TL;DR: Build a personal CRM in Notion by creating a database for your contacts, linking it to a “Last Touched” date, and using a dashboard view to track follow-ups. This tutorial uses porcelain dinnerware as your niche — perfect for tracking clients who collect fine china or hosting dinner-party contacts.
Step 1: Create the Master Database
In your Notion workspace, type /database and choose “Table.” Name it “Porcelain Contacts.” Add these columns: Name (text), Relationship (select: Collector, Chef, Dinner Guest, Vendor), Favorite Pattern (select: Blue Willow, Limoges, Meissen, Haviland), Last Contact (date), and Next Follow-up (date). For a personal CRM, this is your core — every dinnerware-related person lives here.
If you want to dig deeper, check out our guide on Porcelain Dinnerware 101: Complete Care & Styling Guide.
Step 2: Add a “Porcelain Notes” Property
Click “+” at the top of the table and add a Text property called “Notes.” Use this to store details like “Prefers gold rim over platinum,” or “Owns a 12-place setting of Rosenthal.” This turns your CRM from a simple list into a memory bank for meaningful follow-ups — crucial for a niche like porcelain, where personal taste matters.
Step 3: Build the Dashboard View
Create a new page titled “Personal CRM Dashboard.” Inside, type /linked view of database and select your “Porcelain Contacts” database. Set the view to Board and group by “Relationship.” Now you see separate columns for Collectors, Chefs, and Dinner Guests — each with their favorite patterns visible at a glance.
Step 4: Add a “Today’s Follow-ups” Filter
On the dashboard, click “Filter” on your linked view. Add a condition: Next Follow-up is on or before today. This shows only contacts needing attention — e.g., a collector who asked about a Spode Christmas tree plate last month. Save this as a new view named “Due Now.”
Step 5: Quick-Add Button for New Contacts
Click the “+” at the top-right of your dashboard view. This opens a quick-add form. Fill in only Name and Relationship (e.g., “Martha — Dinner Guest”). You’ll add porcelain details later. This keeps your 10-minute build frictionless.
Step 6: Tie Notes to Dinnerware Events
Use the Notes property to log conversations about specific porcelain items. Example: “Discussed her desire for a vintage Noritake set — sent three auction links.” Then set Last Contact to today and Next Follow-up to two weeks out. This bridges your CRM to actual product research.
Step 7: Weekly Review Template
Add a second linked view, grouped by “Last Contact.” Sort by Last Contact ascending. This shows your coldest leads — perhaps a vendor you haven’t spoken to since you bought that Royal Copenhagen platter. Spend 2 minutes each Sunday updating dates.
FAQ
Q: Can I track porcelain inventory in the same dashboard?
A: Yes — add a separate database for “Porcelain Items” and link each contact to items they own or want. Use a relation property to connect the two tables, then display item details in the contact page.
Q: What if I don’t collect porcelain — does this still work?
A: Absolutely. Replace “Favorite Pattern” with “Preferred Brand” or “Dining Style.” The structure is agnostic; the porcelain theme just makes it memorable and focused for those who host tasting menus or sell fine china.
Q: How do I
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