Perfectly Imperfect
My Annual Seconds Sale
Today is August 1st, but let’s pretend it’s July 32nd. I’ve been trying to get this newsletter out by my self-imposed deadline, but it didn’t go as planned. So for this month, you’ll be receiving an extra newsletter to make up for it. It’s been a busy summer!
This past Saturday I hosted my annual Seconds Sale at my home studio. For over a decade now, it’s been a staple in my business plan and the event always gives me such life. Not only do my in-person affairs generate a lot sales, but it gives me a big emotional boost. This is how I connect with my sweet customers who use my pottery on the daily, and it’s wonderful to meet everyone in real life and to show them where everything gets made.
One customer even drove from Sacramento for one specific cup! I was so thankful that she was able to snag the piece she was pining for and was so touched to hear that she drove over 2 hours. Another long-time customer told me that while they waited in line for the sale to start (people started arriving 20 minutes early), everyone was discussing what kind of cup, mug or bowl they had of mine, where and when they got it and how they use it. I was speechless! It was such a nice thing to hear and as a person who makes things with their hands for others to hold in theirs, it means a lot. This is why I do what I do. I’ve been at this for a long time now, but reminders like this are so important for me to keep going. Being an artist and small business owner requires constant evolution, so it often feels like every year is my first year even though I’m nine years into this self-employment gig.
I wish I could do these sales more regularly but it takes a long time to accumulate a lot of work with a varied selection. I always want to make it worth people’s time to come to my home studio, so I make sure to have a big selection of options—many tables full of work. This weekend, I had over 200 functional pieces out for sale and was left with 8 cups! It was a huge success!
If you’ve read some of my recent posts here, you know that business has been slow all year. I’ve been trying to ignore the financial stress while also trying to do new things, putting myself out there in different places and staying positive. Keep moving forward is all I can do, but it can be hard to create new things when your shelves are full of unsold work. After this successful weekend, I feel more balanced and free. Yes, the shelves are empty and that’s a great relief, but I’m beyond grateful for the support from the community. Out of all the sales I’ve ever done, I think this one meant the most. Doubt had started to set in recently, and I questioned if anyone would even show up. It truly was so uplifting to see so many familiar faces and meet new folks too.
The sale was all about “Seconds” which also means “perfectly imperfect”. Seconds are pieces that might not match an image on my website or may have an imperceivable hairline crack or discoloration from an off kiln firing. Seconds are pieces glazed too thin or too heavy, resulting in color streaks. Seconds can also just be some random idea I executed that I don’t love, but know someone will adore. In pottery, there is a lot of iterative design, many trials and errors, fun explorations and just plain weirdo pots. When I introduce a new design into my collection, just know that I made dozens of different versions before settling in on the final shape—those extras become seconds.
As an artist, it’s important for me to experiment, so selling pieces that aren’t my top work is incredibly valuable because it affords me the opportunity to fail. Without the sales of seconds, I wouldn’t be able to play as much and push my designs forward. It’s a huge portion of my income, more than probably most realize, but the compensation for the time spent exploring is such a gift.
In one day, on Saturday, I made the income of the previous 3 months combined. It’s a big deal for my business. I get an influx of cash flow and this allows me to really keep pushing, continue creating and get ready for the holidays. As much as I hate to mention it, it feels good to think ahead which will allow me to not get overwhelmed come late fall.
Seconds can also reach a different audience. Folks that might not be able to afford my work at full price can now have something of mine and that’s important to me. I identify with those buyers because I personally feel like I can’t afford my own work. Like I’ve said in the past; I am not my customer. I discount my seconds anywhere from 20-50% depending on the flaw. I love that I can offer deep discounts for a funky cup that will make someone very happy. I love the odd balls just as much, if not more, than the “perfect” cup.
But, what I love THE most about in-person sales like the one I just had is that it allows customers the satisfaction of holding, touching, gripping, feeling each vessel in order to find the one that fits your hand just right. That’s what I truly enjoy the most, seeing people find “the one”. It’s the main drawback from online purchasing, stoneware is so tactile and connecting with the material is a huge part of why I make the work that I do.
It feels odd to not share any photos of my clay pieces here, even though I’m talking so much about pottery. I guess I’m kinda over documenting my own ceramics at the moment—I don’t think I’ve shared images here on substack since March? So, if you want to see the things I make, head over to Cloutier Ceramics for some pottery photography. Otherwise, pics shown here are from a neighborhood walk from not too long ago shot on 35mm film with my Canon AE-1.
July was a very busy month and ended on a very successful note. August will be a bit mellower with production in mind. I have lots to make, and actually feel like making the work! Summer is my season, it’s when I feel my best self. Last year, I created a three-day art residency at home for myself and called it My Mini Sabbatical and am now realizing that it might be a good time to plan for another “art vacation” soon. I’m in the right head space for it and have been craving the time. Thanks as always for following along and for your patience too. Cheers to everything that summer has to offer!
Grounded in play, Clayfulness is a newsletter exploring what it means to be a small business with transparency. This is a place where you’ll find failures and victories from my studio practice, how I stay motivated and when I’m not. This is more than a monthly word exercise for myself, but a space to understand what this little business is and where it wants to go. I love reflecting and thinking about the future, but writing in the present moment can capture what I'm really thinking and I'm getting better at it the more I share. I call it Clayfulness because clay is the background of my life, but there's also more. My life is full of other endeavors and being playful is one of my core principles in everything I do.
Thank you for reading, subscribing, sharing, commenting, liking and simply just being here. It means a lot to me. Subscribe for free, upgrade to a paid subscription or give a one-time contribution if you’ve found value from my words or work over the years.