First, let's make it clear: presentation of a product in a pharmacy is not...
Few people can imagine that you can earn quite impressive money from such little things as figurines, photo albums, watches, refrigerator magnets, pots and vases.
However, this is true. In Russia, the souvenir trade brings very significant profits, and forecasts for the further development of this business are very rosy. It turns out that your own pottery workshop is quite capable of bringing you a stable and considerable income.
Business organization
If you decide to organize your own business, you must understand that there are certain subtleties here. A pottery workshop can be opened with as little as $10,000, which may not be considered that much of an investment. You will need to find a room whose area should be 50-80 square meters.
If you are interested in how to equip a pottery workshop in a private house, then you should understand that if you have such free space, this is already quite possible. You will also need a small warehouse where finished products will be stored. It is also necessary to purchase some equipment, namely: scales, with the help of which the clay mass will be accurately dosed, a kiln for firing products, a pottery wheel, and also a kneading machine. To create photo frames and refrigerator magnets, you will need to stock up on a variety of molds.
Peculiarities
If you are interested in a pottery workshop, then you should know that the production technology is not too complicated, as it might seem at first glance. First, clay is kneaded, and for each type of product it can be of different varieties - red, white, with admixtures of limestone, sand and other things. After mixing, the clay is placed on a potter's wheel, in molds or on a molded board. After the product has dried, it is sent to the oven.
So, when drawing up a business plan for a pottery workshop, you should understand that you won’t be able to organize a business alone. You must employ qualified workers. It is not at all necessary to look for professionals; it is important that everyone has their own responsibilities and scope of work. It usually takes about two hours to make one pot.
Financial side of the issue
Naturally, a pottery workshop requires certain financial investments. As already noted, they are necessary for renting premises and purchasing equipment and tools for work. As the business develops, it will be possible to purchase new molds in order to master the production of other products.
Pottery production technology
To make a product from clay, it first needs to be kneaded. Different types of raw materials can be used for different products, which will affect their quality. Next, the formation process takes place. For this purpose, molds, a pottery wheel and a molded board are used. After the formation is completed, the product must be dried and then fired. It is important to know the technological process well. Due to poor quality of the molding or incorrect determination of the initial drying time, it may turn out that 20-30% of your products will be defective.
Organization of the production process
So, if you already have equipment for a ceramic workshop and it is located indoors, then you should know that you should not take on the production process alone. You will need several specialists with whom you can organize and establish a continuous production process. These should not be super-masters, since it is important for you to develop your business and not make money from your competitors.
Each of them must take on his own area of work. The first one carries out the mixing of clay, which will also require a clay mixing machine, the second one forms future products, and the task of the third one will be firing. When each of them achieves proper professionalism in their operation, their joint work will lead to high quality work.
One pot takes about 2 hours to make, with 10 minutes each for kneading and shaping, and firing for the rest of the time.
Sources of income
So, a pottery workshop must generate income. And due to what? Molded clay products always find their buyer. However, it is not always easy to come to an agreement with representatives of supermarkets or owners of souvenir shops. Various overheads may appear in the form of kickbacks.
In addition, the conditions for selling products are not always favorable for the supplier. If the batch of goods of one type exceeds a thousand pieces, you can try to become a supplier for the Russian souvenir chain. If products are sold to a small store, then their volume should be smaller.
If you have a pottery workshop, you can open training courses on its basis. A lot of people are willing to pay for such an activity to take a break from their daily lives. Once you can attract people and get them interested in pottery, then gradually you can think about organizing advanced training courses.
Next, you will need to hold various competitions, exhibitions, and competitions. However, such a pottery school will require additional costs. Classes should be organized in a room located within reach of public transport. Students will need additional materials and equipment.
The owner of a pottery workshop may well be interested in another source of income - making custom clay products. It is quite possible that you will receive an order for the interior design of a room, which is considered a great success: it could be the interior of a restaurant, theater, bar, or country house.
Perfect option
The workshop is working on the production of large quantities of pottery products, which are sold to supermarkets and wholesalers. The school is constantly engaged in training and conducts mastery courses. The production of new goods in small batches works separately. And the entrepreneur always controls the quality of products and monitors all processes. If a person is busy with his own business, which he loves, all this turns out to be quite possible. This is what an ideal pottery workshop should be like.
/ Sign up for classes
~ Master Class:
During the master class you will make your own unique ceramic product!
The master class lasts approximately 2 astronomical hours plus or minus 15 minutes and includes the following program:
At the end of the master class, your product will remain with us for drying, glazing and firing, after which you can pick it up.
NB! Only in our workshop you receive a glazed product, completely ready for use (including for food purposes), in one lesson!
~ Basic course of 5 lessons
The program is intended for those who want to master the basic elements of working on a pottery wheel and learn how to make traditional pottery work without the help of a master.
The program consists of the following curriculum (one lesson lasts 2 astronomical hours plus or minus 15 minutes):
| lesson number | syllabus | 1 lesson |
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Lesson 2 |
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Lesson 3 |
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Lesson 4 |
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Lesson 5 |
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~ In-depth course of 15 lessons:
This course is suitable for those who want to understand in detail the intricacies and secrets of pottery.
By purchasing this course, you will not miss a single lesson, as you will be able to choose a training time that is convenient for you.
The course requires an individual approach and the following curriculum, which can be adjusted depending on your interests and learning speed:
| lesson number | subject | number of hours | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| theory | practice | Total | 1-2 lesson |
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1 | 3 | 4 | 3-4-5 lesson |
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1 | 5 | 6 | 6-7-8 lesson |
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1 | 5 | 6 | 9-10 lesson |
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2 | 2 | 4 | 11-12 lesson |
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1 | 3 | 4 | 13-14-15 lesson |
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1 | 5 | 6 | Total | 7 | 23 | 30 |
A few hours spent at the pottery wheel will give you the joy of creation, a pleasant sensation of contact with clay and peace of mind.
Ceramic vases, pots, tea sets, candlesticks, plates, whistles and even musical instruments - you can create all this yourself.
To learn how to make ceramics with your own hands, the main thing is desire. Before becoming a ceramicist, try making a simple trinket out of clay, and you will understand whether it is worth spending money on buying equipment for the work. If something doesn’t work out, it doesn’t matter, soak the scrap and make a new figure out of it; before baking, the product can be modified endlessly.
What is ceramics made from and where to get materials for work
Ceramics is fired clay, which is the main material in the work of a ceramist. In contrast, natural is of natural origin; it is extracted from the bowels of the earth without subjecting it to chemical or other types of processing.
Experienced craftsmen, in order to save money, extract and prepare raw materials themselves. This process involves several stages and is unlikely to deserve attention if you are just starting out and live in the city.
Clay for making ceramics must be greasy and free of pebbles and other debris, otherwise the craft will crack during baking. The finished mass is stored under certain humidity conditions.
Natural clay happens different types:
- White is the most common, initially has a grayish tint, and after heat treatment it acquires a pleasant ivory shade.
- Red – contains iron oxide, which gives the raw material a greenish tint. The main color of the raw material is brown, after firing the products become red. It lends itself well to modeling, does not crumble, and is ideal for sculptures and large items.
- Porcelain – gray when raw and white after baking.
- Blue - more often used in cosmetology and folk medicine.
- Black or dark brown ceramic mass is the hardest clay, taking on an ivory hue after being kilned.
Also clays for ceramics classified by temperature processing for low-melting, medium-melting, refractory.
It is most convenient to buy ready-made pottery clay, focusing on the fraction size, color after firing at different temperatures and other characteristics and quality indicators. The cost depends on the manufacturer, packaging, texture. There are ready-made masses with additives for various tasks - modeling, molding, potter's wheel.
In addition to clay, you need glazes and enamels to coat products, pigments to give hand-made ceramics the desired shade, special additives to improve properties and heat treatment.
Used for gluing parts slip mass- a kind of glue made from diluted clay. If you simply connect the elements, they may fall off when heated. All this is sold in specialized stores for ceramists.
Methods for making ceramic products
There are several ways to transform clay into a beautiful ceramic product.
Modeling- the most affordable way to make ceramic products with your own hands at home. Souvenirs, sculptures, dishes, toys or other crafts are sculpted by hand, as if from plasticine, helping themselves with special stacks or improvised devices.
Pottery requires a rotating circle. With the help of this ancient craft, vases, jugs, pots, plates, and cups are still created today.
Cooldown– the easiest option for making ceramics for beginners. The work uses a plaster mold, into which soft clay is placed, and after hardening, the figured product is removed. Plaster molds are attractive because they absorb excess moisture, helping the clay product to harden and dry.
Casting– forms are also used here, but of a different type. The diluted clay is poured into molds, the blanks are dried, removed and painted.
Clay crafts gain strength only after firing - processing in pottery kilns at temperatures from 900 to 1300 degrees. Finished souvenirs are coated with acrylic paints or a special glassy glaze for ceramics. In the case of glazes, another firing is required after coloring.
If you want to get a natural shade, use milking - cover an unpainted baked ceramic figurine with milk in several layers and bake again at lower temperatures.
Pottery kiln - types and preferences
Previously, kilns for firing ceramics were furnaces dug in the ground and heated exclusively with wood. Modern pottery kilns come in gas, electric and wood. The latter, as a rule, are made by hand and are suitable for use in private households. In apartment conditions, it is most convenient to work with electric ovens; for larger volumes, you can choose a gas oven.
The metal body of such furnaces contains a refractory brick or other material that retains heat and is not afraid of heat. Ventilation holes are provided to remove moisture; the ceramic firing process is controlled by a software controller. Electric pottery kilns are not a cheap pleasure. The price depends on the manufacturer, volume, power.
There are models with vertical and horizontal loading and bell-type ones on sale. According to the type of location of the heating element, pottery kilns are divided into muffle and chamber kilns. IN muffle it is located around a container made of refractory material (muffle). In chamber heaters, the heater is located inside, which reduces heat loss and makes the equipment more economical.
With a little effort, you can make a kiln for firing ceramics at home with your own hands, using refractory bricks and something for the body, for example, an old washing machine.
Baking is the most important process that does not forgive mistakes. Sometimes even experienced craftsmen see a worthless defect instead of the expected masterpiece. The products are never taken out immediately; they must cool in the oven.
How to choose a pottery wheel
Pottery wheels are needed for sculpting round objects, so you don’t have to buy this tool right away. If you are just learning ceramics, start with sculpting or kneading. Circles come with manual, foot and electric control.
Is pottery making a future as a business? This trade opens up opportunities for creativity, learning and earning money. Its history goes back thousands of years: many centuries ago, people sculpted vessels and pots from clay, decorated them with carvings and glazes. Mass production of tableware in the 21st century has shifted pottery to the entertainment industry. We tell you what the technology of pottery production is, what materials are used for production and how you can make money.
History of pottery
Pottery production has been known since ancient times. This craft created containers and vessels necessary for everyday life. The main material for it is clay. The history began with manual production: a master sculpted a product from a piece of clay, and then fired it in a kiln or dried it in the sun (in hot countries).
However, quite a long time ago, at the beginning of the first millennium, a pottery wheel appeared - a machine that, using the force of rotation, gives products an even, symmetrical shape. In addition to the beauty of the vessels, this device provides a higher production speed.
Russian pottery masters also worked with their hands and on wheels, creating objects that were in demand and needed in everyday life. This skill was not rare: in every family there were people capable of making the necessary vessel. Since the end of the 19th century, home-produced dishes were replaced by factory ones, and pottery moved from the sphere of vital skills to the field of folk art and hobbies.
Pottery - making dishes, various vessels, toys and even architectural elements from clay
Pottery production materials
The main material for pottery production is clay. A special potted variety is considered optimal for making vessels, although there can be quite a few variations in the composition of the clay mass. They are divided into dense (porcelain, biscuit, pariyaan) and porous (faience, terracotta). Clay may contain quartz and gypsum. These components make the products more durable.
Most often, finished products, but after firing, are painted with glaze. The goals are not only decorative, but also practical: the paint prevents moisture from penetrating the product and destroying it. There are several ways to apply glaze: painting, sprinkling, pouring or hand painting.
Production technologies
Pottery making for beginners at home is a completely feasible task, although working in a special workshop is much more convenient. The reason for the simplicity of this business lies in its antiquity: initially people worked manually or with the help of very simple devices, and the skill of sculpting itself was very widespread.
The manufacture of the product begins with the preparation of the clay mass. The quality of the vessel depends on its quality and features. Usually the so-called pottery clay is used; its composition is considered optimal. The homogeneity and density of the mass is important. Nowadays such material can be easily purchased in hobby stores. Preparing clay yourself is problematic: you need to find a good place, collect material, clean it of stones and foreign impurities.
When the mass is ready, you can begin molding or sculpting. Some types of products are made in molds and frames, vessels are formed on a potter's wheel, figurines and whistles are sculpted by hand. This can be a creative or purely mechanical process, depending on the wishes and goals of the artist.
Burning
The formed product must be fired so that it maintains a stable shape. Clay is fired at very high temperatures - from 1000 degrees. Different mass compositions require a certain temperature:
- clay - 1000–1200 degrees;
- ceramics - 1100–1300 degrees;
- porcelain - 1200–1400 degrees.
Difficulties may arise with low-quality compounds. For example, there are examples when purchased powdered clay began to boil at a temperature of 750 degrees and the product deteriorated. Therefore, you need to be extremely careful when choosing raw materials and check manufacturers so as not to waste time and money.
It is advisable to use gas or electric ovens: they are easier to operate, they do not produce soot and soot, which spoil the surface of the products. The atmosphere in the kiln during firing also affects the appearance of the vessels and figurines. For example, you can cause the clay to oxidize and give it a more brownish tint.
The basis of the workshop is the pottery wheel
Applying glaze
Glaze is the glassy coating on clay products. Its purpose is not only decorative. First of all, glaze is necessary to protect the product from moisture, which can get into its structure and destroy it. The protective coating is applied during or after firing. The basis of this coating is quartz, kaolin and feldspar. To make the glaze colored, metal oxides and salts are added to the composition.
Methods for applying glaze to pottery:
- pulverization;
- spray;
- dipping;
- watering;
- tamponing;
- brush painting.
When painting, defects sometimes occur, such as bubbles or cracks. The pottery maker must anticipate their causes and prevent them. To do this, you need to ensure uniform application, grind the raw materials for the glaze and select the correct temperature for firing.
Necessary equipment
The basis of the workshop is the pottery wheel. This device is quite familiar to everyone: a rotating device that allows you to form symmetrical volumetric products. There are several varieties:
- manual (set in motion with one hand, and you need to work on the workpiece with the other hand);
- mechanical foot (the rotational force is provided by the legs, both hands are free to work);
- electric (the most common now, rotation is provided by electric current, the master works only on the product).
For business, especially if you plan to teach pottery, you need an electric wheel. A compact machine can be purchased for 30 thousand rubles, a more professional one - for 45 thousand. The rotating part of the circle is called a tournette. One tournette is necessarily included with the circle, but you can buy additional ones, for example, in large and smaller sizes.
In addition to the pottery wheel, a muffle kiln is required: it is capable of heating to a certain high temperature (up to 1400 degrees) and maintaining this temperature for the required period of time. You can buy a kiln for pottery making on average for 30-40 thousand rubles, but it is better to budget a larger amount - around 100 thousand rubles. The firing time depends on the material and volume of the product. Sometimes it is necessary to fire the clay 2-3 times for glazing.
How can you make money?
Pottery now is more of a folk craft than a method of production. A craftsman working on a potter's wheel will not be able to compete in production volumes with industrial enterprises. And the quality of its products will most likely be inferior.
An option for making money in pottery production is making decorative toys, whistles, and bells. They are sold in museums, souvenir shops, and tourist shops.
The most promising in terms of income seems to be a pottery master class. The opportunity to try yourself in a new role, work with your hands, make a memorable souvenir or a useful household item attracts many. Children and adults enjoy attending such lessons. It is possible to organize pottery courses only if the entrepreneur already has skills in this craft (otherwise it will not be possible to teach people).
Let's look at each option in a little more detail.
There are several options for making money from pottery, one of which is training
Pottery
The sale of pottery - dishes, household vessels, as well as decorative figurines and whistles - can generate income. Such souvenirs are not produced en masse, although the demand for them among tourists is quite high. If you can find sales channels in this direction, you can make a profit during the spring-summer season and New Year holidays.
You shouldn’t expect big money: one figurine sells for an average of 100-150 rubles, with a cost of up to 30 rubles. If you make 500 pieces, you can earn 75,000 rubles. The downside of this method is that creating such souvenirs is not as easy as it seems at first glance. You need neatness, nice colors and original ideas.
Another idea is to sell dishes and vases online. The tendency to use only natural materials in the interior will work in favor of the master. If you photograph your products beautifully, talk more about them and regularly maintain pages, you can find many clients.
Master classes for children
Another more lucrative direction is master classes for children. Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other cities have already joined this work. The advantage is that the audience of potential visitors is simply huge, and special knowledge is not needed to conduct children's master classes. Children value impressions, not knowledge and skills. Often such classes are attended by families.
Classes are held in small groups and last on average 1.5 hours. Children are told a brief history of pottery, shown finished products and taught how to work with clay.. This is an easy and enjoyable job. The only downside is the cost: you need to rent a large room, renovate it, put in furniture and buy several pottery wheels. One oven is enough. Lesson programs should also be developed and variability should be provided for different ages.
Education
You can also earn money through more advanced training. Some people are really interested in learning pottery at an advanced level. Perhaps they plan to make money from this later or build a business, so they are ready to pay for lessons. This area of work should be combined with children's master classes and independent production.
Not quite the usual option - books. If the master has already accumulated solid work experience and knows the craft well, you can try to write a training manual and publish it in a small edition.
Many people are willing to pay to learn how to work on a pottery wheel and make their own dishes
Financial investments and payback
You will have to spend an average of 150 thousand rubles on equipment for the workshop: a stove and a pottery wheel. Working tools like thread, modeling kits - another 10 thousand rubles. Raw materials for several months of work - approximately 30 thousand.
Suppose an entrepreneur plans not only to produce on his own, but also to train other people. Then there will be more costs: several pottery wheels, rent and renovation of premises, more tools and raw materials, as well as advertising. All this can be done on average in 500 thousand rubles. The total cost of starting a business will be 800 thousand rubles.
We found out that you can earn approximately 75 thousand rubles per season by selling products. The main part of income should come from master classes. A 1.5-hour lesson costs from 500 rubles, groups - 10-12 people. If you conduct 4 classes a week in fully loaded groups, you can earn 24 thousand rubles in a week, and 96 thousand in a month.
It is quite possible to earn 100 thousand rubles a month in your own pottery workshop. Taking into account the purchase of consumables, payment of rent and utilities, all investments can be recouped within 8-12 months of active work.
Conclusion
Pottery is a promising craft in terms of earning money. The most profitable option seems to be organizing master classes for children and adults. You can also make money by selling dishes and souvenirs. Opening a workshop costs on average 800 thousand rubles, which can be recouped in 1 year of work.
Pottery is always at the peak of popularity. The technology for their manufacture has not changed for several thousand years. Even materials such as glass, metal or plastic could not influence the popularity of these products. Since demand constantly exceeds supply, pottery production can become a promising area for creating a less common and quite profitable business.
Where to start a business?
At first glance, it may seem that it is enough to simply open a pottery workshop, purchase raw materials and equipment, and you can start making money. In fact, you need to prepare thoroughly before starting such a business. To achieve success, you need to become a master potter. The manager who runs the business must carefully study the production process and also become familiar with the basics of pottery art.
Legal registration
This type of activity should be registered using the code “Production of decorative and household ceramic products.” If you register as an individual entrepreneur, the number of hired workers should not exceed 5 people. In this case, you can choose a simplified taxation system. Thanks to this, you do not have to do accounting and fill out tax returns.
Room
To organize pottery production at home, you will need a small room of 50 square meters. meters. In addition, you need to allocate a separate area for a warehouse, with an area of 15 square meters. meters. There you will store finished products.
It is advisable that the pottery workshop be located on the ground floor of the building. As for communications, the premises must have electricity, sewerage and running water. Also do not forget about air conditioning and ventilation.
Equipment
To make ceramic products, you need to purchase a potter's wheel.In addition to this, you will need:
- Scales;
- Machine for kneading clay;
- Kiln;
- Molds for frames and various figures;
- Paints and brushes.
You will have to invest approximately 300 thousand rubles in the production of pottery. This is a small start-up capital that any aspiring entrepreneur can raise.
Before purchasing equipment, you need to study special literature to become familiar with some important nuances.
There is no need to buy new equipment right away. Sometimes, through advertisements in newspapers and on the Internet, you can find used equipment for a pottery workshop that is in excellent condition.
Staff
If you have an irresistible desire, as well as a certain amount of perseverance, you can carry out all production processes on your own. But it is much more efficient to use hired labor.
You can hire people to work in a pottery workshop:
- For mixing clay;
- Product molding;
- Firing;
- Decoration and painting of finished products.
Technology for making clay products
Homemade pottery production is as follows:
- A solution of a certain consistency is mixed from clay and water. Different types of clay are used as raw materials;
- The mixture is sent to the potter's wheel, where the master makes dishes from it. Various figures are made using special molds on a pottery table;
- Firing in a kiln. This is the longest process. The longer the product is fired, the more durable and stronger it is;
- Coloring of finished products.
If you are interested in pottery production, you can watch the video on the Internet on specialized resources. Also, see other ideas for making money in the field of manufacturing materials and products, for example.
Income
Pottery almost always finds its buyers. To organize the sale of finished products, you can hand them over to supermarkets or souvenir shops for sale. This is not the most profitable way, so you should try hard to become a regular supplier of a large souvenir chain. In this case, the volume of one batch of products will be at least 1000 pieces.It is worth noting that pottery production as a business brings good profits. To increase income, you can open training courses at the workshop. Many modern people who are tired of the everyday hustle and bustle are happy to engage in creativity. Refresher courses can also be organized. In this case, you will have to purchase additional equipment for pottery production and consumables.
In addition, you can make custom pottery. Large companies often order large quantities of souvenirs with their logo or symbols. The pottery business will be successful if you choose a competent pricing policy. For regular wholesale buyers it is necessary to provide a special system of discounts.
Purchase of raw materials
It is important to know that clay for pottery production can be of different varieties - white, red, and also with lime or sand impurities.
Before you start purchasing equipment, decide what kind of clay you will work with. The choice of equipment and its cost largely depend on this.
Experienced potters mostly use red clay. The most important thing is that it contains a little lime. Experts advise finding one specific place where you can constantly take raw materials. It is desirable that the clay be oily and contain no more than 1% metal oxide. You can find out about deposits of such material from local geologists or local historians.
Features of pottery art
Before you start sculpting, you need to prepare the mixture. Traditional pottery production technology involves squeezing air bubbles out of clay. That is, the mixture must be thoroughly mixed. To do this, the workpiece must be rolled several times on a wooden board. Using a wire, it is cut into pieces and thrown with force on the table. After this, the workpiece must be twisted in a spiral several times. This is a very important process, on which the number of defects largely depends.
Many aspiring entrepreneurs are interested in how to learn pottery? The most important thing is to be patient, as this art requires a lot of polishing. If something doesn't work out for you, don't be upset. Think about those potters who worked several thousand years ago. They did not have special equipment or literature from which to draw the necessary knowledge, but despite this, they created real masterpieces.
Let's sum it up
Nowadays, finding courses in pottery art is not difficult. Therefore, if you have the desire, you can master this profession without any problems.
Experts recommend not turning your apartment into a workshop. Use your cottage, garage, or rent a room for this. Otherwise, you will pollute all the rooms, burn the wiring, clog the sewer and, as a result, quarrel with all your neighbors.
A pottery workshop will bring good profits if you have a large enough number of clients. After you have resolved organizational and production issues, immediately look for reliable distribution channels.
Use advertising for this, and also take part in various art exhibitions. Offer souvenirs to small shops in the city center, at train stations and airports. If you take into account all these recommendations, your pottery workshop will become a profitable and promising business.
