Wow. If I’m being candid, it’s been kinda wild watching what’s happened in the local pottery world since The Clay Hole opened. A lot of energy, a lot of chatter, a lot of… “creative borrowing” by other studios shall I say?
And honestly? That tells me something’s working here. People don’t copy things that don’t work.
Here’s the thing, though… this part of Utah is big enough for every kind of pottery experience. And all of it should exist here.
Not everyone wants what we offer. Some want a tiny studio tucked away with a handful of folks. Others want a place that leaves them alone completely. Others want a buzzing creative hub like ours. That’s the beauty of it. When studios lean into their own thing, the community as a whole wins.
If everyone runs the same playbook, things get boring in a hurry. And clay deserves better than boring because it’s anything but.
When someone comes to The Clay Hole and realizes we’re not their fit, I happily point them to other studios and pottery business models. The goal’s not to hoard pottery lovers. It’s to grow the community.
The more studios thriving around here, the louder pottery’s heartbeat gets in this valley. A rising tide lifts the lids on all kilns, don’t you agree?
So if you’re another Utah studio and you’re watching this… I encourage you to do YOUR thing instead of trying to do ours. Loudly. Unapologetically. Don’t try to be us. That’s already taken.
I didn’t build The Clay Hole to be the only studio around. I built it to be my dream studio and to find my people. It’s not the studio for everyone and I’m not everyone’s cup of tea.
So, yeah, I felt like making this reel because we’ve got this little signup deal to try it for thirty bucks right now. It’s kind of insane but we have faith in people wanting to stay long term. But yes, some local studios are copying that deal. Like, exactly. But offering that was never about competing. It’s about giving people a simple way to get their hands into some clay and see what makes this place feel different.
If our members find their fit somewhere else? Good. More hands in mud. That’s a win.
We don’t have to dim each other’s kilns to burn bright individually.
Let’s make pottery in Utah something impossible to ignore because it’s only gonna help everyone who tries it find community, friends, an awesome hobby, and a chance to really find themselves by getting their hands dirty.
