SoCal readers: Help me get out of the pot(tery) business!

Zeke · 06-18-2009, 10:45 AM

My "enterprise" has been a nightmare, a disaster. If you missed the thread, I had proposed to sell Mexican pottery at the farmers markets. This is not a job for me.

So, I have inventory and need to dispose of it. I will take the loss just in order to get this stuff out of my way. I'll do anything reasonable including delivery or meeting up at a mutually beneficial destination.

The pots range from 6 bucks to 50 for a huge urn (one only). Those were my costs. I'll go lower than that if there's no gas involved. Here's some snaps:

I didn't ask permission from Pelican to put this thread up. I figured it's not a commercial enterprise. I'm not selling cheap sneakers or Porsche parts. However, if I'm still in violation of the rules, let's delete.

PM me or email thru my avatar. Thanks, and I hope you gardeners get something out of my mistake. As they say, "Don't quit your day job."

Wait, I don't have a job.

Heel n Toe · 06-18-2009, 10:49 AM

Milt, are they not selling fast enough, or do you just hate sittin' out there all day?

Wait... you used the words nightmare and disaster... it's gotta be something worse.

Zeke · 06-18-2009, 10:57 AM

I've had an ad on CL for 3 weeks at least and not sold a single pot. At the farmers market I sold 3 medium small ones. That was not enough to cover the cost of the space. Yes, sitting all day, plus set up and tear down is more work than welding in a rocker panel.

Plus, I got a pretty sore back out of the whole deal.

I'm done.

BTW, I reported myself to the moderators, so if this has to be taken down, it will be.

Dottore · 06-18-2009, 12:16 PM

Sorry to hear this Milt, but I suspected that this would be the end of your venture when you first posted about it.

Low-value, bulky, generic product with nothing to distinguish it from the thousands being sold by real Mexicans with low profit expectations. How could it have worked?

Zeke · 06-18-2009, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dottore

Sorry to hear this Milt, but I suspected that this would be the end of your venture when you first posted about it.

Low-value, bulky, generic product with nothing to distinguish it from the thousands being sold by real Mexicans with low profit expectations. How could it have worked?

Well, you make good points, but when I did a cursory market survey, I didn't see that much variety, especially the urn shapes. Now, I told the wholesaler that I didn't want any emotion involved in picking out stock. I asked him to load me up with the best sellers, period. At the end, I took about 5 samples that I liked. I selected the urns. I'll just keep those.

"How could it have worked?" I could have worked harder. I haven't put the effort into this that needs to be done. If I don't enjoy something, I move on. It would have worked if it worked for me.

The other side of the coin is, if local people here don't come out to get this stuff, then there is NO market, period. That part I didn't survey at all, just what was for sale and how much.

I can still go sit by the side of the road like a Gypsy.

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

Just an idea...

...drill some holes in them (we'll call these holes peep holes) and turn them into helmets. Get yourself some of those DOT stickers and sell them at the next AX event.

You could even go crazy and paint some Martini Racing stripes on them.

Save the bigger ones for the big headed guys in the Corvettes...

Sounds just about crazy enough to work...

DByers · 06-18-2009, 05:31 PM

Milt, Do you have an inventory list and cost along with some pictures? I know this sounds crazy but I work with a few landscape architects and more then a few landscapers. I know that most of these guys buy at "wholesale" levels for this already but they may be willing to look at what you have and see if t works for them. This style of pottery fits many of the landscape designs here in SB still. Cant promise anything but it might be worth the time to send that info.

fingpilot · 06-18-2009, 05:54 PM

+1 Milt; even a quick sorta pic and prices and quantities you have left would go along way to giving us an idea.

Zeke · 06-19-2009, 08:08 AM

I'll try to get a more comprehensive list up here, but figure the large pot in each pic is $15, med about 12 and the small on at the bottom pic is one of the 5 buck jobs. A big urn is double an open pot and so on. I have about 25 total spread out in all sizes. I picked up 3 of each at the initial purchase and only a few urns.

Here's where I missed the boat: these can be stained and glazed to make them unique. I'll post a pic of a couple examples of what the possibilities are.

I didn't start the decorating process because if I did some greenish, a buyer would probably want blueish. Here's 3 I didn't show - 15 each

About half the total:

A stained one and one with iron.

Some shown are older pots I've had and not necessarily for sale.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

Darn if you were closer I would be interested. My mom saw the pictures and asked about em.

targa911S · 06-19-2009, 08:36 AM

what is the total count? How much for all of them?

sammyg2 · 06-19-2009, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unclebilly

Just an idea...

...drill some holes in them (we'll call these holes peep holes) and turn them into helmets. Get yourself some of those DOT stickers and sell them at the next AX event.

You could even go crazy and paint some Martini Racing stripes on them.

Save the bigger ones for the big headed guys in the Corvettes...

Sounds just about crazy enough to work...

DUDE! You might be onto something. No, not helmets. PAINT!
Imagine a matching pair of regular ole clay pots, painted in gulf livery!
Paint the pots with racing car themes, a red marlboro urn, etc.

I would prolly be more of a hobby than a bidness but for someone who is artistically inclined (I'm not) it could be a real hoot.
Problem would be shipping costs, too high. Otherwise you could work out a deal with Wayne and have him hawk them for you

juanbenae · juanbenae's Garage

there were not a bunch of hotties at the farmer's markets to help pass the time? just to look at of course......

dad911 · 06-19-2009, 08:54 AM

Donate to a local charity, write it off.

I would buy a few if local. Can't nice stuff like that locally.

targa911S · 06-19-2009, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dad911

Donate to a local charity, write it off.

I would buy a few if local. Can't nice stuff like that locally.

not a bad idea actually.

Zeke · 06-19-2009, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by car 311

there were not a bunch of hotties at the farmer's markets to help pass the time? just to look at of course......

A few, not enough to get excited about.

Wouldn't you know it, I get a few requests from half way and all the way across the nation.

sammyg2 · 06-19-2009, 04:10 PM

Dear sir,
I would like to purchase all of your pottery for the sum of $10,000
I have a cashier's check for $12,000 I can send you .......
you know the rest

tabs · 06-19-2009, 04:39 PM

For your market place there is tooo much Mexican competition...
Sorry to hear that it didn't work out for ya.

I generally like selling stuff...you know those spoons..

In the past few months I have had to sell a few things at below cost..mostly inventory that I had recently purchased..

Now I have have to have at least 50% or much better marfin to purchase and figure I have to discount 20% off retail to move it..

Most spoons are still moving well at auction, prices are at least firm and holding.. So to find something at a reasonable price it has to be a bit off beat..thats where knowledge comes in.

Otherwise there is NO Margin...you might say if you are a retail buyer you get a good price at auction but not the reseller.