Strategic Pivot Part 3: Building Toward the Future & Looking Forward

Strategic Pivot Part 3: Building Toward the Future & Looking Forward

by Lauren Herzak-Bauman in Journal

I'm writing about a strategic pivot within my business! Read Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

Building Toward the Future: What’s Next

As I look ahead, I’m excited to fully embrace this new direction for my business. Going forward, I will focus on creating one-of-a-kind sculptures, installations, and custom commissions. While I will maintain a curated collection of vessels that will still be available for retail and wholesale, the majority of the website and studio production will focus on sculpture.

Starting later this month, I’ll debut my new work, including four vases, two nested bowl sets, one serving bowl, one serving tray, and 8-10 sculptures. These pieces will be available for purchase, and I’ll also introduce an inquiry form for custom commissions. I’ve partnered with the lovely photography team at Lady Luck Studio and web designer Studio Seagraves to showcase this new collection, and I can’t wait to share it with you. Make sure to subscribe to my newsletter if you want all the updates as they happen.

 

 

New installs and they feel so good!

The Pivot Feels: Growing Personally and Professionally

This process has been eye-opening. As I went through my inventory and decided which pieces to keep and which to let go, I found myself constantly reminding myself of my true goal: to share the most resonant work I can create with my audience. Professionally, I feel more aligned than ever, and personally, I feel at peace with the direction we’re taking.

As we step into this new creative space, I feel more aligned than ever with my vision. This pivot isn’t just a change in direction—it’s an opportunity to focus on the work that truly brings me joy, and to share that with all of you.

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Strategic Pivot Part 2: Navigating External Forces & Letting Go

Strategic Pivot Part 2: Navigating External Forces & Letting Go

I'm in the midst of a strategic pivot! If this is your first time reading, I recommend catching up with the first part of this here: [link] Navigating External Forces: The Business Environment The decision to pivot wasn’t just about personal needs—it was shaped by the changing landscape of the ceramic industry and the challenges that came with it. During the pandemic, supply chains shifted, shipping costs skyrocketed, and material shortages became common. The pottery business, which relied on consistent production, was suddenly much more difficult to maintain. When materials were discontinued after a season’s worth of work had already been made, it was frustrating, to say the least. The external realities of the business world made me realize that I needed to be more agile—not just in my vision, but in the way I worked. Pottery requires repetition and precision, but that rigidity was becoming harder to maintain in a market that was constantly shifting. The flexibility that sculpture and one-of-a-kind art offered me was exactly what I needed to move forward, without the constant hurdles that the pottery side of the business presented.   A small collection of all the different collections we've sent out over the years. Plus a fun example of unexpected material changes. Letting Go: Embracing the Shift Letting go of the pottery line wasn’t an easy decision. When I first made the choice, I felt some guilt—like I was letting go of something that had brought me success. But as I took the time to sit with this decision, I realized that I wasn’t failing—I was simply evolving. There were many lessons to be learned from the pottery side of my business, but holding on to it for the sake of familiarity wasn’t going to serve me in the long run. Embracing this change with grace came from understanding that I was aligning myself with my truest desires. As I began to make the pivot, I felt lighter. The fear and guilt began to fade, replaced by excitement and a deep sense of relief. I’ve shared this decision with my community—both my business partners and my friends—and have received nothing but support. It’s clear that this shift aligns with the energy I’m putting out into the world, and the people who are drawn to that energy are the ones who will find my work most resonant. The process of letting go isn’t just about business—it’s about embracing the future, both in my work and in the world around me. As we move toward the new chapter, I’ll share more about how I’ve found peace in this shift and how I’m ready to move forward with intention.   All the bisque work over the years. Next time, I’ll be revealing what’s next—how the focus on sculpture and one-of-a-kind art will take shape, and how I’m aligning my creative vision with the future of the studio. But before we get there, if you’ve been thinking about adding something to your collection, don’t miss your chance to shop pieces at 60% off with code GOODBYE60. Once they’re gone, they’re gone. Shop the goodbye sale here: [link]

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Strategic Pivot Part 1: Recognizing the Need for Change & Answering the Call

Strategic Pivot Part 1: Recognizing the Need for Change & Answering the Call

  In 2013, I returned to Cleveland with no job but a belief that I would find a way to create in my hometown. I had been making sculpture, applying for public art commissions, and seeking the kind of work that would give me the most studio time and flexibility. Upon returning, I found myself drawn back to pottery, a medium that had always held a special place in my heart. I decided to teach myself slip casting—something I hadn’t learned formally in school—and quickly began making a few cups and bowls. When I showcased that first set of work at my first Open Studio at The Screw Factory, the response was incredible. People were excited, they bought the work, and it felt deeply affirming.     These pics are all from my first year back in Cleveland! Hot studio, lots of pots, lots of sculptures. From that moment, everything took off. I started learning about line sheets, trade shows, and the wholesale business. Soon, I was traveling to New York, meeting businesses of all sizes, and selling my pottery across the country. At first, it was a success. But when the pandemic hit, I saw a significant shift. My wholesale pottery business dropped off, but my online sales soared. 2020 turned out to be my best year, and for the next two years, things continued to flourish. Yet, as 2023 began, the pottery sales started to slow down again. And alongside that, something unexpected began to grow: my sculpture and commission work. By the end of 2022, I was doing both—dividing my time between pottery production and sculpture commissions—but by 2024, the pottery side of things was slowing down. It became clear that something had to change. An Internal Shift Choosing to pivot a business is never an easy decision, but when the year began, I knew it was time for change. I could feel the imbalance in how money was flowing into the business, but I didn’t have all the data to back it up. It wasn’t until I separated out the profit and loss from my pottery sales and my sculpture sales that I saw the truth: the pottery business was operating at a loss, while the sculpture side of things was thriving, though it was held back by the financial burden of pottery production. I couldn’t ignore the numbers, and once I saw the truth clearly, the decision became unavoidable. In May, I made the announcement to my staff that I would be winding down the pottery business in order to fully dedicate myself to sculpture and commissions. This wasn’t a decision made lightly, but it felt like the right step to take. As I reflect on the changes and shifts in my business, I’m excited for what’s to come. But change takes time, and I’m not done sharing my journey with you yet. Next month, I’ll dive deeper into the forces outside my control that pushed me to make this shift—and the personal challenges of letting go of what was familiar. It’s not an easy process, but it’s one that feels necessary for my growth. In the meantime, I'm parting ways with work that's leaving the collection. If you’ve had your eye on something, now’s your chance to grab it at 60% off with code GOODBYE60. This is your last opportunity to own one of these special pieces before they’re gone. Shop the goodbye sale here: [link]

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HPMKT Recap - Sculpture on Display

HPMKT Recap - Sculpture on Display

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