We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tanner Partain. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tanner below.

Tanner, appreciate you joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?

I spent several years working for a nonprofit called YoungLife. I loved my time there and learned a lot about consistency and courage in trying new things, as a large part of that job was going into junior highs and talking to students, which is still a terrifying thought. However, the more I showed up the better relationships with the school and students I was able to make, and I felt like I was really able to make a difference in my community as a result.

Tanner, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I got into pottery in high school and loved it, but I took a long break as my living circumstances changed and I no longer had access to equipment. A few years ago, my mother-in-law got me a wheel as a Christmas present and I fell in love with pottery again, eventually deciding to quit my corporate job in order to pursue pottery full time.
I love creating beautiful pieces of art that also fulfill a function so the pieces can bring joy every time they are used, whether a spoon rest, a lamp, a yarn bowl, or something totally bespoke for the client.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My resilience was tested early in my life, as I became homeless while I was in high school. Despite this obstacle, I was blessed with opportunities and resources I needed to succeed, so I learned to never take anything for granted and to push through obstacles with the help of my community.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

I primarily sell on Etsy. When I started, I researched the various avenues through which I could sell both online and in person, and Etsy was far and away the most straight forward for me as I started out. The built in user base more than makes up for the fees they take. The time I would otherwise spend marketing can then be used to work on excellent products and try new ideas, which is both more fun and more rewarding .

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @Partainpottery
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-tanner-partain-a62689107?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Image Credits

Avery Partain