WooHoo! SO...you want to open a PYOP studio! Congratulations on taking the first step to fun and success! The BI Crew is here to help you through this journey.
Ceramics have been around for for thousands of years but the PYOP studio has evolved into a popular destination. Painting pottery is an entertainment option for many people. Whether it be an outing with the family or getting a few friends together for a paint night the PYOP industry creates everlasting memories!
Your customers will love coming into your studio - all your worries will fall away when you see their happy smiles. Our team exists to help you succeed. By equipping you with the best products and services in the industry, we can help to simplify this entire process.
Why BI?
We've been in your shoes. Our team of seasoned professionals know firsthand what it takes to open and manage a successful studio. We're here to guide you, answer questions, and be a support during the first year and beyond. In fact, every member of our new studio training team has either owned a studio, or worked in one themselves! Visit the Meet the Team tab to learn more.
Your studio is more than just a number to us; we want to know you and grow with you. It's this same approach that allows us to maintain such fantastic relationships with our customers. In fact, our customers have voted us the top supplier in the industry, five years in a row.
Here's how we can help you get started.
Whether you peruse our Resources tab, sign up for an upcoming class or simply give us a call, there's no limit to what BI can help you accomplish in your first year and beyond.
Let our team guide you through the important questions with real solutions:
- What type of location should I choose?
- Tips for tackling your business plan and budget
- Which product lines should I carry?
- Which paints and glazes do I want to open with
- How should I price my products?
- What are the studio best practices?
- How do I market my studio?
- How should I find and train great staff?
And plenty more! Let's get started today!
PS--check out this blog post to read "The 9 Things I wish I'd Known Before I Opened my PYOP Studio"
When you join the BI family, you gain the unrivaled support of our team. While each member of our team is always happy to help you, we've built a strong team of advisors specifically geared towards helping you get started. Meet the team below.
New Studio Training
Are you in the planning stages of opening your studio, or have you opened within the last six months? You're not alone. At this very moment, there are others on the exact same path as you. Making heavy decisions, putting in the hours, doing the research...it can all start to feel overwhelming if you try to tackle it yourself. The great news is, you don't have to go it alone.
Wherever you are in your journey to opening day, the team at Bisque Imports can help you get there! Schedule a B3 : BI Business Builder right in your studio! This ground breaking two day course will lead you through the fundamentals of opening and managing a successful studio.
Our unique training program will help you gain confidence in the following areas:
- Funding
- Writing your Business Plan
- Location & Studio Layout
- Budgeting
- Painting
- Glazing
- Kiln operation
- Marketing & Social Media
- Staffing
- Operational Procedures
- and more.
In addition, attendees will enjoy a significant discount on their opening order with BI.
Forget the generic and out of touch business seminars of old; B3 tackles crucial topics at a granular level. By the end of our course, you'll have real solutions to the questions you have--and a plan to put those solutions into motion. From your opening day to your 10th anniversary, we look forward to partnering with you every step of the way.
What People Are Saying
I opened B Creative Painting Studio May 31, 2014. Not knowing anything about paint, glaze loading a kiln etc... Tina helped me step by step without Tina's help I don't know where I would be. I went with Bisque Imports because of the customer service and the support I received from Tina, she taught me everything I needed to know and still answers my quirky questions. I can count on her and she definitely has my loyalty!
Warmly,
Bernadette Blauvelt
B Creative Painting Studio
Wesley Chapel, FL
I had the pleasure of meeting Tina at CeramaJam in March, 2014. I was still trying to decide if opening a studio was the right decision for me. Tina was instrumental in answering all my questions at all times of the day and night. My husband and I decided to move forward with opening The Pottery Factory in April. Tina provided detailed information on what we would need to order to open the studio, made recommendations on the kilns that would best fit our needs and provided suggestions on a basic glass startup. As we moved forward with our startup Tina made a much appreciated stop in our studio and did an impromptu glass demonstration with some of my new hires. They were hooked instantly which is when I realized how fantastic she was at instructing. We made the decision to bring Tina in for 2 full days of training with our entire staff. She went through everything from painting techniques, brush selection, mixing the glaze, dipping, loading the kiln and unloading the kiln. Once again the staff thoroughly enjoyed Tina's glass class. We went through 3 different projects and the pieces turned out beautiful. My staff now has the confidence to help customers with glass selection, walk through basic glass cutting techniques and can fuse and slump their pieces with minimal assistance from me. I can't express the value in the 2 days that Tina spent with us. It gave me the confidence to open my doors on August 16th a mere 5 months after we decide to open our store with absolutely no prior experience in the industry. I know that Tina is always there to answer my question, be supportive and provide some comic relief when needed.
Bettie Ann Feeley
The Pottery Factory
Brookfield, CT
When I first danced around the idea of adding glass to my studio I asked my peers for their guidance. Immediately, Tina Roberts from BI reached out to me, offering her assistance. I have asked countless questions, sometimes the same questions twice, and each time Tina has immediately given an answer (even on evenings and weekends). From how much glass I would need to what kiln I should buy, from what containers I need to how to display them, Tina has had a viable answer and tremendous patience.
Debra Bracco
Fired Up Pottery Studio
Pittsburgh, PA
It has been a pleasure to work with Tina Roberts from Bisque Imports as a consultant when opening my own paint your own pottery business. She knows the business side as well as creative end of this business, which is invaluable to someone who is in the process of opening their own store. Her advise to me on my many "what to do next" questions were always a huge help. Tina is a pleasure to work with who is never more than a phone call or email away, and I would highly recommend her to anyone who is looking to start a paint your own pottery shop.
Anne Carlin
The Crafter's Table
St. James, NY
Tina has been a great resource to me while opening my first paint-your-own-pottery studio. Not only was she available for product questions, but she was more than happy to answer any questions I had regarding opening my own studio. Trust me, there were a lot of questions! I never sensed that she was annoyed with my constant questions, and her responses are always super quick. Her knowledge as a prior studio owner is priceless. I would definitely recommend Tina for any PYOP questions, advice, or feedback you need.
Sincerely,
Joy L. Jenkins
P.Y.O.P. Utah, Owner
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