Run your own Business

Everyone can take part in this fabulous, fun, simple and very rewarding activity. From babies to kids, adults to OAPs, this is an unusual business that is able to cross into an endless number of different potential markets.A pottery painting business can be successful either as a high-street styled "ceramic cafe" or a "mobile" home-based business. We offer helpful advice and all the possible supplies either business could wish for whether you plan this to your main or supplementary income.

1. Paint the blank shape using non-toxic, easy to use colours 2. Dip the whole piece into non-toxic clear glaze 3. Pop it in the kiln, and fire to 1000 degrees Celsius 4. Your masterpiece is now ready to be used, enjoyed and passed down through generations as a wonderful heirloom.

The "ceramic cafe" model has been very successful with children's parties, but as with most high street premises, their overheads are high, and that is passed on in the costs to the parent. It can also be difficult to arrange both catering and host parties in many cafe premises. If the parent holds the party in a hall or in their home, there is more opportunity for them to provide catering themselves, more space for kids, and often the cost is lower overall. We have extensive experience of running Pottery Painting Parties and our intensive two day course teaches you all you need to know to make your presentation impeccable. For you it should be easy, well-prepared and thought out. For the children it will big exciting, different and memorable. For the parent we want it to be exciting, satisfying, good value for money and an event that will inspire them to tell their friends about you, and perhaps even have a go themselves! Pottery Painting Parties are incredibly easy to host badly; we show you how to run yours exceptionally well, exceeding the customer's expectations and being able to present each participant with a professional looking piece of real ceramic that will be admired by many. What better advert could there be for your business?!

Adult parties range from the hen party for the girl about to be married, (who ends up with a dinner service, each plate painted by a friend), to corporate entertaining event in a hotel or office, where staff or guests enjoy the fun of creating and painting all sorts of items.

To create pieces of real ceramics with a durability that will allow mugs and plates to be used (not just looked at!), with colours that will not rub off or fade, we need to fire them in a kiln which will take them up to over 1000 degrees Celsius. If you are running a business in ceramics you need a reliable kiln, indeed it is this piece of equipment that will draw your customers to come back and spend with you, this is not a hobby that they will be able to do at home "on the cheap" without one. All the kilns are fully computerised and magnificently simple to operate. We will show you how and advise you which model is best suited for your requirements. Your kiln will have a state-of-the-art computer on board which will give you total control over what is happening inside. With this you can easily adapt your firing not just for earthenware, but also stoneware, porcelain and even glass! All this at the touch of a button, very efficiently and with a firing cost that most likely be less than you'd expect! Click here for more advice on choosing a kiln

The colours you use are non-toxic (so no safety worries with children), water-based (no need for aprons or floor-coverings) and are from a large range. Although you only need to carry some of them initially, you can add to the colour range as you go along - for example, adults' parties will want more choice. Packed in a choice of sizes, we can advise which it is best to carry. The clear glaze that is widely used within the 'contemporary ceramics' market today is a dipping solution that is foolishly simple to use, and gives an unbeatably clean, crisp and enduring finish to your work. Learn more about turning fun, creative craft into a profitable business by giving us a call today on 0118 9326153

So what is the next step? You may just wish to continue running a business away from your home in party situations - either for children (very profitable) or for adults, with just the finishing and firing done at home. You may wish to develop into a full-blown and exceedingly profitable ceramic cafe or contemporary studio. Situated in a high street or commercial unit, this is very much a full-time venture, with a high volume of customers. A very profitable and highly successful business. You may wish to learn more with us, and develop into a traditional Hobby Ceramic studio, either from home initially or investing in premises. More skills and investment in skills and knowledge is required here, but this is an extremely fulfilling, friendly and long-term creative business. You may see opportunities making finished goods and selling at craft fairs, etc. Or you mightjust end up enjoying a fascinating hobby, with a kiln that is capable of taking you into stoneware, porcelain, glass or silver clay... Hobby Ceramicraft is the leading source of specialist Hobby Ceramic and Contemporary Ceramic knowledge in the UK, supplying successful studios for over 20 years. We ship throughout Europe, and our courses have received international recognition. We don't want to just sell you goods - we want to help and enthuse you into creating an exciting future business which will benefit all of us. The adventure starts here, and we can help you succeed, so get in touch! Want to take the next step? Click here for our information on the next course dates