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Last Updated:

18 August 2024

Crafty Monkey Studio Terms

By visiting Crafty Monkey Studio, you agree to abide by these terms and conditions below:



1. Studio Access and Use


1.1. All bookings should arrive on time. There is no need to bring your booking confirmation as we will have a record of your booking. upon arrival and provide relevant booking information, if applicable.


1.2. Crafty Monkey Studio reserves the right to refuse entry or ask individuals to leave the premises if they are behaving inappropriately or causing disturbance to others.


1.3. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by a responsible adult unless they are attending an instructor-led workshops or birthday party where you are required to drop off your child and collect at the end of the workshop or party.


1.4. If you do need your child for a short period, i.e. pop out to top up your parking, this is done so at your own risk and we cannot be held responsible for looking after them. That said Crafty Monkey is a safe environment and there will generally be someone in the studio area.


1.5. Due to lack of space, spectators cannot attend our classes and workshops. Exceptions can be made for carers, depending on the circumstance. If you need a carer to assist, please contact us by email before you book. Depending on space we may need to seat you at a different table. You will still receive all necessary instruction and assistance.



2. Bookings and Cancellations


2.1. Bookings for sessions, classes, or events must be made via our website. While walk-ins are sometimes possible, it is strongly advisable to book, even if you book just before coming.


2.2. Please book the appropriate session for the activity you wish to do and not a session with the most convenient availability. Not all staff are trained up in all the services we provide or staff may be too busy to provide the service you require.


2.3. If you book a general pottery painting session and also want prints (such as handprints, footprints, or pawprints), please note that we may not have the time or capacity to assist in achieving these especially at weekends and busy times of the year so you may need to do them yourself.   Prints can be tricky and delicate to execute especially for babies under 18 months and their success depends on several factors, including techniques employed, the amount of paint used and the child or pet’s cooperation. For children over 3 years they are much easier to get.


2.4. If you still decide to do the prints yourself, we cannot take responsibility if they do not turn out as desired and it will be your responsibility to fix them. You are welcome to use our sanding blocks to remove the prints to redo or tidy them up. Please be aware that sometimes prints can stain the pottery even after sanding and may appear faintly after firing. Darker colours are particularly prone to this and there's certain colours we advise not to use for prints.


2.5. For guaranteed assistance to get optimal results and if you would like us to do any writing or decorating, you need to book a dedicated print session where time is allocated for us to advise on colours, take the prints for you, tidy them up if required and record the writing or decoration you may want us to do.


2.6. If you need to cancel or reschedule your booking, you can do this from your booking confirmation email.


2.7. If you haven't finished within your allocated booking time and we are not fully booked or near closing, we are happy for you to stay longer. If we are fully booked or about to close, you may need to return during a quieter time to finish your piece.


2.8. A deposit may be required to secure your booking. Deposits are non-refundable but may be transferable to another date or credited to your account if notice is given at least 48 hours before the scheduled time. For party or group bookings we require at least 7 days unless extenuating circumstances.


2.9. Cancellations made with less than 48 hours' notice may result in forfeiting the deposit or incurring a cancellation fee, depending on the circumstances.


2.8. For Workshops and Events, refer to our separate Cancellation and Rescheduling policy.


3. Health and Safety


3.1. For the safety of all visitors, please adhere to the following guidelines:


  • Wear appropriate clothing that you don’t mind getting underglaze or clay on although these will wash easily out of clothing.


  • Follow all instructions provided by Crafty Monkey staff regarding the use of materials and equipment.


3.2. Visitors must not touch or interfere with the work of others without permission.


3.3. In case of an emergency, please follow the directions of Crafty Monkey staff to evacuate the premises safely.


4. Personal Property


4.1. Crafty Monkey Studio is not responsible for any loss, theft, or damage to personal belongings brought into the studio.


4.2. Visitors are advised to keep personal items, such as bags and coats, with them at all times.


5. Liability


5.1. Crafty Monkey Studio will not be held liable for any injuries sustained while on the premises, except where such injury is due to the negligence of Crafty Monkey staff.


5.2. Visitors participate in activities at their own risk. Crafty Monkey Studio will not be held responsible for accidents or injuries caused by improper use of equipment or failure to follow instructions.


5.3. The kiln room is strictly for staff only and customers are prohibited from entering.


6. Artwork and Creations


6.1. Customers are responsible for their own creations and any personalisation of items unless you have paid us to personalise your piece.


6.2. For paid artwork or personalisation services, we strive for consistency but cannot guarantee exact replicas due to the handmade nature of our work and the unique styles of individual staff members.


6.3. Adjustments in spacing or layout may be made at our discretion to enhance the final appearance of your item.


6.4. If the work on your piece does not meet reasonable expectations, we will take steps to rectify the situation.


7. Payments


7.1. Payments for studio sessions, products, and services must be made in full at the time of booking or on the day of the visit.


7.2. Crafty Monkey Studio accepts cash and credit/debit cards.


7.3. In the case of custom orders or commissions, full payment is required upfront.


8. Food and Drink


8.1. We sell canned and bottled drinks which you can consume in the studio.


8.2 Food and drink brought in are not allowed to be consumed on the premises with the exception of a birthday cake for children’s parties or snacks for under 3’s. In these circumstances please refrain from them consuming food or drink near pottery or crafting materials and you will be responsible for cleaning food debris up if needed.


9. Photography and Social Media


9.1. We encourage customers to take photos and videos of our studio and their work and share them on social media, tagging @mycraftymonkey.


9.2. From time to time Crafty Monkey may take photographs or video of activities or events in our studio and of completed items for promotional purposes. Video or images could be used in print and digital media formats including:


  • print publications

  • website

  • e-marketing

  • posters

  • banners

  • advertising

  • social media

  • and research purposes. 


9.3. A lot of the time we will aim to avoid getting faces in the images but may want to get images with people appearing in them. We generally will let you know at the time if we are taking photographs and ask you for verbal consent.


9.4. Where children are involved and we would be getting their face in the image we would specifically would ask for parental consent. 


9.5. If you do not wish to be photographed or appear in video, or have the item you painted used for promotional purposes, please inform a member of staff.

9.6. Crafty Monkey is committed to processing information in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

 

9.7. You have the right to request to see a copy of the information we hold about you and to request corrections or deletions of the information that is no longer required. 


9.8. You can ask Crafty Monkey to stop using your images at any time, in which case it will not be used in future marketing but may continue to appear in marketing materials already in circulation or that have been printed. 

 

9.9. You have the right to lodge a complaint against the Crafty Monkey regarding data protection issues with the Information Commissioner’s Office https://ico.org.uk/concerns/


10. Breakages


10.1. All breakages of pottery in the studio must be paid for. We generally charge 50% of the sale price of the item.


11. Delivery


At Crafty Monkey, we understand that you may want your finished pottery posted to you. While we will provide this service, please see our Delivery Policy.


12. Collection of Items


12.1. When your item/s are ready we will email you and ask you book a pick up slot. Please see the timelines below for the services we offer:


Pottery Painting:

Items will be ready in around 14 days, or within 3 to 5 days if you have opted for our Speedy Firing service. However, they may be ready much sooner or in certain circumstances may require additional kiln firings, which can cause delays.


Pottery Classes:

In order to minimise adversities when firing your piece it's imperative we allow it to fully dry before we process it through the kiln. Drying times are dependent on size of piece and temperature in the studio. Please allow around 3 to 5 weeks before you can collect.


Prints on Pottery When We Are Decorating the Piece:

We aim to have these ready in around 14 days but in busy times or if members of staff are on leave this could be delayed so it's always advisable to book as far in advance as possible.


Imprints/Outprints/3D Casts:

These items can take around 4 to 5 weeks before they are ready to collect as we need to allow adequate drying time to prevent any adversities occurring.


Silverprint Jewellery:

After taking or receiving the prints we aim to email you out a layout within 3 to 5 days. After we receive your agreement to the layout your item will be ready to collect or will be posted within 10 days.


12.2. During peak periods such as Father’s Day or the lead-up to Christmas, processing times may be extended, particularly if additional writing or decoration is required.


12.3. With our Speedy Firing service, while most items are ready on time, delays can occur if a piece requires a second kiln firing or if we are experiencing an exceptionally busy period.


12.4 Should we be unable to meet the promised timeframe, we will refund your Speedy Firing fee.


12.5. Please note that if the studio is particularly quiet, our speedy firing service may not be available.


12.6. We always recommend booking your session with enough lead time if you need your piece by a specific date.


12.7. Items left uncollected for more than 6 months after completion may be disposed of or donated.


13. Quality Issues


13.1. At Crafty Monkey, we are dedicated to ensuring a positive experience for all our customers. However, occasionally things may not go as planned. In such instances, we strive to rectify the situation promptly.


Below are some of the issues that could happen:


Pottery Painting:

The nature of clay and pottery means that the creation and firing processes are inherently unpredictable, with defects and imperfections being common throughout the industry, from hobbyists to commercial producers.


While we have stringent procedures in place to minimise these issues, some problems are beyond our control. Additionally, certain issues may arise due to customer actions, such as applying too many coats of paint, touching the piece with greasy or dirty fingers, or using pencils or wet wipes on the piece.


Possible issues include firing cracks, pinholes, shivering, crawling, kiln dust, and crazing.


Crazing may appear immediately after firing or may develop days, weeks, or even months later.


Some problems can be resolved through refiring, but others may worsen with time.


Prints on Pottery When We Are Decorating the Piece:

Given the handmade nature of our work, there is always a possibility of human error. While we employ meticulous staff who strive for perfection, mistakes can occasionally occur, especially during busy periods or when new staff members are being trained.  Rest assured, we minimise these risks through thorough training and by ensuring only proficient staff handle your pieces. We share your disappointment when errors occur and strive to rectify issues.


Pottery:

When participating in a clay class or session, please be aware that the drying and firing processes can sometimes lead to issues such as cracks, breakages, curling at the edges, or detached pieces if they have not been properly scored and slipped. There is also the potential for items to collapse as they dry or even explode in the kiln if air pockets are present. These are common occurrences in working with clay.


By following our guidance, you can minimize these risks.


Unfortunately, if issues arise due to your workmanship, we will attempt to fix them, but it may not be possible and we cannot be held responsible.


Imprint/Outprint/3D Castings:


Several factors can affect the outcome of imprints, outprints, and 3D casts due to the nature of the materials used. While we take every precaution to ensure a successful result, some issues are beyond our control. In rare instances, we may need to ask you to return to the studio so we can redo the process.


14. Remedies

14.1. Depending on the issue, this may involve refiring to correct glazing problems, offering you a chance to redo or repaint your piece, or finding another suitable solution.


14.2. If these options are not feasible, we may offer a partial credit to your account for future use or, in some cases, a partial refund, depending on the cause and extent of the issue.


14.3. Please note, we do not offer full refunds for issues beyond our control. Additionally, full refunds are not available if you choose to keep the piece.


15. Refunds


15.1. If a refund is agreed upon, it will be processed via the original payment method.


  • For card payments in our studio: the refund must be made to the same card, which requires the cardholder to be present; hence, we cannot issue such refunds remotely.


  • Online payments: If the purchase was made online, the refund will be processed online and may take 5-10 days to complete.


  • Cash payments: If you paid in cash you will be refunded in cash if we have adequate funds, if not we will make a bank transfer.13. Pottery Defects and Kiln Disclaimer


16. Amendments


16.1. Crafty Monkey Studio reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time. Updates will be posted on our website and will be effective immediately.


16.2. See also other terms and conditions that relate to specific activities and our disclaimers.




We hope you enjoy your time with us and look forward to seeing your creative masterpieces!

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