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Karoline Menge | Episode 1106
Born in Berlin, Karoline Menge moved to Italy with her partner in 2021. Studied literature and writing, started making pottery in 2015 when she was still at Uni, did small jobs to be able to continue making pottery. Karoline opened her own studio in 2018 and started working full time as a potter. Now Karoline works in her studio in a small village called Bogliasco at the Ligurian coast in Italy
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How do you advertise to tourists coming into town that there are pottery classes?
First of all I publish it on my website; I was told that the classes are very easy to find on Google. So that is really good for getting the word out. Of course I use my Instagram account to advertise the classes. And that is actually all I do.
So most of the people are going to come into town already knowing that you were there?
Yes, it is actually like that. It is actually either followers on Instagram that book my classes, or people who type into Google Pottery By The Sea or something like that. I think I am one of the first websites that they can find.
Do you have a variety of classes or are to teaching the same thing again and again throughout the summer?
I offer two types of classes. One is a weekend class, which is more for people who really want to figure out if they are interested in pottery- if it’s for them. So they have two days of pottery making where I show my techniques that I really like using myself. I give a lot of insights into my own process, and they ask a lot of questions, and there is also a glazing session. And then I have another course now that is new this year. It is a five-day intensive course. I still show the same techniques, but we have much more time to really dig in to the process. The people who have been to my classes already said that they would like to have classes to go on for longer, to just be able to practice for longer.
Does that mean that you get a lot of repeat customers?
Yes. Now that I offer the five day course there are a few that are coming back. I already have had someone that did the weekend course twice. It is a really nice experience to be making pottery with a bunch of really nice, funny people; it is like being with friends and making something nice with your hands.
Do you also offer package deals like hotel, restaurants, and classes?
No. I don’t really have that option. I offer a list on my websites with holiday homes that my students have suggested because they have stayed there and it is nice. So I do offer a bit of help from my side for people to find holiday homes and I give a lot of tips where they can go eat and where are my favorite places and which villages around here they should visit. So I am also a bit like a tour guide.
You mentioned that you live in a vacation town, so when do you start your classes and when do you end your classes?
My first class this year will be mid March, which when I usually start, in March, and then my last class is usually end of September, beginning of October. Because that is the time that I have to start producing for Christmas which always a really busy time. So I really can’t give classes in October/November because I am really busy producing my Christmas stock. But that is also the high season time here from March to September for holidays.
Book
Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Contact
Instagram: @karoundauguste