In a city located an hour south of the picturesque Blue Ridge Parkway and in the midst of an area rich in the history of furniture making, the people of Hickory, North Carolina have one more reason to celebrate their unique home...the opportunity to create their own works of art at Bisque N Beads.
Since October 2002, Betty Mahoney has been igniting the creative fire of people in the foothills of North Carolina. Originally Bisque N Beads was operated as two separate companies – one for pottery and one for beading. Her friendship with the owner of the bead store prompted Betty’s first entry into the business side of the do-it-yourself industry as a part-time employee. Betty eventually purchased both businesses and merged them into one business with the primary focus being to provide the community with a hands-on working studio where people can relax and create. This philosophy, while simple, is one that is to be admired. Betty and her staff recognize the basic goal of their business and build on that foundation.
The balance of pottery painting and beading opportunities in the studio works well not only for their customers but for the bottom line as well. When pottery painting customers seem to be taking a break from time in the studio, beading seems to take a leap and vice versa. Additionally, Bisque N Beads offers glass fusing, clay hand building, Precious Metal Clay and Paint Me.
Betty cites the interaction with people in her community as her favorite thing about being in this business. When asked about her secret to success I received an emphatic “customer service!” The entire team at Bisque N Beads understands that they are in the customer service business and they also realize the importance of that fact. While marketing is vital to running any business, Betty believes that the marketing alone is not the key. Instead, Betty notes that it is the marketing events (classes, programs, and promotions) coupled with their customer service efforts that make the difference. The staff knows that the relationship with their customers and ensuring that customers are enjoying the experience of being in the studio are essential to the success of the business. Quite often customers are so pleased with their experiences in the studio that they go there just to be with the studio staff.
Event nights have been a great success in the studio. Knowing that food is a great motivator, the women attending Ladies Night Out get dinner while they paint. Sign me up! One of their newest programs, Kids Night Out, has been great for both the studio and nearby restaurants. Parents can get special deals from the restaurants after taking their kids to Bisque N Beads for a night of creativity.
Each month a local coffee shop hosts a Bisque N Beads painting event. Betty provides the paints, supplies and mugs for each event and the coffee shop staff guides the customers through the process. After the pieces are fired at the studio, they are returned to the coffee shop for distribution to their customers. Adding a coupon or promotional piece for the studio inside each mug is the trick to keeping your name in front of the customer. In addition, she has the coffee shop employees promoting her business. The coffee shop gives those with their own painted mugs a 50% discount on coffee when they bring their mug to the shop. How fun is that?
Pottery-to-Go Kits, a program inspired by a colleague in the industry, provide Betty’s customers with the opportunity to readily take pottery home, to a school or other off-site function. Betty packs fishing tackle boxes with 2 oz bottles of Duncan Concepts, brushes and other supplies for projects-to-go. This is just another way that the team at Bisque N Beads provides excellent service and flexibility to their customers.
When asked about advice or tips she would share with fellow studio owners Betty noted that the paint-your-own pottery industry, specifically CCSA members, is well-known for being a group of business owners that are willing and even excited to share with their colleagues. This is certainly not the standard for other industries. Several years ago at a CCSA convention, Betty met Liz Tilson from of Clay Café in Lubbock, TX who shared her tips for marketing to schools and pre-schools. Getting involved with the schools, teachers and parents has afforded Betty many contacts and has helped expand her market in a way that no other tactic has done. The relationships and information shared between studio owners continually helps businesses in our industry grow and thrive.
To learn more about Betty and Bisque N Beads, please visit
www.bisqueandbeads.com. You’re sure to be inspired.