Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in hard crafts but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Aby Henry, founder of Bridgetown Sparrow Ceramics, located in Portland, OR, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I make unique ceramic works for everyday moments in the home. My goal with every piece is not only quality but beauty. Bringing beautiful, high-quality ceramics into peoples' homes is my passion. The focus of my work is to blend seamlessly into your life – the mug that fits perfectly in your hand and holds just the right amount or the soup bowl for the perfect serving size.

My customers believe in everyday magic, quality, and craftsmanship. They value themselves and their loved ones to share a unique, locally-crafted piece with them. My customers understand that a rich and fulfilling life comes not only from the big moments but from the sweet in-between moments.

Every item I make is crafted individually by me, and all design work is done at the moment on each individual piece. There are never two that are exactly alike. You will never open up a friend's cupboard and find your exact piece. Nothing is more rewarding than having people email me or find me at markets and gush that the mug they bought from me was an instant favorite and is the one they now reach for every morning.

Tell us about yourself

I was very fortunate to spend all my time with my grandparents growing up. What that meant was a lot of art projects with my grandfather. I credit this time for steering me on a creative path. But it was actually my sister that signed me up for my first ceramics class. I had been a photographer for years. I was very sick one semester, and my sister was helping me make my schedule. She signed me up for a ceramics class. That was in 2006, and I haven't stopped since!

What I love most about ceramics is that I'm always able to find something new to learn. After 16 years in the field, new things still pop up all the time that I get excited about! I'm constantly experimenting with new designs, new techniques, or new materials. What gets me in the studio every day is getting to share what I love with other people. My customers' excitement upon finding my work and then coming back to share with me how much they love using it - that's what keeps me motivated.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Taking the leap to make my business not just a side gig but the focal point of my life is one of the things I'm most proud of. Making my pottery business my focus was a huge leap of faith. It takes a great amount of vulnerability to share what you love with others, but the reward of finding a community that is just as excited about my work as I am is the best feeling. I have put my absolute all into this venture. I have left nothing on the table. There is no point on this journey where I can look back and say I didn't do my best. I've put my whole self into this venture, and that's always something to be proud of.

Another accomplishment was setting up my moon candle subscription, which ended up being a huge step toward stabilizing my business. Every month, I throw candle containers on the new moon. And I pour them on the full moon. Every month, the scents and colors all pertain to the current astrology. When I turned this into a subscription offering, I wasn't sure anyone would be interested. But it has flourished, and I am so grateful!

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Learning when to stop or slow down and learning to say no. When you work for yourself, it can be easy to never stop. You could always be doing just a little bit more. But if you are working from a place of exhaustion and lack, that starts to show up in the business. For me, that can look like making simple mistakes in the throwing or glazing process, which result in pieces not turning out to my standards. So the lesson I'm learning is that I can't put my best foot forward if I'm rushing or stressing. As a solopreneur, I have to fill my cup first before anything of quality can be produced. And that can be really hard and confusing! Another learning curve for me is balancing the boom and bust cycles of shopping seasons during different times of the year.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Find your passion and put your heart into it. Do not go searching the internet for your business. All you will end up doing is copying someone else, and there is no heart in that, and your customers will feel it. Your business will inevitably atrophy quickly and fizzle out. Find your business within, and look to your own life. What are you passionate about? What do you do that lights you up? Look for your business there because the heart that will inevitably be in that will magnetize people to you. Success seems inevitable when you look to what lights up your soul and share it with others.
  2. Embrace the unknown and keep pushing forward. This is not something that comes naturally to me. But keeping the faith and continuing to move forward even when there are setbacks are huge. For years before Covid, I was traveling extensively to artist residencies all over the world. It was amazing, and I'm so grateful for it. But what people don't see is that the first year I was trying to get into a residency - I applied to 25! And I got into 1! And each year after that, it got better. You have to keep going even if things don't work out.
  3. Learn what is worth your time, and learn how to say no. Saying yes to everything at first can be great. You never know who you are going to meet or connect with. However, as your business grows, it is imperative to figure out how to prioritize your time. Networking there, picking up that show, doing this event, choosing between those markets, planning out collaborations – it all requires balance, prioritization, and the grace (to yourself and others) to say no.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

Be the consumer you want to find for yourself. Spend your money and energy locally. Support your community, and they will support you back!
My most up-to-date work can be found either at the markets I sell at ~ I will be at Boheme on May 15th. Or on my website www.bridgetownsparrow.com

Information for my Moon Candle subscription can also be found on the website!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://www.bridgetownsparrow.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bridgetownsparrow/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.