Where to Sell Your Pottery
There's no single best platform — the most successful potters sell on multiple channels. Each platform serves a different purpose in your business.
Etsy
The default marketplace for handmade goods. Over 90 million active buyers already looking for ceramics. Low barrier to entry with 20-cent listing fees and 6.5% transaction fees.
Your Own Website
Squarespace ($16/month) or Shopify ($29/month) give you full control over branding, customer data, and margins. No platform fees beyond payment processing (2.9% + 30 cents).
Local Markets
Farmers markets and craft fairs put you face-to-face with buyers. Booth fees range from $25-100 per event. Customers can touch your work — which is pottery's greatest sales tool.
Wholesale to Shops
Local boutiques, gift shops, and galleries buy at 50% of your retail price but order in volume. Consistent revenue stream once you establish relationships.
Photography That Sells
Online pottery sales live or die by photography. Buyers can't hold your work, so your photos must convey texture, scale, and quality. The good news: you don't need expensive equipment.
- Natural light is essential — shoot near a large north-facing window for soft, even light without harsh shadows
- Simple backgrounds — white or light gray seamless paper or a clean linen cloth. Let the pottery be the star
- Eye-level for mugs and cups — slightly above for bowls and plates to show the interior
- At least 5 photos per listing — front, back, glaze detail, in-use lifestyle shot, and a scale reference
- Show the bottom — serious ceramic buyers want to see the foot, the maker's mark, and the glaze line
- Consistency across listings — same lighting, same background, same style. This builds trust and brand recognition
Pricing Strategy
Price your work based on costs, not just on what others charge. The formula: (Materials + Time + Overhead) x 2.5-3 = Retail Price. A mug that costs $25 to make (including your time at a fair hourly rate) should retail for $62-75. If that feels high, remember: handmade pottery is not competing with factory ceramics. Your customers want something made by human hands.
- Track every cost: clay, glaze, kiln electricity, packaging, shipping supplies, platform fees
- Pay yourself a fair hourly rate — $20-30/hour minimum for skilled craft work
- Include overhead: studio rent/portion of mortgage, tools, equipment depreciation
- Set wholesale at 50% of retail — never sell wholesale below your cost plus margin
- Revisit pricing every 6 months as your skills and reputation grow
"Don't apologize for your prices. If you made it with your hands and your heart, it's worth what you're asking."
— Stephen Jepson, 93 years old, master potter, Geneva, Florida
Shipping Fragile Ceramics
Shipping is the part most potters dread — but with the right method, breakage rates drop below 1%. The double-box method is the industry standard.
- Inner wrap — at least 2 layers of bubble wrap around each piece, extra padding on handles and spouts
- Inner box — snug fit with packing peanuts filling every gap. The piece should not shift at all when shaken
- Outer box — at least 2 inches of cushioning material on all six sides between the inner and outer boxes
- Shipping carriers — USPS Priority Mail includes $100 insurance. UPS Ground is reliable for heavier packages
- Factor costs in — shipping materials cost $3-5 per order. Build this into your product price or charge a realistic shipping fee
- Breakage policy — always replace broken pieces. It builds trust and most carriers cover the cost through insurance