pots until we get back. I'm faced with trying to predict what will be popular at a show that, like all of them, varies wildly from year to year. Even if it didn't, I don't know what sold last year. I'm organized, but not that organized.

So I start with reliable sellers. Dinner plates, dessert plates. Soup bowls, toddlers. Tall and painted mugs and the time-consuming things I’ve been putting off, dragons and oval platters, maybe teapots. (I did stick butter dishes in January.) Then I'll do some easy things--pie plates and pasta bowls and bakers, a few more batter bowls. After that? Whatever seems fun. I always enjoy throwing serving bowls, and they do help fill up the kiln. Big pitchers, french butter dishes, gravy tureens. Who knows?

I really should do some sort of market research or sales tracking. But honestly, I'd rather just make more pots.