October 20, 2023
Small businesses are the backbone of our communities, injecting character, innovation, and vitality into our cities and towns. Small Business Week (October 15 – 21) is a time to recognize and celebrate these local gems that contribute so much to our economy and culture.
We had a chance to sit down with five amazing local business owners and hear their thoughts, key successes, their favourite spots in Oakville and what’s up next for their businesses.
Our final interview in this series is with small business owner Janice Collette from Pottery N Paint Cafe.
SMALL BUSINESS: Pottery N Paint Cafe
Owner – Janice Collette
Unleash your inner artist at Pottery N Paint Cafe in Oakville! This creative haven is the perfect place to explore your artistic talents. Whether you’re a seasoned painter or a first-time ceramic or canvas artist, Pottery N Paint Cafe offers a welcoming and relaxed environment for all skill levels. Choose from a wide selection of ceramic pieces waiting to be transformed into your personalized masterpiece or choose one of the many canvas patterns and follow the step-by-step instructions to create your very own piece of art to hang on the wall. It’s the perfect outing for families, friends, date nights, solo adventures, children’s parties, or Corporate Events.
What’s a fun fact about your business that people might not know?
Pottery N Paint Cafe offers numerous art mediums – pottery wheel, clay handbuilding, ceramic painting, canvas painting & glass fusing. We will be celebrating our five-year anniversary in February of 2024.
What’s the most popular item in your store?
Hands down the most popular items at this time of year are the Vintage Christmas Trees. Gnomes of any kind are also always popular!
What sets your business apart from competitors?
At Pottery N Paint Cafe, we have a wide variety of pottery from basic bisque pieces to stoneware, with over 1,000 different items we have the largest selection of pottery in Halton Region. We also offer a large selection of specialty glazes for pottery. In addition, we have a small cafe which serves coffee, tea, espresso, cappuccino, lattes, and some sweet snacks.
Can you share some of the key milestones and successes your business has achieved?
At Pottery N Paint Cafe, we had just celebrated our one-year anniversary when Covid hit. Due to the nature of an art studio, we were closed more than we were allowed to be open during that time. Fortunately, we have a full online store, so customers were able to purchase their items online for curbside pickup and drop off. We also offered Zoom Stoneware Painting Events for Businesses to host paint parties for their staff with live real time instruction online from our staff. These were fun and engaging events which gave company employees time to relax, be creative and have some fun online during a very stressful time for all and afterwards they had a functional piece to use at home.
What or where is your favourite place in Oakville?
Bronte Waterfront, have to say the water is calming and also helps to recharge my creative side!
What advice would you offer to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to start their own small businesses?
Find a mentor or others who have gone down the same road. The feeling of community in a small business is vital to your success. I am fortunate to have a wonderful community of other independent studio owners throughout Ontario and North America to share information with and together we help each other through the tough times, and we celebrate each other’s successes.
How does your business contribute to the local community?
Pottery N Paint Cafe sponsors multiple local children’s sporting groups in both Oakville and Burlington from Outdoor Baseball and Soccer in the summer to Indoor Soccer and Hockey in the winter months. We also provide fundraising opportunities for schools, church groups and local non-profits in addition to partnering with local charities.
What makes Oakville such a great destination?
Oakville is such a diverse city with anything and everything you could possibly want. From a wide variety of Food to Art and Culture to Family Fun there is something for everyone.
What’s next for your business?
We are starting to expand and grow our Studio Canvas Paint Nights and Feature Events. These are fun themed Nights for everyone! Date Nights, Family Nights, and Kids Only Events to name a few. We often have Character Visits during these Events. Our Mrs. Claus Paint Party’s are a huge hit with the kids over the holidays! We also plan to add more Clay Specific Programs to the studio for those wanting to learn how to create pottery from scratch. A possible expansion is also something we are looking into in the next year or two.
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion, looking for a fun weekend activity or simply seeking a therapeutic escape, Pottery N Paint Cafe offers an unforgettable experience. Visit their store and let your imagination come to life.
Address: 3513 Wyecroft Rd Unit H1, Oakville
Instagram: @potterynpaintcafeinc
Website: https://potterynpaintcafe.com/
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