As part of our Membership Spotlight feature we recently spoke to Adriana Torres Escobedo & Julio Sakurai from Gatothor Ceremica about doing business in the area. Read what they had to say.
Tell us about your business and what you do.
We are a small, independent ceramics business based in Drogheda, run by two people, Adriana and Julio. We create handmade pottery and offer pottery wheel classes, workshops and creative experiences that bring people together through clay.
Julio focuses mainly on throwing and also helps with classes and events, while Adriana is behind the wider business, from the creative direction and ceramics to the technical, operational and organisational side. We are passionate about making pottery more accessible and creating opportunities for people to discover their creativity in a welcoming environment.
What do you think has been your biggest achievement with the business?
One of our biggest achievements has been seeing the business grow from something very personal into a creative business that has become increasingly connected with the community and cultural life of Drogheda.
We’ve had the opportunity to take part in local events, run workshops and creative experiences, collaborate with other local people and organisations, and create spaces where people can come together and make something with their hands. Seeing people return, bring friends, or tell us that a pottery experience gave them a chance to slow down and try something completely new has been incredibly rewarding.
Tell us one thing people might not know about the business.
People might not realise that there are actually two very different roles behind the business. Julio is the one usually seen at the wheel, throwing pots and helping people during classes, while Adriana works behind the scenes as well as in the studio, managing the business, developing ideas, working on the technical side of ceramics and making many of the projects and collaborations happen.
A lot of what people see as a small pottery business is actually the result of both of us bringing very different skills together.
What is the best piece of business advice you’ve ever been given?
The best advice is probably to keep showing up and not be afraid to try things, even when you don’t know exactly where they will lead.
As a small creative business, not every idea works exactly as planned, but each experience teaches us something. We’ve learned to stay open, listen to our community and keep experimenting. Sometimes the ideas that seem a little crazy at first end up becoming the most meaningful ones.