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Gabrielle Burke | Episode 464
After graduating from the Emily Carr University of Art and Design, former product designer Gabrielle Burke founded g ceramic & co. Gabrielle was enamored by the way ceramic objects habitat in our daily lives. For her it is amazing how people rely on objects such as mugs and bowls and have an interpersonal relationship with them. Gabrielle creates work for wedding registries, restaurants, online, retail, markets, and is also available by appointment at her studio on Alberta & 5th Avenue in Vancouver, BC.
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When you think of success what will you have to have completed to be a successful potter?
You know it’s interesting, I have always admired the older generation of potters that have seemed so successful and I have always wondered, I don’t know if I am successful or not. It’s like, am I an adult? I don’t know I don’t feel like an adult. I feel like a kid.What makes you successful? I think what makes you successful is making items that have integrity to them and making objects that are relate-able. I think that is being successful and creating items that are authentic and honest. I put a lot of research into my mugs and the design of my handles and they are very specific. They are really nice to hold and I spent years and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of handles I made to get them to this point. I am so proud of my mugs and I am so proud of my handles. I had a teacher tell me I will probably never make a good mug and that really stuck with me.
Do you make a good mug?
I do. I think so.
What do you do on a daily basis to grow as a business person?
Get myself out of bed. (laughter)I just keep doing. I wish there were four of me. I do not have enough time to do all the things that I want to do. It takes a lot of time to grow a business and to learn all the things. I love every single aspect of my business. I love the photography, I love the design, I love making, I love going to the shows and talking with people and creating relationships with people that will use them. I think it is just learning and being open to whatever comes your way and also having the understanding that you have the ability to say no.
What technology do you use to help your business run smoothly?
Google spreadsheets? I don’t really use any programs. I don’t know, I just go with the flow.
What about your accounting?
Google spreadsheets. I send all my stuff to my accountant at the end of the year and he files it for me.
What is something you wish you understood better as a business person?
As a business person I wish I had more control over my website and understand how to back up my website, and you know, be more efficient. One of the things I would really like to do is take myself to the next level with digital marketing and understanding all that.
What do you want to be remembered for?
I want to be remembered for creating a sense of community and being someone who passed on the information gracefully and that enabled other people the understanding and the ability to express themselves.
People ask you how you do what you do. What do you tell them?
Follow your gut. Listen to your heart. I had someone ask me to be their mentor recently and she had a daughter who was quite artistic. She thought I would be the best person to be in her life and I said, No I am not the best person. You are. Having people around you that support you and will be there for you and be your cheerleader. That is so incredible. You have to have the confidence in yourself to know what you are doing is right.
How do you build a good customer relationship?
I think a good customer relationship is through the integrity of your work and also through caring about their experience. And creating boundaries as well.
What does that mean?
Just recently I had someone that ordered something off my website and I have 4 to 6 weeks for shipping on that item because it can be time consuming to put together. She messaged me and asked, Could I please have that item early? I said Yes, that I would try. I shipped it at three and half weeks and it got there in about three days, and she had recently messaging me that she was so disappointed that it was taking so long. When she received it she messaged that the necklace was super tangled and that she had to spend an hour untangling it and that she was really disappointed with the process. I thanked her for reaching out to me and told her unfortunately due to me just running the business I do have a four to six week ship date which I shipped early.
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Instagram: @gceramicandco