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Karishma Rodrigues | Episode 556

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How do people reach out to you to buy a piece?

Thank you first and foremost. What happens is a lot of people start following because their friends have recommended it or they have sen a picture somewhere. And if someone likes a piece they send me a message or if I want to sell something I put them up on the stories and if someone really wants it they will send me a message saying, I want this piece or how much is the price for that piece. I do not type the prices on my posts, so if someone is really, really interested they either respond to the post or the story and that is the first step. I always recommend if they are in Mumbai they come over and have a look at it personally because that way they get a touch and feel of it. I think it is such a personal thing if someone comes and has a look at it they are more likely to buy it that way. That is one way. And the second is the market. Instagram is a really, really nice tool for all of this. People keep sharing it, I have a lot of friends who keep sharing. They keep sharing any event I have and any piece I am selling. Last week , a girl, it was her birthday and she put the piece on her stories and said please buy this for me.  And one of her friends actually bought it and I had six new followers because of her.

Say they are not able to come to the store and you have to ship it to them. How do you get the payment for a piece?

People usually transfer wire or a bank transfer. I haven’t started shipping abroad yet, so as of now it is just India. I have a couple of courier services over here. I pack it with this giant bubble wrap that I have. Newspaper and bubble wrap and it’s good to go.

Do you ever suffer from loss from packaging during shipping? Do things break?

Only once. I think that was the first time I sent something. Since then I have never had an issue. They are really strong so they don’t really break unless someone puts something or throws it.

Let me ask you about the first time you sent something on Instagram. Did that shock you?

Yes, very surprised because that person, I was her biggest fan. So for her to buy something, she’s a food blogger and I was very happy because she didn’t just buy one piece. She bought six pieces and I was really happy. And they are all on display in her studio.

No way.

Yup, my first exhibition was at her food studio.

Is she in Mumbai
Yes, she is in Mumbai

Instagram has a global reach. Do you have people from outside of the country asking to purchase your work?

Not yet. I have friends and family who really love it and want me to ship but I have not found a reliable courier service yet that would take it there safely. So whenever they are in town they just pick up what they would like.

Do you have a booth that you set up with shelves when you sell at markets?

So most pottery markets, since there are lots of potters in Mumbai today, they are hand-picked. So an association hand-picks about 20 potters and the venue has tables, so we can get our own shelves if we want. So we get like two tables with a chair so everyone gets the same thing. And then you can decorate it the way you want to. Some people like to hang their pieces, they have stands for them. So someone has a big stand or a big rack in which they keep their articles. Everyone is free to do what they want.

My last question for you is: What do you do when you aren’t doing pottery? What is your favorite non-pottery activity?

Reading or watching sit-coms. That is where I get all the silly jokes from. I actually mix both, so I am watching a Grey’s Anatomy while I am throwing a bowl or I am reading most days.

Book

Mastering the French Art of Eating by Ann Mah

Contact

Instagram: @karish_rodrigues