Demand for
Grayling Ceramics’ no-two-alike growlers, mugs and other products is firing up like a hot kiln, leading to plans for expansion, a retail shop, and more.
Ceramic artist Shay Church started Grayling with Maura Church in 2014 at
The Reality Factory, a small-business incubator in Kalamazoo’s Northside neighborhood that also houses 1976 Mopeds/Indigan and RAWK (Read and Write Kalamazoo).
(For more on The Reality Factory, see Mark Wedel’s article from December 2015.)
Shay Church says Grayling’s diverse approach to sales has spurred demand. “We do markets, breweries, wholesale accounts, fairs, galleries, online sales and are currently remodeling the first floor of the Reality Factory to sell retail.”
Currently their products can be purchased at Handmade Kalamazoo, Amy Zane Gallery, One Well Brewing, Water Street Coffee Joint, Brite Eyes Brewing Company, RIO, the Kalamazoo Farmers Market on Saturday, at their studio at The Reality Factory or
online at
graylingceramics.com.
Church strives to craft just the right balance of form and function in his beer ware. “Making handmade 64-ounce ceramic beer growlers that work well and look bad-ass isn't easy, so there aren't a lot of them out there,” he says. “We've spent a lot of time refining our shapes and glazes. From the start, we wanted the colors and forms to remind you of being up north on the coast. Because of the variation in glaze application and imagery each piece is one-of-a-kind.” The company welcomes custom orders, too, like tile projects, growlers for breweries or home, production ware for restaurants, lighting, and architectural ceramics.
With business taking off, Grayling Ceramics is looking for a studio assistant with advanced wheel-throwing skills to fill a one-year paid position. Future plans include expanding the studio to meet production demands. “Right now we’re focused on opening the retail shop in The Reality Factory on September 1,” Church says. “Hopefully, we can continue slow and steady growth.”
Certainly the popularity of regional craft breweries accounts for some of Grayling Ceramics’ success. But their fan base isn’t homogenous. “The one thing the Farmers Market has taught is don't judge a book by its cover,” Church notes. “Our customers are from all walks of life. If I had to narrow it down, I'd say people who love beer, coffee, and seductive handmade pottery really support us.”
Writer: Cathie Schau, Second Wave Media
Source: Shay Church, Grayling Ceramics
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