The Maker's Playbook
The Maker's Playbook
Rebecca Ickes Carra
Ep 706: Scaling a Pottery Business with Sarah Wolf (Part One!)
1 hour 15 minutes Posted Nov 22, 2025 at 5:00 pm.
Introduction and Guest Welcome
Balancing a Small Business
Team Dynamics and Flexibility
The Journey to Establishing a Business
Early Life and Influences
Discovering a Passion for Ceramics
Starting a Mug Club and Building a Following
Debating the Ethics of Using Jigs in Pottery
The Struggles of Making a Living from Clay
The Birth of Mug Club
Overcoming Anxiety and Embracing Excitement
Reframing Marketing and Embracing Ads
Starting the Studio in the Basement
The Mercy Corps Grant and Initial Equipment
Navigating Early Production Challenges
Hiring Help and Growing the Team
The Impact of the Pandemic on Sales
Moving to Hood River and Expanding the Studio
Escalation Clause and House Hunting
Winning the House and Writing a Letter
Reflecting on the Podcast Journey
Transitioning Business Operations
Building a Team and Delegating Responsibilities
The Importance of Systems and Guidelines
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Show notes
Send us Fan Mail What if you could grow your business and build a team without becoming a factory—creating a business that values craft, flexibility, and the humans behind the work? In this conversation, Sarah Wolf of Wolf Ceramics shares her journey from studying geochemistry to building an eight-person ceramics studio in Hood River, Oregon. She opens up about the early years working from her parents' basement, the vulnerable decision to hire her first team members, and how the pandemic unex...