What a Weekend! Our First Ever Samples and Seconds Sale

Wow. Just… wow.

Last weekend, we threw open the studio doors for our first-ever Samples and Seconds Sale, and the response was an absolute delight. We were a little nervous about how many people would turn up, but when those first few people arrived on Friday afternoon, closely followed by a crowd that quickly left the studio absolutely buzzing, all our worries melted away.

A Peek Behind the Curtain

It was a real success on so many levels. Not only did we clear much-needed space in the studio (which was the practical goal!), but it was an incredible opportunity for us to connect with you, our amazing customers, face-to-face. Since we mostly sell online, getting the pleasure of chatting with you and seeing your enthusiasm was a true win-win.

We heard so much lovely feedback. For many, seeing the sheer scale and standard of our ceramics production was an eye-opener. To help you understand what goes into each piece, we even set up a little area showing the stages of a piece of clay, from being thrown on the wheel to the biscuit firing, and finally, the glazed firing. The way the pieces transform through the process always fascinates us, and it was great to share that with you.

From Cornwall to the Checkout

One moment that absolutely made my day was meeting a lady who had been following us on social media for a while. She had been on holiday in Cornwall, realised our event coincided with her trip, and made the effort to travel up just to see us! That level of dedication and enthusiasm for what we do is truly humbling.

And the support was incredible! The majority of people who came through the doors purchased, and many even returned for a second time, often bringing more friends with them. Seeing you want to share the experience with others is the most positive sign we could ask for.

The Beauty of a "Second" and Why It Matters

The sale is all about clearing down and making sure beautiful, functional pieces don't end up in landfill. What many people discovered is that our 'seconds' are often not faulty products at all.

• Seconds can be pieces with a minor difference in the colour of the glaze, a slight variation in the glaze's fall, or a small difference in size.

• Samples are trial pieces we experimented with, perhaps playing with a new shape or considering taking it into production, but ultimately deciding against it. Sometimes this is because the piece isn't viable to produce on scale or would take too long to turn a profit (not because we don't love it!).

Giving Stunning Pieces a Home

For us, this event is a crucial part of our commitment to sustainability. These are pieces that are perfectly usable, functional, and frankly, stunning. They simply don't meet the exacting standards required for our online shop. Instead of letting these beautiful, hand-made items go to waste, the Samples and Seconds Sale allows us to connect them directly with people who will cherish them. By giving a home to a 'second,' you are actively helping us keep gorgeous, handmade ceramics out of landfill. It's a win for your home, a win for our studio, and a win for the planet.

It was a joy to hear people say, "I don't understand what was wrong with this piece, it's perfect!" That's the beauty of these events: you get to engage with the ceramics, appreciate the subtle differences, and take home a piece you genuinely adore.

Our oil pourers and tiny planters were clear bestsellers, and we practically sold out of mugs! The trial versions of our newly launched token charms also absolutely flew out the door.

Can’t Get to Us? Don’t Worry!

We had such a fantastic time that this will definitely become an annual event (and perhaps twice in some years!).

We know not everyone could get to the studio, so we’ve been busy sorting the leftover pieces and are preparing a limited release of sample and second boxes for our website. We’ll be dividing the work into:

• Mug Boxes

• Kitchenware Boxes

• Decorative Boxes

These boxes will feature the same heavily discounted prices and will be available for a limited period of time with a specific launch time to give everyone a fair opportunity to grab one of these excellent deals. Keep an eye on our socials for the launch date!

A huge thank you again to everyone who came along and made our first samples and seconds sale such a resounding success!