Glazed Over

On this week’s episode of the Glazed Over Podcast, Vanessa sits down with Crista Toler from Mayco Colors to talk all things paint bar! From setting up an inviting, easy-to-use glaze area to choosing the right products for your customers, this episode is packed with practical tips for pottery and PYOP studio owners. Crista shares insights from her own studio experience, discusses the importance of keeping your paint bar fresh, organized, and stocked with trending products, and breaks down the different types of glazes every studio should understand. Whether you’re building your first paint bar or refreshing an existing one, this conversation is full of ideas to help make your studio more creative, customer-friendly, and profitable.

This podcast interview focused on Ben Clark from Queen City Clay discussing the integration of Paint Your Own Pottery (PYOP) into their 50,000 square foot clay studio. Ben explained how PYOP has been operating for about 9 years and serves as both a gateway for new customers to experience clay and a profitable business component. The studio uses three dedicated kilns for low-fire pottery painting, operates in a 1,000 square foot space with seating for 30 people, and offers seasonal items like Christmas trees and Easter pieces. Ben discussed staffing arrangements, glaze options, and the educational approach to pottery painting, noting that proper sampling and instructional materials were key lessons learned early on. The PYOP area creates a different energy than the main clay studio, more like a social environment where people meet and share experiences, while also helping with diversity in the studio and serving accessibility needs for those with sensory issues or who cannot work with wet clay.

Hillary  Moullilet   of The Creative Retailer joins us to talk about the power of branding in paint-your-own pottery studios and how it shapes the customer experience. Drawing from her journey as a multi-studio owner, Hillary shares how consistent branding goes far beyond logos — it lives in your space, your systems, and your staff. We discuss creating welcoming first impressions, involving your team in delivering your brand, and simple strategies like mystery shopping and brand checklists to stay aligned. This episode is a must-listen for studio owners ready to build a more intentional, cohesive, and memorable business.  

This week on Glazed Over, we sit down with Donna Bordeaux of PYOP Accounting, who has spent more than a decade helping studio owners understand the numbers behind their businesses. Donna explains why every studio owner should think about an exit plan from day one, even if selling feels far away.

We talk about what actually creates studio value — from strong bookkeeping and documented processes to reviews, social media presence, and a transferable brand. Plus, Donna shares practical advice on leases, business valuation, and the systems that make your studio easier to grow and eventually sell.

This week on Glazed Over, we’re joined by Louise Blazucki of Kiln Creations, who shares how she doubled revenue and grew her team after buying the studio on a two-week decision.

We talk about defining your studio’s “why,” building a community-driven team, setting sales goals, and creating operating systems that keep a creative business running smoothly.

If you love the nuts and bolts of studio ownership, this episode is full of practical insights you can use right away.

In this episode, Ammie Williams helps us break down design trends spotted at the Atlanta Market gift show and what they actually mean for pottery studios. From cherries, mushrooms, and nautical themes to oversized hand-built pieces, textures, and earthy tones, we talk through what’s here to stay, what’s evolving, and how to translate trend forecasting into real clay projects.

We also dive into stoneware, cone 6 glazes, mixed media techniques, and why experimentation, not perfection, is what keeps your studio creatively relevant.

In this episode, we talk with Ailene, founder of a four-location paint-your-own pottery studio in Israel (and one in California!), about how social media has shaped her studio’s growth. We discuss Instagram, viral moments, TikTok trends, and why she chose to delegate social media so she could focus on operations. Ailene shares how authenticity, imperfect pottery, and emotional experience—not follower count—are what truly build connection and drive customers through the door.

On this episode of Glazed Over, Vanessa sits down with Stephanie McGinnis from Ceramics in the City in Denver to dive deep into one of the most impactful revenue opportunities for PYOP studios. They talk through everything you really need to know to make memberships successful - from marketing and pricing, to managing members, creating a dedicated studio space, and setting clear expectations that keep both staff and members happy.

This episode is packed with practical, real-world insight for studio owners who will want to add consistent income while building a stronger clay community. If you’ve been curious about memberships but unsure where to start (or how to avoid pitfalls), this episode is for you!

Kathy Cano-Murillo — the brilliant mind behind Crafty Chica — joins us to share her creative journey from a 1996 passion project to a nationally recognized brand. She breaks down how one beloved ceramic platter sparked her career and why targeting multiple communities is the key to long-term growth. We dive into her strategies for branding, newsletters, trend-spotting, and protecting your creative work through trademarks. This episode is packed with heart, humor, and practical advice for any studio owner or creative entrepreneur looking to expand their impact.

In this bonus episode of Glazed Over, we’re excited to officially introduce Vanessa Steele as a new moderator of the show. Vanessa shares her journey from restaurant management in Arizona to opening an art buffet in Pennsylvania, then growing into a pottery-focused business, and eventually settling in South Carolina. We talk about transitioning into a PYOP studio, teaching clay classes, and how education and community shape everything she does.She also shares what’s next, including upcoming clay events and her Teaching Clay subscription. This episode is a chance to get to know Vanessa and what she brings to the future of Glazed Over.