Start a pottery business online
Potters sell mugs, plates, bowls and vases made in small batches, and buyers come back for the set. This guide covers who the idea suits, the studio you need, how to make, price and ship ceramics, and how to sell them online.
The idea, step by step
How to start a pottery business in five steps
Ceramics sell on glaze, form and how a piece feels in the hand. Each step says what to get right and where your Tanqory store does the work.
It suits makers who already throw or hand-build
Pottery takes practice before pieces come out the same, so it suits people who already work in clay, at home or in a shared studio. Expect days between throwing, drying, the first firing, glazing and the second firing.Describe your range in one sentence and the AI store builder makes a store you can review while your first batch dries.See the AI store builder
Clay, glazes and access to a kiln
You need clay, glazes, tools, shelving for drying and a kiln, your own or a shared one with firing slots you can book. For mugs and plates, choose glazes sold as safe for food contact. Rules on glazes for tableware vary, so check the rules where you sell.In Tanqory, glazes and sizes are variants of one piece in one catalog, grouped into collections such as tableware or vases.See how the catalog works
Make in batches and keep the seconds aside
Throw or build one form many times in a row so sizes match, and record the clay, glaze and firing of each batch. Keep pieces with cracks, crawling or pinholes out of the store; many potters sell them later as seconds, clearly marked.Tanqory tracks stock for each glaze and size, so a sold-out colourway shows as sold out and the assistant can tell you what to make next.See how inventory works
Price for the hours in each piece
Add clay, glaze, firing and packing for each piece, then your time across every stage and the pieces lost in the kiln. Compare with handmade work of a similar size and finish, and offer sets that make a full table.Tanqory adds a 0% transaction fee with any payment provider you connect, and never marks up your provider's own rate.See how payments work
Show the glaze up close, then double-box it
Photograph each piece in daylight with one close shot of the glaze and one in use, and give the height, width and volume. Wrap each piece, then pack it in a box inside a larger box with padding between them.Set shipping zones and rates in Tanqory, then compare carrier rates and print labels in the admin.See how shipping works
Your store
Open a pottery store that runs with you
Three parts of Tanqory take the routine work, so your hours stay at the wheel.
Listings written from your studio notes
Give the AI your notes on each piece. It writes the product copy and edits the product photos, so every listing reads and looks the same.See AI product content
An assistant that acts in the admin
Ask about stock, orders or customers and let the assistant do the work, with your confirmation. Everyday chat with it uses no credits.See the AI assistant
0% transaction fee on every sale
Connect your own Stripe, PayPal or Braintree account. Tanqory adds no transaction fee and never marks up your provider's rate.See checkout
More ideas
More business ideas
The same five questions, answered for other ideas.
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Your designs on shirts, bags and prints, made after each order.Read the idea
Selling pottery online: questions
Do I need my own kiln to sell pottery?
No. Many potters start by renting firing space in a shared studio or a community kiln, and buy their own once they fire often enough to fill it.
Are handmade mugs and plates safe to sell for food?
Use glazes sold as safe for food contact and fire them as the maker says. Rules for tableware and glaze testing differ by country, so check the rules where you sell before you list.
Can I try pottery as a store before I buy stock?
Yes. Describe the idea in one sentence and the AI store builder makes a store with a brand, theme, pages and first products for you to review and change. Plans start with 3 days free before your first charge.
Does Tanqory take a cut of each sale?
No. Tanqory adds a 0% transaction fee on every plan with any payment provider you connect, and never marks up your provider's own rate.
Where can I sell pottery online?
In your own Tanqory store first, and from the same admin on Amazon, eBay, TikTok Shop, Facebook and Instagram, with product feeds to Google Merchant Center.
Start your pottery store
Describe your pieces in one sentence and review a store ready to sell.