What Mayco does

Mayco Colors, founded in 1954 and headquartered in Hilliard, Ohio, is a privately held manufacturer of ceramic glazes, underglazes, engobes, and decorative ceramic products serving art educators, hobbyist potters, and professional ceramic artists worldwide. Its product portfolio spans stoneware crystal and classic glazes, low-fire glazes, Stroke & Coat, Fundamentals Underglazes, E-Z Stroke, Elements textured glazes, Jungle Gems, Pottery Cascade, Designer Silkscreens, Bisque Forms, brushes, and a growing specialty Ritual Glazes family that includes Melt Gloop, Fluxes, and the recently introduced Beads line. Products are sold in pint and 10lb dry formats and are compatible with firing ranges from cone 06 through cone 10, with multiple ACMI-certified dinnerware-safe formulations.

The company operates an exclusive channel-partner go-to-market, selling exclusively through a worldwide network of independent ceramic supply distributors rather than direct to end users. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by distributor. Mayco monetizes primarily through unit hardware sales of branded glaze SKUs and supplies, with extensive registered trademark protection across product lines such as Stroke & Coat, Foundations, Fundamentals, Jungle Gems, and Elements.

Beyond physical products, Mayco has built a content and community ecosystem that includes Mayco Creative Studios, The Ceramic Workshop, The Mudroom, and Artlink programs, alongside an extensive project library, glaze combination guides, technique tutorials, and lesson plans aligned with National Visual Art Standards. These programs function as demand-generation and brand-loyalty infrastructure supporting its distributor-based sales motion. The company remains privately owned with no disclosed parent, subsidiaries, external investors, M&A activity, or funding rounds, and employs between 11 and 50 people.

Name

Mayco

Legal name

Mayco

Website

https://maycocolors.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mayco Colors, founded in 1954 and based in Hilliard, Ohio, manufactures ceramic glazes, underglazes, engobes, and decorating products for art educators, hobbyist potters, and professional ceramic artists, selling exclusively through a worldwide network of independent distributors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ceramic Glazes and Supplies

NAICS

Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing (327110), Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing (32711)

SIC

Pottery & Related Products (3260)

akta.pro primary industry

Ceramic Powders & Slurries (IMAAABAG)

Keywords

• Ceramic glazes
• Underglazes and engobes
• Ceramic decorating supplies
• Pottery materials
• Ceramic art accessories

Headquarters

HQ city

Hilliard

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Ceramic Glaze Products: Mayco generates revenue through the sale of ceramic glazes, underglazes, engobes, and decorating products. Products are sold in various formats including pints and 10lbs dry format. The company sells exclusively through a worldwide network of independent distributors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Mayco manufactures and sells ceramic glazes, underglazes, engobes, bisque forms, and decorating accessories for ceramic artists, hobbyists, potters, and educators. The product portfolio spans low-fire (cone 06) through stoneware (cone 6 oxidation and cone 10 reduction) firing temperatures, including Stoneware Crystal Glazes, Stroke & Coat, Fundamentals Underglazes, Elements, Ritual Glazes, Designer Silkscreens, and non-fired products. Products are sold in pint and 10lb dry formats exclusively through a worldwide network of independent distributors.

Product overview

Mayco Colors is a ceramics product company offering a comprehensive portfolio of glazes, underglazes, engobes, and decorating supplies for ceramic artists. The product lineup centers on Stoneware Crystal Glazes and Stoneware Classic Glazes for mid-range to high-fire temperatures, complemented by low-fire glaze options. Key product lines include Stroke & Coat versatile glazes, Fundamentals Underglazes, E-Z Stroke Translucent Underglazes for detailed design work, and the specialty Ritual Glazes featuring Melt Gloop (dripping effects), Fluxes (enhancement products), and Beads (dimensional decorative elements). The company also offers Stoneware Engobes for clay body color modification, Designer Silkscreens for detailed decorative applications, comprehensive Bisque Forms (pre-fired ceramic shapes), professional Brushes and Decorating Accessories, Fired and Non-Fired accessory products, and Elements/Chunkies for textured surface effects. Mayco serves educators, hobbyists, and professional ceramic artists through a worldwide distributor network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mayco Colors: One of the world's leading producers of quality ceramics products including glazes, colors, and ceramics accessories serving artists of all levels and backgrounds.

Products and services

• Stoneware Crystal Glazes Mid-to-high fire stoneware crystal glazes designed to expand upon ceramic surfaces with dazzling bursts of color; crystals settle to bottom of jar and require mixing prior to use. Available in numerous color variations for cone 6 oxidation and cone 10 reduction firings.
• Stoneware Classic Glazes Mid-fire stoneware glazes that break over texture to reveal secondary colors. Available in numerous colors (Amber Topaz, Gray Opal, Eggplant, Cinnabar, Maycoshino, Mirror Black) for cone 6 oxidation and cone 10 reduction firings.
• Fundamentals Underglazes Premium underglazes designed for coverage and design work, available in both low-fire and stoneware formulas, for use on greenware or bisque before glazing.
• Stroke & Coat Versatile glaze that can be applied to greenware or bisque, used full-coverage or for detailed design work. Known for stability; will not move or combine with surrounding colors during firing.
• Ritual Glazes (Melt Gloop, Fluxes, Beads) Specialty stoneware glaze line including Melt Gloop (dripping/dot application effects), Fluxes (enhance other glazes), and Beads (small spherical decorative applications) designed for creative dimensional effects on ceramics.
• E-Z Stroke Translucent Underglazes Translucent underglazes designed for detailed design work and easy application with excellent pigment concentration for strokes and detailed designs.
• Stoneware Engobes Coatings applied to wet clay, greenware, or bisque to change clay body color or create decorative effects, used for sgraffito and majolica techniques.
• Low Fire Glazes (Foundations, Jungle Gems, Pottery Cascade) Low-fire glazes designed for cone 06 applications, including Foundations, Jungle Gems crystal-effect glazes, Pottery Cascade, and other specialty low-fire products.
• Designer Silkscreens Reusable silkscreens and silkscreen medium for applying intricate designs to ceramic bisque, glass, wood, and other craft surfaces. Mix with color products to create detailed designs.
• Bisque Forms Pre-fired ceramic bisque forms in earthenware and stoneware varieties, available in various shapes for decorative painting and glazing projects.
• Brushes and Decorating Accessories Professional decorating brushes and accessories (soft fans, script liners, detail liners) for various ceramic glazing techniques.
• Fired Accessories (Clay Mender, Kiln Wash, Silkscreen Medium, Wax Resist, Thin N Shade) Clay repair and surface preparation products including Clay Mender, Kiln Wash, Silkscreen Medium, Wax Resist, and Thin N Shade.
• Non-Fired Products (Bisq-Stain, Magic Metallics, Pearls, Sparklers, Ultra Metallics) Non-fired decorative products including Bisq-Stain opaque acrylics, Magic Metallics, Pearls, Sparklers glitter, and Ultra Metallics for craft and decorative applications without kiln firing.
• Elements & Elements Chunkies Textured volcanic-like stoneware glazes that produce rough, cratered surfaces, ideal for contemporary ceramic designs.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Jessica Putnam-PhillipscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesigner collaboration for Mayco Designer Silkscreens. Jessica Putnam-Phillips designs original silkscreen patterns that are produced and sold by Mayco. Her designs include various motifs such as tropical leaves, holiday themes, nature-inspired patterns, and custom designs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Sheffield Pottery: Sheffield Pottery produces and distributes ceramic clays, glazes, and supplies across the U.S. Northeast, competing with Mayco for studio potter and school accounts.
• AMACO (American Art Clay Co.): AMACO is a direct competitor manufacturing ceramic glazes, underglazes, and decorating products. Both companies serve art educators, hobbyists, and professional potters with broad color lines and classroom-friendly product assortments.
• Laguna Clay Company: Laguna distributes clay bodies, glazes, and ceramic supplies to potters and schools via a multi-channel distribution model that competes with Mayco's distributor-sold ceramic products assortment.
• Duncan Enterprises: Duncan is historically linked to Mayco and continues to market ceramic color products (e.g., E-Z Stroke, Bisq-Stain) sold through the same distributor channels and educational kits that overlap Mayco's portfolio.
• Olympic Color & Frit: Olympic supplies ceramic glaze frits, stains, and colorants to glaze manufacturers and studios; it competes with Mayco in the supply of colorants and specialty ceramic materials to the same artist/educator end markets.
• Spectrum Glazes: Spectrum manufactures stoneware and earthenware glazes sold through ceramic supply channels, directly competing with Mayco's Stoneware and Low-Fire lines for potters and studios.
• Coyote Glazes (Coyote Clay): Coyote produces ceramic glazes, underglazes, and clay bodies marketed to studio potters and educators through distributors, overlapping directly with Mayco's product portfolio and customer base.
• Aardvark Clay and Supplies: Aardvark manufactures clay bodies and ceramic supplies, including glazes and underglazes, distributed primarily through U.S. ceramic supply retailers serving the same educator and hobbyist segments as Mayco.

Broad incumbents

• Skutt Ceramic Products: Skutt is a leading kiln manufacturer that also distributes ceramic supplies, overlapping with Mayco in serving the same potter/educator ecosystem through shared distributor relationships and complementary product lines.
• L&L Kilns: L&L is a long-standing kiln and ceramic equipment brand that supplies the same potter and educator customer base that Mayco serves, often co-stocked with Mayco products at distributors.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Mayco