Ryan & Becca finally get to a question that has been left unanswered for a while now: pros and cons of selling on your own website vs an Etsy shop. There is a lot to this topic but we hope to cover a number of angles to be considered before decided what's right for your situation. Selling online is a great source of revenue and we encourage you to open up your business to the wider customer base that comes with sharing your work on the internet. Whether you're just starting out or a pro, we ...
Jul 24, 2021•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 103
Ryan and Becca give some insights about recycling your mountain of clay scraps effectively. They recap how they have handled reclaim in the past, what they do now, and what you should consider adapting to your situation. The price of new clay, time invested/lost by recycling, clay consistency, and studio spacing are a few factors to consider. Resources: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CRgvplFi372/ (Florian Gadsby) https://www.instagram.com/reel/CM8FV5ZFxf6/ (Joel Cherrico) Listener Questions On t...
Jul 21, 2021•40 min•Ep. 102
Ryan and Becca answer a question about handle making and share their experience with various handle making processes. There's no one handle technique that fits all mug styles but it's good to break down how and why you make handles the way you do. Listener Questions On this episode: - I’m switching from extruded cut and placed handles to pulled from the cup handles Matthew Kelly changed my mind, so what do you prefer; attached handles or Pulled from the cup (heavy pull pieces then attached to th...
Jul 17, 2021•37 min•Ep. 101
Ryan & Becca share some of their favorite moments from the first 100 episodes. This is the first of multiple “best of” episodes since we couldn’t fit everything into just 2 hours. Thanks for all of the support these past 100 episodes & here’s to the next 100! Listener Questions Send us questions so we can answer anything you've been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com . Support the show on Patreon: h...
Jul 10, 2021•2 hr•Ep. 100
Ryan & Becca break down what makes a great show after Ryan gets back from his 2 day show in Louisville, KY. A number of factors are accounted for when determining whether you may want to participate in a show for the first time or return in the future. Don't base your reasons entirely on sales, but think about all that went into your experience beforehand, during, and after your show. These days, we tend to put more weight into our personal interactions than we may have earlier on in our car...
Jul 03, 2021•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 99
Ryan & Becca answer a question from our MVQ (Most Valuable Questioner) @aleathabean about how we analyze inspiration vs. 'claygiarism.' How do you draw the line of making based on inspiration vs. copying someone else's work? How do you react to someone copying your work? Have you ever been accused of copying another person's work? This is a pretty open ended discussion today, covering some important questions to ask yourself as you grow & share your work in this current time of social me...
Jun 26, 2021•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 98
Becca spends the day in the studio with her clay friend of 8+ years, Val Flynn of Val Flynn Pottery in Snohomish, Washington. They chat about building a new studio from scratch, experimenting with new forms, pricing your work/worth, and learning to grow her pottery business. Thanks for having us in your studio Val! Resources from today's episode: Flammable Entrepreneur ----- Find more about Val below----- Instagram - @valflynnpottery Website - https://valflynnpottery.com/ Facebook - https://www....
Jun 19, 2021•53 min•Ep. 97
Ryan & Becca are back for a fourth question and answer episode covering topics in clay, small business, personal, and some off-the-wall questions. These are always enjoyable for us to record and we hope you love them as well. Thanks to everyone for submitting their questions via Instagram this time around! Listener Questions Send us questions so we can answer anything you've been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcas...
Jun 12, 2021•2 hr 18 min•Ep. 96
Ryan & Becca sit down for a conversation with Link Henderson, owner of Kentucky Mudworks & Dirty Girls Pottery Tools, to go in depth about clay & tools. We learn how Kentucky Mudworks begun almost 20 years ago and how Dirty Girls Pottery Tools came about. We also answer a number of listener questions related to finding the right clay body for you, reclaiming clay, properties of various clays, and studio cleanliness. We hope you enjoy Link's entrepreneurial spirit, vast knowledge in o...
Jun 05, 2021•2 hr 3 min•Ep. 95
Ryan and Becca answer a question that has come over multiple times: how to quality test your pottery. We cover a number of testing methods to ensure your work is safe for food or drink & resistant to high stress situations. Enjoy and run a few of these tests on your own work to feel more confident in your finished products that are purchased by customers. Resources: Shrinkage/Absorption Test - Digitalfire In the Studio: Testing Durability - Ceramic Arts Network Thermal Shock Failure Test - D...
May 29, 2021•34 min•Ep. 94
Ryan and Becca are trying out a shorter episode today to answer a listener question in depth about the profit potential between various items. There are many factors that go into pricing your work and just because you have a larger form doesn't mean it has to be less profitable. Supply and demand play a big factor as well when you're deciding how to price your work appropriately for the market willing to buy it. We hope you enjoy this new 30 minute format that will be released on occasion. Get a...
May 26, 2021•30 min•Ep. 93
Ryan and Becca go into a candid conversation about money and financial planning as individuals & small business owners. Topics covered include: our thought process when spending/saving money, debt, budgeting, retirement, how to pay yourself as a small business owner, and some other general topics related to money. It was a bit scattered, but talking about money with tact is necessary among our peers when trying to learn from one another or challenging our own notions. Get a FREE Sticker! Sub...
May 22, 2021•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 92
Ryan & Becca chat with another good friend in clay, Heidi Fahrenbacher from Bella Joy Pottery. She graciously shares some great insights about slip casting, wholesale, stressful art shows, pricing your work, a viral Instagram post, mental health, small business finances, & things to be happy about. We also wrap up with a new "What would you do if?" segment. Thanks so much to Heidi for joining us, all the laughs, and all of you for listening! ----- Find more about Heidi's business below--...
May 15, 2021•2 hr 9 min•Ep. 91
Ryan and Becca go deep into a couple listener questions about the ins and outs of opening/running a brick & mortar business. Lots of variables factor into your decision making: location, store hours, must haves for the space to get it open, what offerings you want (classes, retail gallery, paint your own pottery, etc), how to structure classes, marketing the business, and more. Thanks for listening! Resources How to Start a Clay Painting Studio article Sketch Art Workshop - @asketchyartworks...
May 08, 2021•1 hr 52 min•Ep. 90
Ryan and Becca try out a new segment on this episode called "What would you do if?" before moving on to the today's topic. Afterwards, they discuss multiple facets of having others help you in your studio/business. Questions answered relate to: when you should consider getting help, where to find help, what tasks are best to get help with, how to hire the right person, how to pay them, different motivation considerations, and insurance considerations for having help in the studio. Get a FREE Sti...
May 01, 2021•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 89
Ryan & Becca sit down for a much anticipated conversation with Leigh Anne Thompson, owner of Elan Pottery & Elan Transfers. She's sharing all the things with us: balancing multiple revenue streams, fulfilling large quantities of orders, managing a team, scaling her business over the years, reclaiming clay, social media personas, renaissance faire life, and some personal stories as well. Thanks so much to Leigh Anne for joining us! ----- Find more about Leigh Anne's businesses below----- ...
Apr 24, 2021•2 hr•Ep. 88
Ryan and Becca answer more art show questions our listeners submitted through Instagram! This is part two of two, and we mostly cover our booth setups over the years, progressing throughout the show itself, selling tactics, and a few random questions to close it out. Thanks for all the good questions about art shows and I'm sure this isn't the last time we'll cover this topic. Good luck if you're selling at shows this season! Resources to find art shows: https://festivalnet.com/ https://www.artf...
Apr 17, 2021•2 hr•Ep. 87
Ryan was recently a guest on a podcast "How to Build a Business with Chandler Lyles." We talk about how Ryan started his business, running his business on Etsy, and looking forward to his challenges this year. Listen to this conversation at the links below: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/002-how-to-build-an-etsy-shop-on-the-side-w-ryan-durbin/id1522862963?i=1000507566466 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0fTw0oDwTxItn3WWYBWdMo YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch...
Apr 14, 2021•2 min
Ryan and Becca answer a ton of art show questions our listeners submitted through Instagram! This is part one of two, but these mostly cover topics related to finding the right shows for you in your area, preparing for your scheduled art shows, and a few random questions. We'll be back next week to answer the last of your art show questions. Recent Workshop Becca Recommends: Danny Meisinger - https://www.spinningearthpottery.net/ https://www.instagram.com/dannymeisinger/ Resources to find art sh...
Apr 10, 2021•2 hr 7 min•Ep. 86
Ryan & Becca sit down with Lindsey M. Dillon and Donte from Earth Nation Ceramics who co-host The Mud Peddlers Podcast to chat about podcasting, social media, selling our work, and some rapid questions at the end. We're so happy to share some time among fellow clay artists in familiar & different positions to ours to glean great insights and entertaining banter. We hope you enjoy! ----- All the things about Lindsey and Donte----- The Mud Peddlers: Ceramic Art Behind the Scenes podcast A...
Apr 03, 2021•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 85
So...we don't know what happened. Ryan & Becca start out discussing how innovation/creativity and maintenance factor into running a small business. Then they go off on a tangent about getting art degrees in ceramics and it's shortcomings. We had a fun conversation nonetheless, with some good discussion about our college experiences related to our art curriculum & it's shortcomings. P.S. Sorry about the background sound of Ryan's laptop fan you hear throughout the episode. We'll improve t...
Mar 27, 2021•1 hr 58 min•Ep. 84
Ryan & Becca go very deep into all the facets of packing and shipping your work for online sales. Topics range from materials for wrapping your work, space filling materials, boxes, labels, shipping services, and costs involved throughout. We've broken a number of pieces in the past so we share some do's and don't on the packing front. Enjoy and let's help you improve your packing and shipping process! We'd love your feedback on our anonymous listener survey: https://forms.gle/JYZLYWBbbYeqNv...
Mar 20, 2021•2 hr 21 min•Ep. 83
Great Scott!! Ryan and Becca get together one more time to answer a series of your social media questions. We cover a number of topics, including: differences between Facebook, Instagram, & Pinterest, selling on various online platforms, using social media to grow an audience, and what to focus on to help your growth long-term. We thank you for all of your great questions. Keep sending us more for future discussions, social media related, process, small business, or otherwise. We'd love your...
Mar 13, 2021•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 82
Ryan & Becca discuss tips to improve your production process. Becca's years of throwing production style work and recent position working in a production studio provide a lot of suggestions for today. Efficient production involves many factors and we cover a number of them, including hand positions, water usage, steps you may be able to skip, wheel speed, and more. Listener Questions On this episode: - What’s the best way to learn production techniques? - What is the name of that device in t...
Mar 06, 2021•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 81
Ryan & Becca answer a listener question about determining what forms to make for your customer base as you hit your stride selling. Also, how do you get past the insecurity about making too much of something that may not sell? Can you even make too much of something? Listener Questions On this episode: - If Ryan was a full time potter, how many pots could he throw in a month? - How much will Ryan have to sell in pottery for him to quit his day job? 100k? Send us questions so we can answer an...
Feb 27, 2021•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 80
Ryan & Becca discuss the always challenging topic of pricing. There is no right way that works for everyone, but we can guide you with some things to consider as you go about pricing your body of work. Whether you take a more mathematical approach by listing out costs to produce vs calculating based on the supply & demand of your target market. We also address the questions: where do you start with setting a price, when is your price too low/high, when to raise your prices, how long do y...
Feb 20, 2021•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 79
Ryan & Becca are back for another question and answer episode with clay, small business, & personal questions. You all provided most of these questions via Instagram and we appreciate it! Enjoy, have some laughs, and get to know us a little more. Listener Questions Send us questions so we can answer anything you've been thinking about on a future episode. Send those through Instagram @wheeltalkpodcast or email us at wheeltalkpodcast@gmail.com . We have a website where you can support the...
Feb 13, 2021•1 hr 58 min•Ep. 78
Becca joins Ryan for part two of answering more of your questions about social media. We cover a number of topics, including: the algorithm, hashtags, social media and mental health, post frequency, time commitments, Instagram Stories, and Instagram Reels. We thank you for all of your great questions. Keep sending us more for future discussions, social media related, process, small business, or otherwise. Listener Questions Send us questions so we can answer anything you've been thinking about o...
Feb 06, 2021•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 77
Ryan & Becca start the show off with a new clay podcast recommendation for you: The Mud Peddlers, hosted by Lindsey M. Dillon & Donte from Earth Nation Ceramics. Check them out and spread the love for our fellow clay podcasters. On today's episode, Ryan & Becca look back at 2020 goals and results, with real numbers. Afterwards, they look ahead to 2021 and discuss some changes that may be necessary as Becca starts her new job as a production potter in Indianapolis and Ryan aims to gro...
Jan 30, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 76
Becca is officially a Hoosier after her move across the country from Monroe, Washington to Indianapolis, Indiana! We welcome her back, discuss some funny stories from her trip, and get back into the swing of things. The topic for today involves how you decide what boundaries to set when sharing through social media, including finances, personal life, or other areas you may wish to keep more private to strangers on the internet. Some of this more transparent content can draw some positive engagem...
Jan 23, 2021•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 75
