After four wonderful years of building this amazing studio, teaching pottery and helping to grow Aotearoa's ceramic community, Thom & I are looking forward to new adventures ahead.
Kiln Studio has been a hugely fulfilling experience, leading to numerous wonderful opportunities, and we’d love to see it continue to grow with a new owner who shares our passion.
If you would like to find out more please request a Prospectus or give me a call.
- Jamie
About Kiln Studio
Kiln Studio is a cozy sun-filled, creative pottery studio in Nelson, New Zealand, where people have been coming to discover clay since 2020.
We’ve created a fun, friendly space where anyone can come to relax, get their hands dirty, and make something beautiful.
From total beginners to experienced potters, our well equipped studio is designed for everyone who wants to explore clay and creativity in a welcoming, down-to-earth setting.
Hi, we're Thom and Jamie, long time mates and the minds behind Kiln Studio.
Potting for almost 10 years now, we both got our start at a Tuesday Night Pottery Class at Auckland Studio Potters with the wonderful Suzy Dünser and Nadine Spalter.
Starting Kiln Studio and then opening Hot Clay Gallery opened the door to all kinds of amazing opportunities—from connecting with the ceramic community and making great friends, to kicking off larger projects like Nelson Clay Week.
Over the past four years, Kiln Studio has grown steadily, thanks to consistent enrolments, a fantastic reputation, and the supportive community we’ve built. Overheads are low, with very reasonable rent for our well-located premises in the Nelson CBD.
We’ve become known in the community as the go-to place for fun, engaging pottery courses, private functions and memberships.
As an owner-operator, you can earn a solid income working about 20 hours a week managing the studio. This leaves plenty of time to create your own work—while the business covers your studio costs—or focus on marketing and expanding the teaching side to boost revenue even more.
If you prefer a more hands-off approach, you can keep our studio manager on board, relax, and enjoy your beautiful new studio (and maybe spend more time on the potters wheel!).
Our studio systems are already in place, so even if you’re new to pottery, this is a business you can absolutely succeed in—with the manager’s help and a little enthusiasm for clay!
Nelson has long been a special place for ceramics, with its roots reaching back to the early days of New Zealand’s craft movement in the 1950s and 60s.
The building we're located in was in-fact built by local madman/potter John Fijn and originally housed Clayworks, a gallery featuring some of Nelson's best potters.
The area became known as a ceramics hub thanks to pioneers like Mirek Smíšek, who helped establish studio pottery in New Zealand, and Crewenna Pottery, one of the early studios that inspired local artisans with its unique work and community spirit.
By the 1970s, Nelson’s pottery community was thriving, with potters gathering in clubs and workshops to learn, create, and celebrate their craft together. Today, Nelson is still a hotspot for pottery, with events like Nelson Clay Week drawing artists from all over the country.
Kiln Studio has been proud to be part of this rich tradition, creating a welcoming space where both new and experienced potters can get inspired and dive into the world of clay.
Our studio offers a variety of pottery classes, from basic wheel throwing to more advanced glazing and hand-building techniques by bringing in knowledge with great external tutors.
We also run special workshops, private classes, and even team-building sessions, so there’s always something new for our community to try.
Students come to Kiln Studio from Nelson and beyond, drawn by our relaxed atmosphere and love for teaching.
Many return again and again, and our new membership program quickly filled up with eager participants.
Our Location: We’re based in one of the most character-filled spaces in Nelson. It’s easy to reach and has plenty of space for classes and members.
The setup is designed for learning, with flexibility to host private functions for up to 25 people.
With great landlords and a good lease with RTR into the future you can feel secure in taking over the space.
Equipment and Supplies: Kiln Studio is a fully equipped studio. With 8 pottery wheels, a 280L kiln, pug mill and all the tools and materials needed to keep classes running smoothly.
It’s a turn-key operation with everything a new owner needs to step in and keep the studio thriving.
For a full-list of everything included in the sale please request a prospectus.
Staff, Structure & Systems: Currently, the studio is owner-operated, with some additional help from part-time resident interns and guest instructors as needed.
This setup allows for flexibility, especially during busy class periods.
A studio manager is currently being trained to take over operations and will aid in any transition.
The majority of our revenue comes from running private classes and courses which are a big hit with both locals and visitors to the region alike.
Group classes, like beginner wheel throwing or much loved 'Date-Night', bring in regular income and keep our membership base engaged with active learners.
We also offer a Members Subscription with 20 members, providing them with open studio access to work independently. This program is consistent, low-maintenance and a reliable source of revenue.
Other income streams include studio rentals, short-term artist residencies, team-building events, kiln hire and specialised workshops, which add variety and attract different audiences to the studio.
For more in-depth financial information please request a prospectus.
Now that Kiln Studio is well beyond the start-up phase, we’ve identified some exciting areas with huge potential for future growth:
Team-Building Events: Our team-building courses have been a standout success, offering the best return for time invested. With systems already in place and no direct competition in the area, there’s a great opportunity to expand this side of the business.
Promoting and growing these events could be the next big step.
Intermediate Classes: Many of our beginner students are ready to take their skills to the next level.
Introducing more intermediate-level classes is a natural progression to meet this demand.
Advanced Workshops: Events like Clay Week have shown us there’s a strong interest in one-off advanced workshops, led by specialist practitioners.
These could be tailored to more experienced potters, offering something unique for the community.
Partnerships and Community Workshops: Collaborating with local businesses, schools, and community groups is another great way to grow and allows you to cross-promote both businesses.
We’ve already built strong connections in the area, making this an easy and rewarding avenue to explore further.
Explore the Online World: The studio is a beautiful set for creating online courses, with the right skills you could create content or a course that earns while you sleep.
Mail out clay packs have also proved popular recently, leveraging the brand to sell these online may be a good move.
After four wonderful years of building this studio and sharing clay, we’re looking forward to new adventures.
The last 4 years have taught us a huge amount about what we're capable of, business and of course clay itself.
Thom is already on the Kāpiti Coast as the resident potter at The Kilns at Te Horo and Jamie is looking to move to the UK to pursue a very exciting opportunity and to have access to the residencies across Europe.
Kiln Studio has been a hugely fulfilling experience, leading to numerous opportunities, and we’d love to see it continue to grow with a new owner who shares our passion.
The sale includes all equipment, materials, the brand we’ve built, and our loyal community.
We’re happy to discuss pricing, part and full purchase and are open to flexible terms for the right buyer/s.
We want the next owner to feel confident taking over, so we’ll provide training and support with everything from class setup to managing studio operations.
Our manager will have a 3-month contract with the incoming buyer to aid in transition or remain on staff to make your life easy as pie.
