SIX TIPS FOR FINDING RAE DUNN POTTERY
Today I am sharing everything I know about Rae Dunn Pottery, including where to find Rae Dunn and how to start your own Rae Dunn collection.
Let’s face it. Have you ever found yourself in the parking lot in front of Homegoods at 9:25 am waiting for them to open? Have you ever followed people into TJMaxx convinced they are heading to the “white dishes aisle” too? Or have you noticed that every recycled bag you own has a TJ Maxx logo on it?
If you can answer “yes” to all three of these questions then you are truly a Rae Dunn addict.
I have no idea how Rae Dunn pottery became so popular but the buying frenzy surrounding these white pottery dishes with handwritten black letters on them reminds me a lot of the Beanie Baby craze in the late 1990’s. In both cases, women all over the country were lining up to buy a very inexpensive item that was high on demand and short in supply.
Trust me, I know all of this because I am right there with you. I love Rae Dunn Pottery. I read all of the “Rae Dunn B/S/T” group posts on Facebook and used to check the Mercari app on my iphone daily to check the prices of the “hard to find” items.
A lot of people don’t even know who Rae Dunn is. Rae Dunn is a California native and resides in the San Francisco, Bay Area. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Industrial Design and worked in graphics and fashion design for several years before discovering clay, which has now been her passion since 1994.
Rae Dunn pottery (with the big letters) is currently sold primarily at HomeGoods, TJMaxx, and Marshalls. There are a few products on the Magenta website but most of them are Rae’s other pottery designs (not the big letter ones). The supply has been way less than the demand and unfortunately, there used to be a lot of “shelf cleaners” who travel from store to store to buy all of the product and then resell. Sadly, a lot of these “resellers” have made arrangements with the stores where they can call and have all of the items held for them. They infiltrated the stores, got to know the employees and basically were able to buy the product before everyone else. Although there is a lot of Rae Dunn pottery available for purchase, there are way more buyers than inventory.
It seems that things are changing. Apparently corporate at TJMaxx is aware of the problem and they have told stores they are no longer allowed to respond to calls about their Rae Dunn inventory and also cannot hold the Rae Dunn items for anyone. It also seems there is a bit more inventory on the shelves.
Where have I found Rae Dunn dishes and Rae Dunn mugs? TJ Maxx has been my best source for my Rae Dunn Collection. I usually shop the aisles quickly at TJ Maxx looking for new Rae Dunn items anytime I am in the store.
I have also found a lot of Rae Dunn clearance items in the stores. Be sure to check the clearance aisle because you just might find Rae Dunn on sale!
I often get asked if I use my Rae Dunn collection. Of course, I do! I love to set tables with my collection and I even wrote a blog post titled How to Set a Table with Rae Dunn.
I used my Rae Dunn for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner.
Look at this adorable Christmas table I set with these holiday-themed Rae Dunn dishes!
I also use my canisters every single day.
If you are wondering why I have two coffee canisters, one is for regular and one is for decaf.
So far I have only been able to find one mug with my boy’s names on it. If you see a mug for Andrew and/or Matthew let me know!
Over the years I have been really lucky and have found quite a bit of Rae Dunn dishes on the shelves (hence the photos above). But I think I have been smart about my shopping and I am happy to share my tips with you.
S I X T I P S F O R F I N D I N G R A E D U N N
- Follow the Rae Dunn Facebook groups so you are aware of what products are being released in the stores. That way you will know what to look for! When the flower pots first came out a lot of collectors were only looking in the dishes aisle and they missed them! When the office products were released the same thing happened.
- Talk to the people who work at your local store. They will tell you which days and times they receive shipments. This will help you to determine the best time to shop.
- Check for the pottery in the store aisles but check more than once. I can’t tell you how many times I have walked right past canisters and flower pots!
- Check the merchandise carts. I have found at least half of my collection on the carts in the aisles!
- If you are looking for mugs, be aware most stores stock them in three to four different places. Check everywhere as you just might find them where you least expect it.
- Don’t just shop when the store opens. I have found some of my best items when stopping by a store in the afternoon. One time I happened to glance through the door to the stockroom. Sitting right there in plain view were two teapots on the shelf of an empty cart. I waited patiently and when a stock boy came out I nicely asked him if I could buy them. He happily loaded them into my cart. (In hindsight, I now realize that the two teapots were probably “on hold” for someone since they were sitting there all alone. Oh well, sorry about that!).
Good luck with shopping. I hope you don’t get frustrated if you can’t find what you are looking for. Keep trying and you just might find that RaeDunn unicorn!
I also had a personal conversation with Rae about how to take care and use her pottery. You can find that blog post here.
For more real-time updates, follow me on Instagram @My100YearOldHome
Yes , I agree. We all have our favorite s to collect … fiesta wear, stengle .. pottery is so beautiful and it comes in many “ brand “ names.
I think it’s the simplicity of these dishes and accessories.
I love my Rae Dunn but don’t really consider myself a “collector”. I buy what I need and will actually use (yes, all of my pieces are actually used!). I bake in the baking dishes and we eat out of the bowls – some pieces I do make displays with for various holidays but I’ve also taken those pieces out to use on the holiday lol. I’m always disappointed to see someone with a cart full of Dunn that will be sold at 3-5x the retail price.
I agree with you 100%. I use my Rae Dunn every day. And I would never buy it to sell it. I buy it because I love it.
Leslie
Anyone got a birdhouse they would like to sell at a reasonable price
l was at a Homegoods when it opened with two other woman, yesterday . They must have been tipped off, bc the minute the doors opened ~they speed in and went straight to an area ( where you wouldn’t expect RD to be ) and took all the birdhouses.
I feel like it’s almost impossible for reg. RD shoppers to find them.
Oh no! I hate that so much. Those people are crazy!
Leslie
I am fairly new to Rae Dunn and live far away from stores that sell it, which has caused to me mainly shop for it online. I am still learning and am not sure what all the acronyms mean that people use. Please help. What is LL? What is BH? I am sure I’m missing others but can’t think of them off the top of my head. Thanks!
An update on RD birdhouses ~ l stopped in Homegoods yesterday( in northern NJ) at 5:30 pm looking for a lg tea canister ,as l walked into the store~ there on the table right near the door was a birdhouse!
That was the same HG that l was at the day bf when the two woman ran in and snatched up all the birdhouses! That store gets shipments every Mon.,Wed., and Fri. The manager told me that they stock the shelves every morning bf opening.
There is no figuring out the ins and outs of RD! You have to just give it time. I have still to find the lg tea canister.
I have yet to get my hands on a bh 🙁 the people in my small town are crazy over this stuff to! The same lady has bought every single bh that has came through our hg, and tj maxx!! I use most of my things. I do collect for the people that cant find the things they want., and I’m not in it for profit! Some of the prices online are ridiculous!! So if anyone is looking for something I’m always willing to grab it 🙂 I do have a LL tea canister to if you still need one.
Thank you so much, l found one last week. Hope that you find your BH soon!
Agree about the sellers making those of us pay so much more than retail for items we are looking for. Birdhouses are impossible to locate where I live… Made a mistake promising mu 8 year old granddaughter I would buy her the mama bird birdhouse for her and her brothers to give their mom for Mothers Day. Well. I had to give my daughter a IOU bc she and I searched daily (mostly me bc she had school) just for 1 birdhouse to find out from store clerks that the few birdhouses they received were bought by one lady when store opened. Sad that we have to pay 4 to 5 times cost for an item we really want. I love Rae Dunn in my primitive/farmhouse house decor but am almost to the point of giving up bc of people getting rich
Yes the shelves cleaners is doing
An injustice to the peeps the
Bible says Do unto others as
They do unto you.” I do not
Act bad and I am a newbie but
Hoarding in order to sale
For twice the price is not my
Way either. I feel sorry for
The ones that think they have
To do this way. Really not a
Good person to deal with and
I will not buy from them. You
Will know the ones because they
Have plenty to sale Happy
Hunting to the peeps
I am so annoyed at myself.. l can’t stand the upsellers that l come across all the time. I get to two or three openings a week. I have only come across Birdhouses four times. The first time l was not interested in BHs, and this woman and her partner came in and cleared out all the BH in about 5 seconds., the second and third times l walked into a single BH alone on the self … but a couple of days ago l walked into about 8 pear 🍐 shaped birdhouses. I only wanted 1 but the other women( the same two as bf / they go to the HG l go to EVERY DAY🤯) filled up their carts with the rest of them. I really wished that l bought morecand returned them at different times during the day to give more collectors a chance.
I also really wanted a Tiki BH and l broke down and bought one for 3 xs the price . I really wanted itvand just gave up , pulse l drive around all the time wasting my gas and time … my nails are shot and l am Dunn 😬
I have 4 Rae Dunn birdhouses that I bought for gifts, but no longer need if anyone is interested. Please email me at [email protected]
Had no idea this was such a craze! I simply thought it was an attractive line. Very plentiful and on clearance in the Southern California Home Goods stores. In addition, she creates very cool dog bowls!
I’m looking for a Rae Dunn mug with Chloé written on it. Do you know if there is one available and if so, where I might find it?
Thanks for your help!
I just purchased a ROBERT mug and a canister, both Rae Dunn from Pologoods.com…I paid 3 times more what I would have paid at HG…the kicker was I received them yesterday and they had tjmaxx stickers on them…I was infuriated and emailed the company and their response was that way I knew it was new. Such a scam…I despise when people just care about the money and then deprive other people who could afford it from HG or TJMAXX and now can’t be because of greed. Shame on them.
And remember that TJX stores technically aren’t allowed to hold items for customers unless they are in the store. My sister used to work there, and that was one of their big rules. When I was on a Dunn Run a few weeks ago, someone reiterated that fact. So if you happen to see things behind the counter on hold, you’re technically allowed to ask them if you can buy it.
AND ALWAYS CHECK THE CLEARANCE SPOTS! I found the exact same cereal bowls in both full price and clearance locations – some on clearance and some that weren’t. I saved a few bucks on literally the exact same thing I was willing to pay full price for.
That happens a lot with RD … that they put the older items on sale … while the exact same item that is newer to the store gets put on the reg. shelf .
The other day there was a cookie canister on sale and other ones were at regular price .
I desperately want a honey pot! Do you have one?
I wish l could find one , l have been told that the products recirculate. I have several items that l have been looking for that don’t seem to come my way. I have two homes – one in NJ and one in FL and l look in both states and still no luck. If l want an item bad enough, l break down and buy on Marcari. I did try to trade with someone l met on a YouTube blog, but after sending this person a birdhouse two months ago.. l am still waiting for my item .. 😬.
I have seen ,( but was too late as they were sold out the TJMaxx and Seira ( spelling ) websites
offer Rae Dunn pieces . Sometimes they even have birdhouses ( but they go very quickly ) . Today the Sierra website was offering the largest pumpkin.. l think it said family .
There is no “rae dunn” section in the warehouse. All china gets stocked onto one cart. It goes out when it goes out. Rae Dunn (in my town) does not get preference over anything else that comes out. What comes out of the warehouse is based on floor space and quantity. So if the Home department employee has a ton of bedding it goes out first, followed by whatever else is seen as needing to go out. Next, the employee might have to stop putting product out to do special projects. Also, the employee might have to run the register or attend meetings. In addition, the employees put stock out their entire shift, not just in the mornings. There have even been employees who put stuff out after the store closes because they are caught up on their other work. But make no mistake about it, there is no schedule for rae dunn at the stores I got this information from. So stop saying all these employees need to be “fired” for doing their jobs. Maybe your stores are different. But one thing the employees tell me is that this is a white, unemployed, state-at-home female issue. A
I’ve been trying to find a Halloween cup for my daughter, (black with witches brew or any other Halloween sayings), I haven’t been able to find one. I refuse to buy online from someone preventing others like myself to find products just to make a profit. I have been told that this is how they make their living but I also feel that what they’re doing is very wrong! If there’s anyone who has any suggestions or would happen to have one that they are willing to sell, please let me know! Thanks so much for your time!!!