Biography

Hobby Ceramicraft is the distributor with very sound credentials. 

Following a meteoric year as novice Hobby Ceramic studio owners, John and Anne Sheppard launched into distributorship in 1987. From the begining they vowed to sell only the finest quality materials, but in their view of even greater importance was the decision to support everything they sold with the very best, in-depth training and knowledge. No matter how fine the product, without the knowledge of how best to use it, the finished results can often be disappointing.

Daughter Jane and then Son Matthew became partners, and everyone became deeply involved in gaining and expanding their knowledge at factory training sessions, international seminars, conventions, and a vast amount of practical hands on research, both independently and in their own retail public studio. As the business grew, every staff member took intensive certification course training, and most also attended many U.S.A. teaching events. Some years after Annes untimely death in 1992, Barbara met and eventually married John, and became a valued teaching member of the team.

Every Hobby Ceramicraft Dealer in the U.K. enjoyed the benefit of the unique 6 day intensive training course, held in the Hampshire studio, and this proved invaluable in helping them reach for success in their own studio businesses. Hobby Ceramicraft saw little future in simple stain only type studios, but believed the true magic formula for success was, and is, in teaching the whole spectrum of our wonderful craft, from the magic of fired glazed finishes, through the 'instant' beauty of the various stain techniques, to sagged glass, glorious brushstrokes in greenware, bisque or majolica techniques; and the scores of new, (and sometimes very old), skills which await the hooked Ceramist. A well trained, eager to learn more, studio owner will gain great fulfillment (and profit) from leading their customers into new skills, new delights and successes.

Ceramichrome, (later to become Coloramics), entrusted Hobby Ceramicraft with the U.K. and Ireland Distributorship of their outstanding products, which they have also sold to customers, many of whom have also attended the Hampshire training courses, as far away as France, Iceland, The Netherlands, South Africa, Cypress and Saudi Arabia.

As the business grew, Hobby Ceramicraft carefully selected, and were delighted to earn the distributorship of, only the very finest quality manufacturers in the industry. Paragon Kilns, Crest Moulds, National Artcraft, Lehman, Byrne slip, Unique, Ceramic Emporium, Cricket, Trenton, Tampa Bay, Doc Holliday, Scott Publications, Jackie Shaw, etc.

Hobby Ceramicraft established their own 3 fine British Made brush lines, Rather Splendid, Rather Decent and Simply Good, each directed at specific needs in our market. Our own Proslip, manufactured entirely in the U.K. from the very finest American ingredients, soon emerged to great acclaim, now joined by the revolutionary very high gravity, strong and beautiful European Tuscan Slip.

In 1997 Fresh Moulds was quietly launched, producing quality moulds, designed to be easy pouring, long term, steady selling moulds for the European market.

1998 also marked Hobby Ceramicrafts appointment as U.K. and Ireland distributor for the (comparative) New Boy on the Hobby Ceramic block, Hobby Colorobbia.

One of the oldest 'New Boys', with a ceramic history dating back to the early 16th century, they have brought astounding new colours, bisque, and a very new, European flavour into the hobby ceramic world from their vast Italian potteries. Hobby Colorobbia is rapidly gaining favour with all who try it, and a bright future is forecast for this brilliant new line.

Early in 1991 a new type of contemporary "instant" paint your own pottery business opened almost un-noticed in California.

This was to spread like wildfire across the States and later the U.K.  Hobby Ceramicraft became involved with the emerging Contempory studios in America in 1992, followed the sucesses, learned from the mistakes, and decades later it  is now the major part of the U.K. business.

As a potentially very profitable enterprise the Paint Your Own Pottery has drawn many entrepreneurs into Ceramics, bringing a refreshing breath of business acumen and ideas, as well as an hair raising lack of knowledge of the simple yet vital very basic ceramic skills.

This put Hobby Ceramicraft in the unique position

                            of being able to draw on a decade and a half of specialised teaching skills to add  to the complete range of materials and equipment needed for a successful Ceramic Café enterprise. Over the following years this has been honed into an intensive yet comprehensive 2 day course covering practical hands on skills, theory, and liberally laced with a breathtaking amount of fast flowing business sense and ideas. Many hundreds of people have now experienced this specialised course, many then making the decision to start their own successful business using our help and materials. These now range from multiple studio owners to small home based businesses
 

In the United States Traditional and the new Contemporary Studios

                       have evolved into very separate and distinctly different industries. Hobby Ceramicraft perceives very strong benefits from merging the best benefits of each style of business, and are currently strenuously preaching these ideas to their customers. They have enormous opportunities to bring to traditional studio owners on the new opportunities Hobby Ceramicraft Bisque and Stroke and Coat can add to their existing operations; and to the Contemporaries the very much longer and more loyal customer life which learning and teaching some of these traditional skills can bring about.

January 2001 marked the launch of Hobby Ceramicrafts Pottery Painting Parties concept. This was an opportunity for folk to try a "toe in the water" small home based version of the highly successful Contemporary Studios, servicing childrens and adult parties etc.

Those contemplating opening new independant Ceramic Café style studios, can learn that with the strength of Hobby Ceramicrafts skills, stock, and training courses to assist them, there is no need whatever to tie themselves into expensive franchise agreements which will continue to bleed their profits from them long after they have reaped the benefits of the initial help which they offer.

Hobby Ceramicraft has come a very long way since their first tentative steps over two decades.  John was awarded the prestigeous Ceramic Arts Institute award for outstanding contribution to Ceramic Education in the U.K., an honour he is immensly proud of.

And Today:-

The 'secret ingredient' probably lies in their maxim, "Knowledge is the key to Success"; and their aim to sell "SUCCESS" to their customers, not just goods.

Simply, they put maximum emphasis on teaching, to be certain that anyone interested in Ceramics as a business is given as much information and guidance as possible while developing this fascinating, creative, yet relatively unique business. Once established they keep their customers up to date with all the latest developments and newest releases from the leading manufacturers, as well as regular business oriented newsletters packed with new and original ideas and techniques.
Hobby Ceramicraft strives to trade ethically, and with due respect to the care they believe we should all have for the environment of this planet we inhabit.

They are an honest family business with have a vast experience in the international ceramic market and a wealth of accumulated knowledge on how you can make the most out of your business. They supply the finest products at the best bottom line prices.

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