The pottery business in India plays a vital role in earning foreign revenue and the total GDP.
“A field of clay touched by the genius of man becomes a castle.”
India is known to other countries on the trade route more by its craft than religion and philosophy. Pottery is nothing but a tangible and iconic Indian culture that often signifies ancient history. Its exquisite beauty and elegant features have made pottery, a modern form of Indian decor and utility, not just history. Like all other handicrafts and other arts, the tradition of pottery making is quite old in India. Roots of pottery can be traced back to the Indus valley civilization, Vedic, and also Mughal period. Pottery is pretty famous in most of the Asian countries and is spreading gradually all over the world. History says that India is the essential source and very much responsible for pottery art. Potteries were always in demand since time immemorial for storage and another purpose. There was a time when pottery was the primary source of income for the traditional Indian business class. Hence, the rise of pottery business in India is very evident. Handmade ceramics like a bowl, utensil, vessel, in different colors like was abundantly in demand and always available in India. Gradually pottery became a profession for Indians because of its utility factor.
Pottery Business in India
Pottery making business in India is a beautiful example of the journey covered by an entrepreneur from ‘Mud to Money.’ Pottery in India has evolved over the years into magnificent ceramic art. It is not only a piece of clay for daily utility but is also the most significant factor of the source of income for many. Today entrepreneurs are not just exploring their creative side by manufacturing different pottery patterns but also building their careers based on this creativity. The pottery business in India provides mass employment to the people and the upgraded standard of living. Both the rural and city people comprise the massive workforce in the industry and have contributed tremendously to India’s economy.
The pottery industry comes under the small scale industry of India. Pottery is exported to over 140 countries from India. In the year 2019-20, India has exported pottery worth of 9.97 USD million. The volume of export in 2019-20 was around 5164429.
Among the pottery products shipped from India, the most common ones are chemical porcelains, handicraft art ware, ceramic utensils, etc.
The pottery business in India has helped the budding entrepreneurs to uplift to reduce poverty. Artisans can work in all seasons and can produce craft in their leisure time. The cost incurred for manufacturing pottery items is less as most things are locally available and do not need to be imported. Because of this reason, the industry is classified as a small scale industry or household industry and even called women’s trade. The women can actively participate in the family income by working from home and doing their bit. They can balance their home responsibilities and use them very efficiently. This industry earns from both the domestic as well as international markets. The pottery items are produced in bulk, so the artisans have fulltime work. Capital investment for pottery business in India is less, so artisans can start their own business on a small scale. Demand and supply for the pottery products can be balanced well, as this product could be stored in their respective workspaces and sold whenever required. There is a massive demand for pottery items.
Few characters of pottery industry include:
- The pottery industry is highly decentralized.
- Less complicated in nature.
- Capital requirement is low, and so is the labor.
- Raw materials are readily available in the market in the local area.
- Entrepreneurs are mostly self-employed artisans.
- Simple technologies are used for pottery creation.
- Industry consumes significantly less energy to produce pottery items.
- Mostly pottery manufacturing is non- polluting and eco-friendly.
Once you have the perfect idea of starting a pottery business in India, next raises the need to execute your ideas and plans and implement them in the right direction. There is often more into starting a business than just registering it. We have tried to put together the simple steps to begin your pottery business in India.
These steps will ensure that your new venture is well rolled out, appropriately registered, and is legally compliant in all manners:
Efficient business plan – A clear business plan is vital for the success of a budding entrepreneur. It will help you to mark out the specifics of your business and discover some unknown truths. It will help you analyze the market and plans of the company. A few essential topics are considered before starting the new venture of pottery, like the ongoing and start-up costs of the business, the target audience, the company’s name, location, etc.
Necessary Licenses and permits – Few states demand a specific license be obtained before starting a pottery business without which a business enterprise might end up paying hefty fines or subject to legal actions. Entrepreneurs can directly contact the concerned authorities to know in detail about the necessary license to start the pottery business in India. Businesses operating out of a physical location at times require a certificate of occupancy (CO), which confirms that all the required building codes, zoning laws, and government rules and regulations are necessary.
Business insurance – Just like permits and licenses, business insurance must protect your business from any uncertainty or unseen events. This insurance protects the company’s wellbeing from the covered losses. Various insurance meant for small scale business enterprises include; workman compensation fund, general liability insurance, etc.
Location for the venture – Once you have obtained the necessary licenses and got the insurance done, you must procure a safe place for carrying out pottery business in India. You might prefer to start the business at your home if you are low on budget or can also take any particular workspace on rent for the day to day activities in the pottery business in India. However, if you have decided to open a public studio, you will have several other expenses related to it, like insurance, electricity, rent, etc.
Picking up on necessary equipment and tools – Once you have determined your workspace, there are few types of equipment and tools that you will need to start with pottery business in India like clay, hand tools, colorants, wheels, mud, shelves, work table, kiln, pug mill, etc.
Pottery making process – There are different ways by which artisans are willing to make potteries. Some prefer to make it by hand while some prefer machines, kilns, or other equipment by which it is fired chemically to convert it into a ceramic form—after that, decorated for its final sale.
Sale of the finished product – Last but not the least is how you can put the finished pottery items up for sale. There are myriad ways by which you can sell your products; you can get it listed with the crockery stores, gift shops, and plan to sell it online through various portals, or make your website and be your own master.
Major Market Players of Pottery Business in India
The key market players of the pottery business in India are exhibited below-
- Pelican Pottery
- Hitkari Pottery
- Heritage Pottery
- Venus Industries and Emporium
- Palam Pottery: Manufacturer of Pottery Products
- Blue Art Flower Vases Works
- Jaipur Glass Industry: Producers of the Famous “Blue Pottery”
- Terakots: A Major Manufacturer and Exporter of Black Pottery in India
How to Promote and Sell your Creative Pottery Items?
Developing an efficient marketing strategy for promoting as well as selling creative pottery items is important. Proper promotion and selling creative pottery items may boost your pottery business in India.
- Spread a word concerning your business among your known social circle, friends, relatives as well as neighbours
- Circulate messages reminding folks of your working area as well as your products
- Extend your network. You need to maintain a register in order to formulate a mailing list or a contact list whenever you take part in a function or social event & meet new folks.
- Attend fairs, exhibitions, and art festivals. You will reach a broad audience via these effective mediums.
- Let your customers visit your studio and buy pottery straight out of the kiln.
- Don’t stay in a dilemma to notify your prospective customers whenever you invent a new item or showcase your products at local exhibitions.
- Post pictures of whatever work you’ve done on Instagram, Facebook, and other social media sites. In the current scenario, social media sites are an effective platform to accelerate any form of business, including pottery business in India.
Skills Required for Running a Pottery Business in India
To run a profitable pottery business in India, one must possess entrepreneurial skills more than artistic talent. You must have the ability to balance your artistic skills with an entrepreneurial spirit, ensuring your art makes its way out of the studio and at the global level into a client’s home. Skills such as product development and innovation, marketing, accounting, and sales should be mastered to ensure long-term success.
India’s government has been very supportive of the small scale industries and has initiated several schemes and measures to protect their financial and social interest. The entrepreneurs belonging to all communities can draw benefits from these schemes. Some of the plans under the National handicrafts development program include Ambedkar hasthashilp Vikas Yojana, Research & development, mega cluster program, etc. Free collateral loans to MSMEs under Atma Nirbhar Bharat Scheme.
From the text mentioned above, it is evident that the pottery industry is one of the most critical sectors, especially for developing countries like India. These sectors generate more employment in rural areas and help in the economic development of a nation. The Central and State governments are boosting and supporting this sector through policies. They are all geared up to provide infrastructural support, up-gradation in technologies, reservation of handicraft products, incentives, etc. through its specialized institutions in the form of assistance in obtaining finance, marketing, training, and development. Though this industry has a rich heritage and tradition, the artisans are still in stale condition because of individual components. To improve the overall state of the pottery business in India, we, as an Aatmnirbhar Sena, are at the forefront of helping the budding entrepreneurs identify the various requirements of the manufacturing centers, technological development, and advancement of the centers with help structures. We are also aiding them to conduct a proper review of the industry, analyze the need, gap, and formulating an adequate plan essential for business growth.
Read our article:10+ Manufacturing Business Ideas- All You Need To Know About
