AusBonsai

Hi! I love a nice bonsai pot, but I feel like it’s a niche area which is lacking in online availability in Australia. In this current day of an active pandemic, now is the time to convert small businesses to online stores. I am writing this as I’ve just been to the website of the Australian distributor of Erin pots, and there’s a note that most of their stock is offline. What’s online isn’t categorised so I have to view the entire shop of unrelated items to see all of the pots.

I had a quick google for online shops for Australian potters too, but am not finding much. All that seems to be available in most bonsai websites are the crappy ugly glazed Chinese mame and shohin pots. It would be great if we could have an internet source of lovely unique handmade pots that isn’t eBay or an overseas seller.


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you have a couple of options;

Tracey makes some of the best pots going. If you can't see something on her site just send her a quick email and she will let you know what she has - https://www.murrumbungstudioceramics.com.au/

Huge grant is stocking Australian made pots now including Dennis Allen pots - https://www.treemakers.net/store-containers

Hope that helps. Good luck with you pot hunt

Hi Beano , we potters ( of handmade pots ) find it time consuming and expensive to maintain a website . In my case and that of a couple of other potters each pot is unique, sell that pot and you need to go through the process of photographing another pot and listing it .
In my case , I am happy to send photos of pots and deal direct with people . Other potters also have a presence on Facebook or online ( Luke Parsons and Tracey Francis ) .
My email address is bonsaipotterg1@yahoo.com.au
Cheers
Graham
0428754198

regwac wrote: ↑August 9th, 2020, 1:05 pm Hi Beano , we potters ( of handmade pots ) find it time consuming and expensive to maintain a website . In my case and that of a couple of other potters each pot is unique, sell that pot and you need to go through the process of photographing another pot and listing it .

I've been thinking about this for a little while; I wonder if any Aussie potters would be interested in participating in a central online store? Potters would still be responsible for maintaining a listing of their pots, but wouldn't need to worry about the running of the website itself. Then the only marketing they need to do is make awesome pots rather than get their name out there. There would be a small commission taken (to cover costs rather than to make a profit) with most of the money going straight to the potter.

Not that I have the time at the moment to set anything like this up, but food for thought.

Also just putting it out there: will build websites for pots

Thanks for all the replies! I will have a look.

Re: websites, you can use shopify etc to produce lovely websites with a functioning checkout etc. a few custom tweaks are required to make it ACCC compliant but I started a dropshipping website while on maternity leave and it only took a couple of days learning curve and I had a beautiful published website. It’s closed now as it was drop shipping from China and not profitable during coronavirus given the location of the stock. Shopify charge a fee though, so you’d have to factor that in. I think Wordpress also do similar e-commerce stores. You can use these platforms to build your website without knowing anything about code and website design.


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Keels wrote:you have a couple of options;

Tracey makes some of the best pots going. If you can't see something on her site just send her a quick email and she will let you know what she has - https://www.murrumbungstudioceramics.com.au/

Huge grant is stocking Australian made pots now including Dennis Allen pots - https://www.treemakers.net/store-containers

Hope that helps. Good luck with you pot hunt

Some lovely pots there. Certainly on the list of potentials!!


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You should also check out Luke Parsons of Adelaide Bonsai Pottery. He has a studio you can visit or you can contact him online. He’ll make you a custom made pot and talk you through the process and he’ll deliver anywhere.

https://www.facebook.com/AdelaideBonsaiPottery/

...also have a look at Bonsai Pots By Joann
https://www.bonsaipotsbyjoann.com/

Lots of lovely glazed shohin pots.

I just got two from here http://www.bonsaiisland.net/ an Aussie PK and a German Roman Husmann
Cheers
Kirky

Matt S wrote: ↑August 9th, 2020, 3:13 pm You should also check out Luke Parsons of Adelaide Bonsai Pottery. He has a studio you can visit or you can contact him online. He’ll make you a custom made pot and talk you through the process and he’ll deliver anywhere.

https://www.facebook.com/AdelaideBonsaiPottery/

Yeah Matt is on the money. Luke makes some fantastic pots and his postage is always cheap.

Ooooooo I’m in shopping heaven! Thank you everyone for sharing your sources!


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Some more
Margie Fenn http://www.hachinoki-bonsai.com

Janet Selby https://www.janetselby.com.au/ (by order)

Penny Davis at Mudlark Pottery will post but doesn't seem to be doing bonsai pots at the moment.

Getting back to Erin pottery, if you buy 5 pots at the one time Vic will generally ship them for free, or he used to. He's a lovely guy and very easy to work with. They're just coming to the end of their potting mania time, so hopefully he'll be building up his stocks again.

I have bought from most of the others listed here also, and they've all been top notch. Sadly Marie Hewartson isn't online yet, but she can be contacted by PM here if you'd like to talk about a pot you want.

https://erinbonsai.com/index.php?route=common/home

I can thoroughly recommend Adelaide Bonsai Pottery, Luke Parsons. I have purchased near 10 pots from him during the past 12 months, they are all unique and quite brilliant. Top pots, top guy, give him a phone call and you'll discover how obliging and creative he is.

Beano wrote: ↑August 9th, 2020, 2:17 pm
Re: websites, ... I think Wordpress also do similar e-commerce stores. You can use these platforms to build your website without knowing anything about code and website design.


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Etsy is another one. It seems to be targeted to the more artisanal/small business niche and ease of use for the seller.
At least it's the kind of place I'd think of looking the day I decide to invest in a nice pot (after looking around locally first I guess).

Regarding what they charge exactly, from their website:

It costs €0.16 to publish a listing to the marketplace. A listing lasts for four months or until the item is sold. Once an item sells, there is a 5% transaction fee on the sale price (including the shipping price you set). If you accept payments through Etsy Payments, we also collect a 4% + €0.30 payment processing fee when an item is sold.