Curious About Selling Your Pottery? Here’s Where to Start
Pottery Studio Member at Mud Hut Pottery Studio in Riverside, CA making a ceramic cake.
You’ve been making things. Maybe for years. Your shelves are full. Friends keep telling you, “You should sell this stuff.” You’re not sure if they’re just being nice or if there’s really something there. Maybe you’ve sold a few pieces, maybe not. But now you’re wondering—without a shop, a booth, or a business degree—what would it even look like to sell your pottery?
Here’s what some hobbyist potters try when they decide to dip a toe into the selling side—without quitting their day job or pretending to be a startup.
Pick Your Main Online Home
Even if you're not ready to “launch a full business,” it helps to have a spot where your work lives online. This doesn’t need to be a big, fancy store. Some potters find it helpful to launch a pottery site that sells using tools that are beginner-friendly and built for creatives. Think of it as a quiet corner of the internet where people can browse your pieces, ask about glazes, and maybe place an order when the time feels right. You don’t need a full collection or a brand identity to start. Just a place where your pots can be seen. One page is enough.
List on Marketplaces Strategically
You don’t have to build an audience from scratch. Places like Etsy or Folksy already have thousands of people searching for handmade pieces. If you’re unsure whether your style fits, putting up a shop can be a way to test demand. Listing your ceramics on Etsy or Folksy gives exposure and feedback without huge upfront cost. Use your images, descriptions, and pricing as experiments—not as final statements. If something sells, you’ll know what to do more of; if not, you’ll learn what to change.
Price for Profit and Positioning
Pricing is where many hobbyists freeze. How do you balance fairness with value? Start small: track what materials cost, how much firing takes, and how many hours you spend on each piece. Then use that to calculate the real value of pottery even if you don’t hike prices immediately. Compare with similar ceramics in marketplaces you’re using. You may decide to undercharge at first to test what people will accept. Over time, as you add polish or find efficiencies, you can raise prices without feeling like you’ve drifted too far from what feels fair.
Randee from @GoodThings.Pottery creates miniature pottery that she sells at local markets in Southern, CA
Nail Your Shipping & Packaging Game
Sending pottery through the mail is scary at first. But there are ways to make it a lot less risky. Learn how to ship fragile pots without anxiety using double boxes, padding, and careful filling of empty space. A single roll of painter’s tape, some recycled foam, and a sturdy outer shell go a long way. Most people aren’t looking for elaborate branding—they just want the pot to arrive safely. Once you’ve done it once or twice, it becomes second nature. You might even start to enjoy it.
Use Social Media as a Sales Engine
Social media can feel like a lot if you’re not used to it, but it’s also one of the lowest-risk ways to try showing your work. You don’t need fancy equipment. Just a clear photo of something new. A short video of your process. If you build a little following, you can sell more pots through Instagram by sharing drops, stories, or even livestreams. Use your followers as feedback: ask what shapes or glazes people want. Treat it like a conversation rather than a storefront.
Build Trust with Repeat Buyers
Even if you're selling only once every few weeks, how you present, package, and follow up matters. A first sale happens once, but a repeat buyer can happen often if you do this right. You can build a brand buyers return to by shipping reliably, using nice packaging, and including a little thank-you message. Don’t ignore emails or messages. If something breaks or the buyer is confused, honesty helps more than perfection. A simple gesture can turn one-time buyers into advocates.
Before You Wrap: Use These Design Helpers
If you decide to lean a bit more into selling, visual consistency helps everything feel more professional. Adobe Express gives you design options to bring polish without overcommitting. Try out:
● Design a recognizable pottery logo — use logo templates to pick fonts and colors that match your aesthetic.
● Print custom business cards — even one card included in orders or left at local spots gives your work a touch of permanence.
● Personalize your thank-you notes — a small card or sticker with your name or a note makes someone really appreciate the unboxing.
● Share product drops in style — use post templates with good layouts for products so your social feed feels intentional.
You don’t have to commit to being a seller full-time. You don’t need a perfect setup. What you need is curiosity, small experiments, and a willingness to learn. Maybe you list one item this month. Maybe you ship one mug that arrives intact. That’s progress. Trying doesn’t make you less of a hobbyist—it just means you’re seeing what your hobby could be. If you’ve wondered whether your pots might matter to someone else, now’s a good time to test that. Not because you need to become a business. But because maybe making and sharing feels right.
Curious where your pottery could take you? Visit Mud Hut Pottery Studio to explore workshops, tools, and real-world support for makers who want to do a little more with clay.
Mud Hut Pottery Studio in Riverside, CA
