What Do Women Want?

It's a common question... among men and among marketers. Women, after all, control the majority of household spending money and their tastes (both in men and in retail) can be difficult to discern. I'm now finding myself asking this same question, as I decide what pottery and ceramics to invest in for my budding little business. I'm suddenly really curious what brides are looking for (ie, registering for) these days? What do friends and family of the bride and groom really want to give them? What about busy moms... what are their needs in the kitchen and dining room? Are they interested in novelty serving dishes or do they just want something that's cheap and sturdy? And then there is the older generation... the 50+ crowd who may be downsizing their home or they may be building a new home, looking for unique pieces of artwork that reflect their sophisticated tastes.

Then there's the question of style. Do people these days want modern and minimal or colorful and eclectic? Are they excited to collect artwork from around the world or are they more comfortable with the Crate&Barrel and Ikea basics?

I guess the reality is that not all women have the same taste. We know this is true of the men they date and I'm sure the same goes for the plates on which they serve dinner. Plus, I really can't discount men. After all, I know more than a few guys who are quite passionate about cooking and entertaining.

But amidst all this ambiguity, there must be some trends that overshadow the others... some current and overriding styles in tableware that would help me be a more informed buyer. Any and all thoughts on what's en vogue in the ceramic, pottery, tableware, or kitchen world would be much appreciated! Especially as it applies to specific ages/life stages of women... and men for that sake.

A lot to learn...

No wonder more people don't import ceramics from around the world. Man is it complicated! First you have to find the artisans you want to work with, which is by all means the most fun part of the process. For me this step required traveling around Europe, visiting friends and meeting people in some of the most beautiful places imaginable. All of these pottery-makers seem reliable and professional (enough) when you meet them and see all the beautiful pieces they're creating. However, trying to communicate with them from California is another thing altogether. They have email, they just choose not to use it. I honestly don't think they're ignoring me (at least I hope not) or trying to drive me crazy... I think the real answer is that they're Spanish, French, and Italian. Yes, I'm stereotyping, but from my experience with those three countries, people are so laid-back and unconcerned with increasing sales, they can tend to frustrate those of us Americans who are accustomed to a more uptight, anxiety-ridden working atmosphere. Don't get me wrong, this is the exact reason I love people from these countries and have chosen to import their artwork. But at this point in my business' infancy, it can be quite frustrating. Or maybe I'm just bitter, because I know they all just took the entire month of August off!

So back to the other obstacles an importer must face. I've researched and compared the costs/services of multiple shipping companies and customs brokers. Lead content is also a scary issue that has to be dealt with. If there's any lead present in the glaze of any piece I will be held responsible and the entire shipment will be sent back (at my expense, of course). I'd be less worried if my artisans were emailing and/or calling to insist there will be no lead in their glaze... but again, the email silence is less than reassuring.

But with every stage of the process I'm getting more excited and more committed to seeing it through. I've decided not to hold my breath on these first shipments, but just let the process unfold at its own pace. And then of course, when I look at the pieces I've found and ordered I cannot help my excitement... I love this stuff!

Trip Recap

My pottery adventure was, for the most part, a huge success. I met with pottery-makers throughout Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy. When I wasn't looking at pottery, I was talking about it -- with friends (new and old) at almost every bar and restaurant I went to along the way. I had a 3 hour "business meeting" over tapas at my favorite bar in Sevilla and discussed French pottery with a Parisian couple at a great wine bar in Marseille.

Besides pottery, I found many other subjects to "research" -- I tasted Port in its namesake Porto, Portugal. I sampled pate at a French bar in Spain and discussed it with a Belgian pate-maker outside Brussels. I did my best to support the wine and cheese industry in Spain. And I sampled all the classic Italian flavors I could manage -- deciding my all-time favorites are pesto sauce, cappuccinos, and chianti (none of which seem to taste nearly as good in the US). I know that doesn't all seem directly related to my business goals, but in my mind wine, food, and pottery are closely linked in the care and tradition that go into crafting perfection.

But to talk concrete outcomes... by the end of my pottery extravaganza, I had decided to definitely work with 4 of the potters I had met: 2 in Italy, 1 in Spain and 1 in France. Portugal will have to wait for now -- and I continue to look for additional sources from France, Spain, and Italy.

Vianagres

My first factory visit was at Vianagres in northern Portugal. John and Ana, who are in charge of sales at Vianagres, offered to pick me up at my hotel in the morning... and we ended up spending the entire day together. From a great lunch of grilled fresh fish and an extensive tour of their factory, to a home visit to meet their son who speaks perfect english, the day was nearly perfect. Vianagres ceramics are mostly blue and white designs -- and it's all hand painted! Here are some pictures I took during my visit.

My Itinerary

Here's my planned itinerary as I explore the mediterranean in search of hot new ceramic trends. I welcome any and all feedback and suggestions...

First stop - Portugal
I'll fly into Porto, rent a car and spend a few days driving to Lisbon. There are a number of large ceramic factories I'll be meeting with along the way in towns like


Then I'll continue east toward Evora, to a small town called Sao ... My parents and I visited this town known for their pottery about 4 years ago. We bought these plates, which I love!


I'm considering going down to the southern coast of Portugal. There's some blue and white pottery made near Faro that I like, but I'm not sure it warrants the trip down there. My next stop is Sevilla, where I'll be visiting friends.

Where else should I be going in Portugal? Any suggestions are welcome.

Spanish Pottery

I lived in Sevilla for a year -- that's when I really fell in love with the spanish people. There's a ton of ceramics in Spain and the most famous is from Andalucia. Personally, I find this typical style (below right) a little too busy though.





I do love the very basic terra cotta pottery from Spain. It's simple color and form is based solely on function - Sangria pitchers designed to keep the drink cold in the hot spanish summer and casserole dishes (shown below) perfect for oven-to-table dishes. In my opinion, it's the simplicity of these pieces that makes them beautiful.







I found some pieces that I love from Valencia. Here's a peice I think is really cool. I'm visiting this artist in Valencia.


A friend of mine in Lagrono said there's beautiful pottery made in a nearby town called Navarrete. I found a number of potters listed on the internet, but no pictures of their work. If you know what it looks like, please share. I don't really want to make the trip up to the Rioja region unless I've seen the pottery already.

Portuguese Pottery

While you probably don't realize it, pottery from Portugal is all the rage right now. Turn over most plates, bowls, and mugs you find at Williams-Sonoma or Crate&Barrell and you'll see "Made in Portugal." One reason I think we're importing so much from Portugal is that the country is doing an excellent job of promoting their handicrafts. When I started researching European ceramics, I found the Portuguese artists/manufacturers by far the easiest to deal with. They responded to me quickly via email, sent me high quality catalogues, and were eager to arrange meetings with me.