Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman on wed 14 may 97
A query to the group (for those of you who have visitors to your studio)-
If someone calls and asks to visit your private studio (not your
open-to-public-at-regular-hours store), is your expectation is that they
are looking to buy something? Suppose someone comes to visit and you have
a pleasant conversation, but they don't buy anything? Or, they look, but
either your current prices are out of their budget or for some other
reason they just don't buy.
Do you feel that you have been misled by their asking to visit? Are you
angry that they wasted your time? If you believe that they really had the
intention of buying something but it just didn't happen, are you OK with
that?
TIA for sharing..
Bonnie Hellman in Pittsburgh, PA
"Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes!" Capt. J. Kirk
"Outside a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too
dark to read" Groucho Marx
" " Harpo Marx
"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like an avocado" Att. to GM
Dave Eitel on thu 15 may 97
>If someone calls and asks to visit your private studio (not your
>open-to-public-at-regular-hours store), is your expectation is that they
>are looking to buy something?
Bonnie--It's always fun for me to have someone who wants to visit my
studio. The visit is a good time to create goodwill. I think a lot of
people are really interested in seeing a potter's studio, seeing how the
work is done, etc. Since I have a separate retail selling area several
miles from my studio, people don't come to the studio to buy, just to look.
Actually, I wish there were a lot more visitors. A few Clayarters have
even shown up and we've had some great conversations. I love to talk to
other potters.
Later...Dave
Dave Eitel
Cedar Creek Pottery
Cedarburg, WI
pots@cedarcreekpottery.com
http://www.cedarcreekpottery.com
Jon Pettyjohn on thu 15 may 97
Hi Bonnie,
I think a lot of people might want to visit someone's studio simply
because they're interested in pottery in general or in seeing how
someone works. I know I've visited other potters workshops without
any intention of buying. I rarely make sales from my workshop so if
someone comes to visit I assume it's just to look.
I suppose if you are making sales from your studio it's a
disappointment if someone visits without buying but it's an important
part of what we do, and a good way to educate the buying public.
Probably the best thing would be to clarify this first by asking
the purpose for the visit, if I don't have anything for sale the
visitor might also feel misled if he had that expectation.
When I was in the U.S. last summer I noticed that many studios set
specific visiting hours, often they would sell also during these
"open studio" periods. Seems like a good solution.
I imagine it would be hard to get any work done if people came around
all the time to buy or just to visit, but some very famous potters
are said to have never turn any visitor away, like Hamada for example,
even if he had to work into the night to finish up. I was disappointed
last year when I called up and asked if I could visit Peter Volkous's
studio in Oakland. I was told that he doesn't receive visitors, but
perhaps it was because of his health.
Jon Pettyjohn Manila jon@mozcom.com
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> A query to the group (for those of you who have visitors to your studio)-
>
> If someone calls and asks to visit your private studio (not your
> open-to-public-at-regular-hours store), is your expectation is that they
> are looking to buy something? Suppose someone comes to visit and you have
> a pleasant conversation, but they don't buy anything? Or, they look, but
> either your current prices are out of their budget or for some other
> reason they just don't buy.
>
> Do you feel that you have been misled by their asking to visit? Are you
> angry that they wasted your time? If you believe that they really had the
> intention of buying something but it just didn't happen, are you OK with
> that?
>
> TIA for sharing..
>
> Bonnie Hellman in Pittsburgh, PA
>
Karen Gringhuis on thu 15 may 97
Bonnie -
although this has not yet happened to me, I would be OK with someone
coming to visit but not buying because I have been on the other
end of that situation as a collector. A few times I have just taken
a chance & visited a studio but found the work to be for many
reasons not what I wanted to buy. However, I did then make a small
courtesy purchase.
This situation was uncomfortable enough for me that I have
tried never to repeat it i.e. not visit a studio unless I have
seen at least some of the work first. Even though a studio
was recommended to me, the work was simply "not great" so
watch whose recommendation you trust.
From the potter's point of view, I would rather have someone
come and visit than not. We have many visitors in our studio
who do not buy - but often they are "clay people" with whom
we enjoy talking. And often they learn quite a bit from
seeing a working studio so we make them feel welcome.
It's all part of "passing it on."
Karen Gringhuis
James Bretes on thu 15 may 97
Jeremy/Bonnie Hellman wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> A query to the group (for those of you who have visitors to your studio)-
>
> If someone calls and asks to visit your private studio (not your
> open-to-public-at-regular-hours store), is your expectation is that they
> are looking to buy something? Suppose someone comes to visit and you have
> a pleasant conversation, but they don't buy anything? Or, they look, but
> either your current prices are out of their budget or for some other
> reason they just don't buy.
>
> Do you feel that you have been misled by their asking to visit? Are you
> angry that they wasted your time? If you believe that they really had the
> intention of buying something but it just didn't happen, are you OK with
> that?
>
> TIA for sharing..
>
> Bonnie Hellman in Pittsburgh, PA
>
> "Very funny, Scotty. Now beam down my clothes!" Capt. J. Kirk
>
> "Outside a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside a dog, it's too
> dark to read" Groucho Marx
>
> " " Harpo Marx
>
> "Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like an avocado" Att. to GM
Its I feel kinda a loaded question... Open the door a long as it wasn't
the IRS... But really, I think it works on indivuals.. There is a
couple of things that I would think about...How far did you drive to you
studio,?? I have had people visit me, than later buy something, and also
checked out to see how professional, am I presenting my work...Good way
to practice if your always on the road. I feel that you present your
work to your (almost) buyers and they walked out phisically empty, and I
done my best. They have walked out, but mentally fulled, because they
will remember what went on at my studio, then the price of my pots.
When you fall in love with something or someone. You don't think how
much, you would think how much satifiscation that I am gonna get out of
it.(happiness)..
How about some more feed back on this???
Jim
Eleanora Eden on sun 25 may 97
Hi Jon and all,
I went up to Pete at nceca to give my respect as I knew it was the last
time I would get a chance to see him in this life. He looked at me with
the eyes of eternity and saw absolutely nothing I am sure. I think he is
in very bad shape and not able to have visits as you and I would understand
that.
He already gave what he had to give I think. I am in no position to make
excuses for Pete or anybody else (hardly even for myself!) but just think
the time has past for that with Pete.
I myself was disappointed that the Trax gallery has no regular hours to
speak of, every other Saturday from 10-12 or some such rediculousness.
Cheers, E.
Eleanora Eden 802 869-2003
Paradise Hill
Bellows Falls, VT 05101 eden@sover.net
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