Today we’d like to introduce you to Nikkie Stutts.
Hi Nikkie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I first got my hands dirty in college around 2013. As most of us are when we first start out with a new craft or hobby, I was pretty bad at it, but it didn’t stop me the least bit and I completely fell in love with ceramics! I was obsessed with the challenges clay provided me on a daily basis and became driven to master it. I transferred over to San Francisco State University’s Ceramics program where my passion for the medium blossomed. I was welcomed by the community and pushed forward by my incredible teachers and mentors. My degree in ceramics taught me the fundamental practices of everything I need to know today but what it didn’t teach me was how to run my own business, that I am continually learning day by day. After leaving school with the naive mindset of thinking I now knew everything there was to know about ceramics, I ended up working as a production assistant for an amazing artist and ceramicist where I was finally able to see the ins and outs of how one woman runs her own small business. It was so inspiring to me to see this boss lady run a whole successful business from her home studio, I knew that I wanted to eventually do just the same. Later on, I began working at a hugely successful ceramics company in the Bay Area, where I was able to really see first-hand how a large-scale ceramics company is run, again I was inspired. All the while still creating my own work on the side, I began to get a substantial enough audience where I could finally support myself on my pieces alone.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
With starting any business there are always a few bumps. I continue to regularly have hurdles to jump and some days they feel like mountains to climb. I feel that this year has been the most crucial to my business, I have finally been able to dedicate all of my time and energy into what is Nikkie Stutts Ceramics. With this business I am taking it step by step, I truly learn something new every single day, whether it is a new glaze method, a social media tip, or how to fine-tune an issue on my website, I am slowly getting the hang of running a small business. My years of retail experience have aided me to provide the best possible customer service and put on a great display at markets but there is so much to a business that goes on at home behind the screen of a laptop that I continue to hone my tech skills. While I am constantly exploring new shapes and designs in the studio to bring into a collection, I feel that I am very much still in the baby stages of my small business and hope to continue to grow over the next coming years.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is meant to be fun and quirky but would also liven up a minimalist home. I wanted to create pieces that would turn your morning coffee or matcha into a lively start to the day. Nikkie Stutts Ceramics is known for colorful ceramics with a touch of simplicity meant to be enjoyed on a daily basis, whether it’s in your kitchen or viewed high up on your shelf. My goal with my work is to never stop exploring, trying out new ideas, and creating colorful pieces of functional art. I hope that my work ignites joy for others because I know how happy it makes me to make each piece and how much fun it is to be able to be creative on a daily basis.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
For me, what is the key to the success of my business is my personal happiness. I am so grateful I was able to quit my “9-5” and being able to take a step back, look at my life and put my work first was a HUGE step in the right direction. I feel like mental health has never been more important when it coincides with your career and becoming my own boss and being able to be creative has been, while challenging, incredible. I am able to create such joyful pieces because it is a true reflection of how I feel about my job. I strive to make my work week fun and wholeheartedly love what I do. That is why I feel that by prioritizing my health and happiness my business will flourish. I am very much a believer that if you thrive the things around you will thrive as well.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nikkiestuttsceramics.com
- Instagram: @nikkiestuttsceramics
