November 2020 – Yellow Door Pottery

When I used to consult businesses as a banker I would always tell them to have a business plan, but then don’t throw it in a drawer, use it as a living document because your business may surprise you and go in a different direction and you will need to revise it accordingly.

It seems as though I am living a bit of my own advice. If you’ve been following along on FB, and Instagram, you’ll have noticed my collaboration with Reynolds Farm in Averill Park NY.

I can’t say enough about what wonderful caring farmers they are. The animals are treated with love and respect. One of their specialties is goat milk soap from their Nigerian Dwarf goats. They are hand-milked and then Linda Reynolds makes soap from the milk. Amazing soap, like nothing you’ve ever smelled and the packaging is layered and thoughtful. Linda is an artist as well, so it’s an interesting combination, farmer/artist.

Some of our business partners, working on being awfully cute.

The idea to work together came after a visit to the farm (I can’t resist those goats). We got talking about soap dishes to sell with her soap. For a few weeks we went back and forth on design, true team work with no ego…I love working with women. Our final design was this…

Production shot of the final design, drying before the bisque or first firing.

A selection of colors after the glaze firing.

The final product, I only wish you could smell this.

Then we spoke about goat mugs, I ended up making mugs with the farm name on them. They are in the glaze firing in the kiln now, but I can give you a sneak peek.

I made one different from the rest, Linda thought it might be a good seller because the soap dishes with the goats on them where being snatched up. So this mug was made.

All in all to date this conversation between old friends has turned into 40 soap dishes, 8 “logo mugs” and eight (so far) goat mugs. This is my first time trying wholesale. It’s a very different game, but I enjoy it. I now have another business asking about the possibility of collaboration too. As I told my clients when I was a banker, “You can’t always predict where your business will go, be open to the possibilities”. Here I am, following my own advice.

While I don’t have a picture of Linda and me, I do have one of Matilda and me and let’s face it I have a bit of a crush on her really.

It’s seems trite by now to say 2020 has been an awful year, unprecedented really. COVID, political hell, Scientific evidence ignored, people turning ugly in a second like the flip of a switch, wildfires burning, sharks in the Hudson, the list goes on and on. Personally, for me, I’ve been out of work since Dec 12, 2019 due to health issues that leave me (for now) on Long Term Disability. Thank God for insurance, as it’s not as financially devastating as it could be. Like all health issues, some days are better than others. Because I am high risk for COVID due to COPD, I do very little outside the house.

All these months, like many of us I’ve had a list of things to do since being in lockdown. One of them was to change my office into a pottery show room. This would be a HUGE undertaking as it was filled with stuff….I wouldn’t go as far as to say I could do an episode of Hoarders, but bad. Also due to the lockdown, I had massive amounts of finished pottery taking over my dining room.

Last week I started on my task. I rearranged some furniture in there and removed the rest. I ordered extra shelving to help accommodate. I am at the point now where it’s just the actual “merchandising” to do. Each item needs a price tag and a barcode for the stores that carry my merchandise. This way I can just grab the pieces I want to deliver and they are ready. I also need to add many of the items to my website.

At the same time I ended up taking some of the furniture I pulled out and making a little nook for myself for reading, writing, napping, just peaceful and for me. It’s a bit crowded but in a cozy way. It’s tucked up in the eaves with a skylight. What a dream.

It’s been great having a purpose and a big job to tackle in my own time. When it’s complete I will be able to put my hands on items, without looking in 5 places. I’m almost there, the product has been transferred but it needs to be “displayed” in the best light possible.

Apparently I’m burying the lead here, but one of the biggest bonuses is that people can do in person shopping, by appointment only and following COVID regulations. I can take any cards, Venmo or Zellle as payment. Please call soon to set up your shopping adventure. Unique hand crafted gifts for everyone this holiday season.