FAQ
This is a long page, but I hope you can find the answer you're looking for! If not, please feel free to send me an email to bookwormpotteryco@gmail.com--I'll get back to you as soon as I can :)
Q: Where are your studios?
Bookworm Pottery & Co. is located inside the DesignWorx building in The Cargo District of Wilmington, NC. You can enter the building through our 16th St entrance with the large garage door or our 17th St entrance (through The Fuzzy Needle during their open hours). We are in the green unit at the end of the hall with all of the plants and pottery wheels.
The Cozy Bookwyrm is located inside the Yoga Salt unit in The South Front District of Wilmington, NC. You can enter from the parking lot through the back stairwell (located beside the dumpsters) to enter our private patio entrance, or via the elevator through the shared lobby during Cafe Mata's open hours.
Q: Where can I park when I visit?
For the Bookworm Pottery & Co. studio, there is free parking in the gravel lots beside Alcove Beer Garden and Cheesesmith, as well as along Queen St, 15th St, and 17th St. There is also paid parking in the Carpet Smart lot next to our building's 16th St entrance. Please do NOT park in the Family Dollar lot next to the DesignWorx building, as we do not own that lot. It's a short lovely stroll through the neighborhood with local coffee, food, and shops along the way :)
For The Cozy Bookwyrm studio, there is a free parking beside our building (behind Butcher & Barrel) and across Greenfield St (next to the apartments). There is also free street parking along S 2nd St and Willard St.
Q: What is your turnaround time for finished pieces?
For classes where you are learning how to create something from scratch (such as a wheel-throwing course or sculpting workshop), it can take up to 6 weeks for your pottery to make it through the process. For Paint-Your-Own-Pottery, it can take up to 3 weeks for your pottery to make it through the firing process. We endeavor to get your creations back to you as soon as possible.
Q: Why don't you have a 24/7 contact person?
We are a very small local studio. To keep prices as affordable as possible, we cannot afford a 24/7 call center to handle customer support requests (and we want you to be able to talk with a real human, not AI). Due to the disruptive nature of phone calls during classes, our preferred method of contact is email. As we grow, it is our hope to be able to hire on additional help to be more readily available for questions that cannot be answered via this FAQ page. We greatly appreciate your patience and kindness when contacting us.
Q: Do you offer pottery painting?
Yes! We offer pottery painting specifically at our Cozy Bookwyrm location. For more information, please visit our pottery painting page here.
Q: What kind of class should I take?
We try to have a little something for everyone! However, we understand that having so many options can be a little overwhelming. I wrote a blog post here that briefly breaks down each type of class so you can choose what works best for you <3
Q: Do I have to physically be in Wilmington, NC to take a class?
Yes, for now. However, I am working on online lessons that you can purchase. Stay tuned!
Q: If I'm visiting from out of town, will you ship my pottery once it's finished?
Yes, absolutely! Once you receive your pickup email, please send us an email with your shipping address, name(s) on the pottery created, and pictures of your creations. Shipping is usually anywhere from $10-$25 in the USA. Once a shipping quote is provided, you will be asked to pay either through Venmo or email invoice. Our turnaround time is approximately one week, but if there are any unexpected delays, please kindly follow up with us (we are not purposefully withholding your pottery--we are simply human and sometimes requests flood in all at once).
Q: I'm visiting from out of town--where should I stay?
We highly recommend the Airbnbs from Brick and Barley. Each one is tastefully curated, and they love supporting local businesses. You can learn more about their accommodations here.
Q: I only see classes for this month--will you release more?
Yes! Classes are released one month at a time to keep things fair for everyone hoping to participate in some. All upcoming classes will release approximately one week before their corresponding month. Please subscribe to our email newsletter to get notified of new class releases (and receive exclusive discounts).
Q: Do you have a waitlist for classes?
My Shopify theme currently does not have a waitlist function, so I do not have a waitlist system at this time. Any potential last-minute openings (if any) will be posted on my Instagram @bookwormpottery or @thecozybookwyrm. If you weren't able to make it into a class, no worries! We'll have more the next month :)
Q: Do you offer private classes?
Yes! We offer private classes for groups of 4-10 (wheel-throwing) / 4-20 (hand-building) / 4-24 (painting). We are typically the most available on weekdays before 6pm for private classes, but occasionally have evening openings. For more information, please see our Private Classes page and email us for availability. For Private Clay Dates for Two, please see that listing here.
Q: Do you offer classes for corporate events, team-building activities, retirement events, bachelorette parties, or other similar workshops for larger groups?
Yes! We would be delighted to lead a workshop catered to your group. Ticket prices are determined on a case-by-case basis depending on the number of people participating. We can either host the workshop at the studio, or we can come to your organization for a travel fee. Please visit our Private Classes page and email us at bookwormpotteryco@gmail.com for more information.
Q: What are your Date Night classes like?
Our Pottery Wheel Date Night classes are fun experiences for up to 5 couples at a time! Tickets include space for 2 people. Each person gets their own wheel to work on and the opportunity to make up to 2 pieces each while being guided by a skilled instructor. At the end of the class, you'll receive a polaroid picture of you and your partner to commemorate the occasion. This is a wonderful experience for those just looking to dip their toes into pottery or have a lovely night out with their partner, sibling, parent, or friend. We typically offer Date Nights every Friday and Saturday. You can sign up here.
Q: Do you offer refunds or exchanges?
All sales are final. We do not offer refunds or exchanges, nor are classes or studio time able to be refunded, prorated, or exchanged if you cannot attend after purchasing your ticket (treat this like you would a nonrefundable concert ticket). You may, however, regift or resell your ticket(s). If there is an extenuating circumstance like a death in the family, please reach out before your class to see what we can do.
Q: Do you offer open studio time for people just wanting to play with clay?
Yes! We offer monthly Independent Studio Time memberships for folks who have completed a 6-week wheel course with us at Bookworm Pottery & Co. This helps get you acquainted with the studio rules and gives us the chance to get to know you before letting you work independently in the studio. Due to unfortunate circumstances, there are no exceptions to this rule.
Q: Why isn't there always pottery on your site?
With handling all social media, studio management, product creation, shipping, event planning, and more, it's challenging to have stock ready at all times. Each piece is also made by hand, which is a slow process. When work is available, I update my Instagram and Facebook with announcements regarding online updates and upcoming markets. I'd be honored if you followed me @bookwormpottery and @thecozybookwyrm! :)
Q: What happens if my package is lost or damaged in transit?
Unfortunately, what happens to your purchase after we have passed it along to the post office is out of our hands. Any claims should be made between you and the postal carrier. However, if your purchase arrives damaged due to the shipping carrier, please email us no later than 3 days after you have received your package and include pictures of the damage so we can discuss any potential replacements.
Q: What are your shipping processing times?
Your order will typically be processed within 7 business days before shipment. If it has not been processed in that time, please follow up at bookwormpotteryco@gmail.com.
Q: How do I care for my new Bookworm Pottery piece(s)?
All Bookworm Pottery pieces are microwave, dishwasher, and food safe, unless otherwise noted in the product description. For maximum life, it is recommended to hand-wash your pieces and to refrain from introducing extreme changes in temperature to reduce thermal shock. If you have any issues with your pottery, please email me at bookwormpotteryco@gmail.com.
Q: Do you attend in-person events outside of the studio?
Yes! All events that we will be attending will be announced on the home page and on my Instagram.
Q: Do you take commissions, customs, or wholesale orders?
I currently am not accepting any new custom or wholesale orders. My top recommendations from the studio are Nicole with Earth & Empathy Ceramics, Alexis with Mintz Ceramics, and Christine with Teenie Pots for custom order inquiries.
Q: Are you currently hiring?
We are not currently hiring. Any open positions will be posted on my social media if/when they open. However, you may inquire about internships for school credit!
Q: What is your experience in ceramics?
I have been creating pottery since 2017. I studied ceramics at UNCW and have been teaching since 2021. I have a strong passion for beginners and truly want everyone to be able to experience the joys of pottery in a welcoming space. My small team is made up of like-minded, kind, and dedicated instructors. We're honored that you chose our studio to learn from! Thank you for being you :)