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selling seconds

updated sat 5 may 07

 

Gregory F. Wandell on thu 4 dec 97

Hi all

All this talk of seconds is interesting and is germain to an issue I
have been wondering about. Next week I'm attending a "major?" arts and
craft show in the Washington, DC area and was wondering how other
potters approach selling seconds at such a show.

So, would anyone bring seconds to the show, put them on the bottom shelf
and attempt to sell them?

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Greg Wandell
Bethesda, Maryland
GWandell@USECRE.ORG

Richard Aerni on fri 5 dec 97

Greg,

Sell seconds out of your studio, sell them out of the back of your
pickup, give them away on the street corner, but never never never bring
them to a quality show and try to sell them. Like bringing pop tarts to
a fine restaurant for your dessert.

Richard Aerni
Bloomfield, NY


Gregory F. Wandell wrote:
>
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> Hi all
>
> All this talk of seconds is interesting and is germain to an issue I
> have been wondering about. Next week I'm attending a "major?" arts and
> craft show in the Washington, DC area and was wondering how other
> potters approach selling seconds at such a show.
>
> So, would anyone bring seconds to the show, put them on the bottom shelf
> and attempt to sell them?
>
> Any advice is greatly appreciated.
>
> Greg Wandell
> Bethesda, Maryland
> GWandell@USECRE.ORG

Amanda Redman on fri 5 dec 97

I have never personally sold seconds at a show, haven't sold anything at a
show actually, but I do enjoy going to shows. Anyway, I have seen potters
put set a side a small part and even put a sign up that says seconds. Why
not? Kids that are forced to come to art and crafts fairs with mom sometimes
have $5 and would spend it on a pot with a thumb print in the glaze or a
little crazing. I say go for it.

Kris Baum on fri 5 dec 97

Hi Greg -

I saw your posting about the "major" D.C. area show and wondered
which one it is? Are you going to be at the Gaithersburg fair
grounds next weekend (don't think it is a Sugarloaf show, but a
competitor, maybe?) Just curious because I'm local and I'd like to
look you up if I go. Haven't gotten to the point where I have the
nerve to apply to a major show (nor the bucks to pay for the booth!),
but I'm curious about others who do!

Kris
===============================================
Kris Baum, Shubunkin Pottery
mailto:shubunki@erols.com
===============================================

Michael Wendt on tue 1 may 07


One of the best ways we found to deal with
seconds is to cull work at every stage, before
it gets to the final glaze fire.
Coupled with quality control improvements,
you can cut the number of seconds to
the bare minimum.
Additionally, refiring can not only correct
some problems but can also produce
stunning, unexpected results.
Don't forget, as you raise your
quality standards, more and more
work becomes seconds in your mind.
For this reason, keep some samples of
earlier work that you considered firsts
to compare to so you don't lose track
of just how far you have come.
By my standards today, most of my
early work would be classed as
seconds, yet it was the best I could do
at the time.
Regards,
Michael Wendt
Wendt Pottery
2729 Clearwater Ave
Lewiston, ID 83501
USA
208-746-3724
http://www.wendtpottery.com
wendtpot@lewiston.com
Phyllis wrote:
Chris Campbell was really bothered by the sale of
seconds. Me, too. There are so many places that can use
an extra buck or two---like Good Will, our church
biannual rummage sale, garage sales, etc. Some of my
seconds are in my cupboard, or under a plant, or
holding a plant or in a box in the garage. The really
ugly ones---bad glaze, etc, are treated with the
hammer.

Maybe there are some other ways to deal with
seconds??

Phyllis Tilton
daisypet1@yahoo.com
Charter member Potter's Council

Pamela Regentin on thu 3 may 07


At my recent open studio sale, on the second day, I took a look at all the pots and pulled a few as "seconds". They had very minor details to qualify as such. I immediately sold quite a number of things off the new "seconds" shelf. I'm convinced that if I had kept those things in the main display at the same prices they wouldn't have sold. Some people are only looking for bargains. Some customers come in asking "where are the seconds?"

On another note: I was recently in a Goodwill store and found it amusing how many thrown pottery pieces were on the shelves. Nothing great, some obvious beginner pots and some nice forms with ugly glazes. I think it would be hysterical to stumble on one of my own in such a place. It would mean I've been all the way around the block!

Pam

Michael Wendt wrote: One of the best ways we found to deal with
seconds is to cull work at every stage, before
it gets to the final glaze fire.
Coupled with quality control improvements,
you can cut the number of seconds to
the bare minimum.
Additionally, refiring can not only correct
some problems but can also produce
stunning, unexpected results.
Don't forget, as you raise your
quality standards, more and more
work becomes seconds in your mind.
For this reason, keep some samples of
earlier work that you considered firsts
to compare to so you don't lose track
of just how far you have come.
By my standards today, most of my
early work would be classed as
seconds, yet it was the best I could do
at the time.
Regards,
Michael Wendt
Wendt Pottery
2729 Clearwater Ave
Lewiston, ID 83501
USA
208-746-3724
http://www.wendtpottery.com
wendtpot@lewiston.com
Phyllis wrote:
Chris Campbell was really bothered by the sale of
seconds. Me, too. There are so many places that can use
an extra buck or two---like Good Will, our church
biannual rummage sale, garage sales, etc. Some of my
seconds are in my cupboard, or under a plant, or
holding a plant or in a box in the garage. The really
ugly ones---bad glaze, etc, are treated with the
hammer.

Maybe there are some other ways to deal with
seconds??

Phyllis Tilton
daisypet1@yahoo.com
Charter member Potter's Council

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Phyllis Tilton on thu 3 may 07


Chris Campbell was really bothered by the sale of seconds. Me, too. There are so many places that can use an extra buck or two---like Good Will, our church biannual rummage sale, garage sales, etc. Some of my seconds are in my cupboard, or under a plant, or holding a plant or in a box in the garage. The really ugly ones---bad glaze, etc, are treated with the hammer.

Maybe there are some other ways to deal with seconds??

Phyllis Tilton
daisypet1@yahoo.com
Charter member Potter's Council

Arnold Howard on thu 3 may 07


From: "Phyllis Tilton"
> Some of my seconds are in my cupboard, or under a plant,
> or holding a plant or in a box in the garage. The really
> ugly ones---bad glaze, etc, are treated with the hammer.

One of my favorite pots is a gift from Shelia, who works at
Paragon. I noticed the pot in her office one day. As I
picked it up, I commented on the glaze at the top that had
dripped down into a dragonfly she had painted. Shelia said
she was going to throw the pot away because of that drip.

But that single flaw is why I like the pot, which I keep in
my office here. Isn't it strange how a flaw that is ugly to
the potter can be beautiful to someone else?

Sincerely,

Arnold Howard
Paragon Industries, L.P., Mesquite, Texas USA
ahoward@paragonweb.com / www.paragonweb.com

Chris Campbell on thu 3 may 07


>Chris Campbell was really bothered by
>the sale of seconds.

Thanks for the support Phyllis, but I want to
specify that I was upset by a 'Potters' Guild'
selling seconds.

I am naive enough to believe in the ancient
purpose of a Guild ...

'to give help and advice to its members and
to make regulations and set standards for a
particular trade.'

I don't think they should be pottery clubs.
But in my area, this is not a majority view.

The idea of people buying seconds from a
Guild makes me ill.

However, anyone else can do what they like
with their seconds, keeping in mind they will
always return to bite you in the butt.

Chris Campbell - in North Carolina

lela martens on thu 3 may 07


The situation in our area is that the only place a person can learn
is a beginer class in our art centre. If they want to go on, they
have to join our guild. The clay programs at the university and college
were shut down years ago.
We have mini workshops, lessons, etc.
The general quality of work varies a great deal.
Every year the guild has a `reduction` sale, low prices and generally
rather poor pots. This gives the beginers more of a chance to sell,
and flawed work, also.
Some , but not enough, of us feel the guild shouldn`t even have
this sale, but what can ya do? We are more a `teaching` guild for
encouraging new potters than anything else...
The guild takes 15% from sales to pay our rent and the treasurer says
we need this sale.
Best wishes from Lela who is appreciating a rare rainy day


>From: Chris Campbell
>Reply-To: Clayart
>To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
>Subject: Re: Selling Seconds
>Date: Thu, 3 May 2007 11:21:15 -0500
>
> >Chris Campbell was really bothered by
> >the sale of seconds.
>
>Thanks for the support Phyllis, but I want to
>specify that I was upset by a 'Potters' Guild'
>selling seconds.
>
>I am naive enough to believe in the ancient
>purpose of a Guild ...
>
>'to give help and advice to its members and
>to make regulations and set standards for a
>particular trade.'
>
>I don't think they should be pottery clubs.
>But in my area, this is not a majority view.
>
>The idea of people buying seconds from a
>Guild makes me ill.
>
>However, anyone else can do what they like
>with their seconds, keeping in mind they will
>always return to bite you in the butt.
>
>Chris Campbell - in North Carolina
>
>______________________________________________________________________________
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
>melpots@pclink.com.

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William & Susan Schran User on fri 4 may 07


On 5/3/07 11:58 PM, "Pamela Regentin" wrote:

> On another note: I was recently in a Goodwill store and found it amusing how
> many thrown pottery pieces were on the shelves. Nothing great, some obvious
> beginner pots and some nice forms with ugly glazes. I think it would be
> hysterical to stumble on one of my own in such a place. It would mean I've
> been all the way around the block!

I did find some of my earlier work in an antiques shop a few years ago. Wish
I would have asked the shop owner what they knew about the work or when they
thought it had been made. ;^)


--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com

Eleanor on fri 4 may 07


Phyllis Tilton wrote:

> other ways to deal with seconds??
>
Holders for tools in the studio. A big bad bowl holds throwing water,
another, heavy slip from throwing (both of which get recycled).

Eleanor Kohler
Centerport, NY

A cool spring is finally here. Take that, Global Warming!!

Lee Love on fri 4 may 07


On 5/4/07, Pamela Regentin wrote:
> I think it would be hysterical to stumble on one of my own in such a place. It would
>mean I've been all the way around the block!

The burner/recycle center has a flea market in the spring. This
spring, I bought a heavy bag for 500 yen. I also saw a half dozen
of my dishes on sale I threw out, because the decoration had run
together. Those plates were from before I started breaking things
before sending them to the burner.

Jean has found some nice things at the burner when
taking the trash and recycles over. I have an old sake storage
flask she rescued.

--
Lee in Mashiko, Japan
Minneapolis, Minnesota USA
http://potters.blogspot.com/

"To affect the quality of the day, that is the highest of arts." -
Henry David Thoreau

"Let the beauty we love be what we do." - Rumi

Pamela Regentin on fri 4 may 07


Gee, Bill, how old are you anyway? Been making pottery for quite a while now, eh? :-)



William & Susan Schran User wrote: On 5/3/07 11:58 PM, "Pamela Regentin" wrote:

> On another note: I was recently in a Goodwill store and found it amusing how
> many thrown pottery pieces were on the shelves. Nothing great, some obvious
> beginner pots and some nice forms with ugly glazes. I think it would be
> hysterical to stumble on one of my own in such a place. It would mean I've
> been all the way around the block!

I did find some of my earlier work in an antiques shop a few years ago. Wish
I would have asked the shop owner what they knew about the work or when they
thought it had been made. ;^)


--
William "Bill" Schran
wschran@cox.net
wschran@nvcc.edu
http://www.creativecreekartisans.com

______________________________________________________________________________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org

You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.



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