Paint-your-own pottery franchise targeting 100 outlets in Europe-wide expansion

The Ceramic Experience, the Edinburgh-based paint-your-own pottery studio franchisor, is fielding calls from all over Europe as it pursues its aim of 50 plus outlets with the next five years and growing to 100-plus outlets within the next ten years.

The four-year-old business currently has five of the upmarket studios across Scotland and England, and is targeting seven new sites this year. Founder Anna St. Clair says that in addition to new sites in the UK, she has had inquiries from Madrid, Florence and Paris for the £45,000 + VAT (or £55,000 + VAT inlcuding VW Beetle) franchises. Last year, more than 50,000 people paid upwards of £2.99 a time to paint a piece of pottery at a Ceramic Experience studio. Celebrity visitors have included the film star Ewan McGregor and the comedian Dylan Moran.

Anna St. Clair developed The Ceramic Experience concept after seeing how successful the American market for paint-your-own pottery was, compared with the rather poky selection of outlets then available in the UK. The Ceramic Experience's factory in Scotland supplies the studios with the 'bisque', the unpainted pottery in a huge variety of sizes and shapes. At the studios, the customers are supplied with everything from stamps and stencils to aprons, brushes, tiles and paint, all of which are non toxic and food safe.

The company offers franchisees full training and ongoing back-up and support. The format includes a cafe along with a soft play area for children. Birthday parties for children are a key market, with each child painting an item either in acrylic (which they can take away with them immediately) or in underglaze, which they can leave to be fired for pick up a day or so later. The studio provides the food and makes all the arrangements. Other markets include hen nights or office get togethers, where customers can bring wine and unwind for an informal and entertaining evening.

• 2 Kilns (1 unit sq. footage approx 6') (1 unit sq. footage approx 3.5')

• Soft play area - to the value of £10,000

• Paints - 5 litres of each of the 15 colours listed in the manual

• 8 Gallons of glaze
• 250 Pots of acrylic paint
• (2oz size)
• 50 plain glazed tiles
• 150 brushes (assorted)
• 30 plain sponges (acrylic)
• 80 x 2oz Paint pots
• 100 x 1oz Paint pots
• 30 Tubes of French dimensions
• (Bumpy Doodles)
• 30 Stilts (assorted)
• 30 Water bowls
• Glaze bucket
• 1 Stilt stone

• Bisque (assorted) - To retail value of £15,000
• 4 Paint tables
• 6 Cafe tables
• 24 Cafe chairs
• 48 Stools

• 14 Double worktop units
• 2 Kitchen sinks
• 1 Handwashing sink
• Fridge
• Freezer
• Dishwasher
• Microwave
• Toastie maker
• Coffee machine
• Slush machine
• Water boiler
• 8 Tea pots
• 50 Coffee cups
• 50 Side plates
• 30 Tea spoons
• 30 Knives
• 30 Forks
• 30 Plastic beakers
• 30 Plastic plates

• A Volkswagon Beetle (1.4l petrol) - Black with daisies Music sound system
• Sage Line 50 accounts software
• 2,000 Flyers/leaflets

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