Why buy handmade?
It's such a difficult topic to talk about as a potter. Well, apart from pricing, which is a whole new level of yuck!
Why buy handmade when seriously, there are mass produced lookalikes all over the place for a quarter (or a tenth) of the price.
Here are my thoughts about what drove me as a consumer, not a maker, pre pottery days, to buy that one off piece I liked -
1. I'd not seen it before, only a few people would have one just like this.
2. I was looking to buy a treasured piece to remind me of that holiday. I even wrote on the bottom with permanent marker "Mt Maunganui 2017".
3. I liked that it was obvious it was hand made by the random spots of glaze, makers mark and weird shape.
4. I felt happy knowing I was buying local in NZ.
5. The stock in store was limited, I felt like I was buying a piece of art.
6. I imagined where I would put it on display in my home, now I love when someone picks it up and asks about it.
7. I use it all the time!
The piece I brought was an oddly shaped ceramic platter that is glazed in colours that remind me of the location I was on holiday at.
I can remember deliberating about whether I should buy it? But it's so expensive?
Five years later, I don't even remember the price. But I do remember the holiday.
That's why I think handmade is so special.
Teresa x