Words: Zena le Roux Images: Supplied
Dandy Pottery Studios offers a variety of weekly classes to assist you in making pottery pieces. These classes can be attended for corporate functions, team building, kitchen teas, baby showers, birthdays or if you are in need of an outlet after a busy day. They also provide training to people wanting to start their own pottery business from scratch. Owner Monique Pienaar tells us more:
How did your business start?
I started the business in March 2016. I was working for a company as a marketing manager when I got retrenched. Feeling a bit panicked I started thinking of things I could do, not to end up in the fast-paced world of 9 to 5 again. I grew up in a pottery environment and studied arts after school, so naturally I thought of pottery as an option and of opening a small studio in our area where I can teach people the art of pottery.
About a year after I opened I received a bunch of calls from women that were burnt out, stressed and in dire need of an outlet. I realised that these classes were much more than just art classes to keep ourselves busy, but rather a break, a healing session to balance out our crazy lives.
We do not provide set things you need to achieve or specific pieces you have to make. We do not have curriculums or tests. You make whatever you want at whatever pace you want. You can even just sit and drink coffee for a whole two hours.
Why did you choose this area to set up shop?
My husband and I moved to Centurion/Midstream in August 2015 just after we got married. About six months later when I started on the idea of a studio, I realised how great our house was set up to accommodate this. The studio was accepted with open arms and I decided to not move the location away from home (for now).
How did you find your premises?
We found the house after specifically looking for something that would suit our needs.
Why are they ideally suited to your business?
As we do a lot of evening classes and it’s mostly women that come to the classes, it’s really important that the environment should be safe. It’s, therefore, a big bonus that the studio is based in an estate. The classes are also very cosy and relaxed, and the environment suits that perfectly.
Who are your neighbours?
We’re lucky not to have any other shops close by, which makes it very peaceful and quiet. We only have residential owners as neighbours.
What are the shop rental/sales prices like in this area?
This area is quite popular, so the prices are a bit more than surrounding areas.
What is your shop footprint?
We usually have one or two classes per day, with an average of eight people per class. We have also recently started with a new ceramic range, Lumikha Ceramics, that I’ll be selling online, as well as from the studio. That will draw some extra people to the studio.
Do you have any expansion plans?
Our long-term plans are to get a studio with a little more space. We are also thinking of franchising Dandy Pottery Studios and to keep offering help and training to new pottery business owners.
Do you operate online as well?
We mostly work and advertise on Facebook and Instagram where we reach clients in the area. We are currently working on our website where we’ll have an online booking system and online shop for ceramics.
What’s your most popular item or service?
Our weekly classes – all the women become friends and have a safe space to enjoy a glass of wine and load off after a busy week. It’s really great to see how far everyone has come and how they improve (our classes is R220 per class or R780 for four classes paid upfront). Our handmade coil pots are also very popular – they are large vessels, handmade and hand-decorated and are something completely new and different.
Dandy Pottery Studios
076 011 9499
dandypottery@gmail.com
