Turns out Peter Deneen has been studying and working with clay for just about his entire adult life. Yes Deneen Pottery is now celebrating it’s 40th Anniversary, but my dad started working with clay when he was a freshman at Luther College.

Without further adieu – the updated artist statement of Peter Deneen:

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Peter Deneen at the wheel in 1970

He completed his master’s degree at the University of Northern Iowa. Under the direction of Don Finigan, he pursued an exploration in the use of clay and polyester resins as a combined medium in an extension of the natural plasticity of clay into synthetic plastic.

While teaching part-time at Hamline University in St. Paul, Peter opened and operated The Pottery Shop in St. Paul’s Park Square Court.

During the summer months when the pottery suspended production, Peter was able to further his training and education. In 1971, he was Dean Schwarz’s assistant at South Bear Creek in Highlandville, Iowa. He toured the United States and Europe studying potteries and their production. But the most sustained activity during these times was his participation in the summer school operated by Marguerite Wildenhain in Guerneville, California. Wildenhain was one of the few remaining craftspeople that continued to further the traditions acquired at the Bauhaus in the United States. Steeped in the master/apprentice tradition of Europe, she attempted to transfer some of the same discipline of her training to her American students and protégés. During the summer of 1976, Peter acted as one of Wildenhain’s assistants working with beginning potters and those students involved in production.

As a result of his studies with Wildenhain, Peter was able to establish something unique to the American crafts scene. Those same principals are in use today with Deneen Pottery located in St. Paul, where 7 potters are working under his direction. The design sensibilites that exist in Peter’s one-of-a-kind works are echoed in the lines produced by his production pottery company.

Here's me and dad goofing for the camera at Deneen Pottery the spring of 2012.

When not directing his company Peter Deneen produces only his favorite pieces at his private studio in Maiden Rock, WI. Perched on a bluff overlooking Lake Pepin, Peter and his wife Mary work with stoneware clay, fired in either their electric or salt kilns.

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We are lucky to have his experience, design esthetic, ambition, and generosity guiding us as we produce the finest handmade stoneware for you. When you want to find the best mugs, find someone that has been making them for a lifetime, chances are you will be calling Deneen Pottery.

Thank you for reading our blog,
Niles Deneen – CEO, Marketing

That being said, with the blessing of more orders also comes longer lead times, or as Dad says, “the problems that you pray for.” The production time for an order of 50-100 handmade mugs is 12 weeks right now. We have increased our production 20% over last year and have been able to hire on 5 new employees in the last 6 months – two of which are potters! I recently snapped a picture of one, which is posted on facebook, as he is learning how much fun the curves of the round belly can be. Typically a new potter needs to throw about 1000 mugs before any meet the standards to be stamped with Deneen Pottery.

Keeping busy, working hard, and setting clear expectations is what we are focused on. As we strive to ship within 7-10 days of our projected ship dates, we thank you for your patience and can be reached anytime (888-646-0238) to give updates on your order. We hope that the sales of your custom handmade mugs and businesses are doing well, and look forward to hearing from you in the coming weeks.

Now is the perfect time to place your Autumn or Holiday mug orders.

Thank you for reading our blog.
Niles Deneen – CEO, Deneen Pottery

We are continuing to celebrate our 40th Anniversary and have mailed out our new catalog to all of our customers. If you would like to receive one just click here and send us an email with your address. We have added a few new signature mug styles to our current line up of handmade mugs, developed 9 new satin & matte glazes, and have brought on a few more sizes of soup crocks. Everything will be online and live in about 30 days when we launch our new site!

On a recent trip while in the the Delta Sky Lounge in Atlanta, waiting for my next flight, I got up to help myself to a cup of coffee. When I turned around there was this young man standing behind me. We exchanged pleasantries and as I was stepping past I glanced at the logo on this shirt.

PIE in the SKY… I know this logo well and reached into my pocket to grab my iPhone. I asked if I could take a picture and received a slightly embarrassed, “sure thing”. When I got back to the office a few days later I started telling Teena, Julie and Kristen about this when our shipper, Todd, walked in. I showed him the photo and he pulled me into his area and opened up a box of hand-thrown mugs on the line. “Look what we are about to ship,” Todd said.

What a coincidence – Pie in the Sky mugs were just heading out. I wonder if that young man and his family purchased one of the handmade mugs that we made for our friends in Woods Hold, MA. Either way it is nice to see a familiar face in a foreign place, and to know that our customers names are getting out there, on T-shirts or on our handmade stoneware mugs. What a small world.

Thanks for reading our blog,
Niles Deneen – CEO, Marketing

First of all we would like to thank everyone who participated in our
“help us name our newest mug style” contest that we had at the
Innkeeping Conference hosted by PAII.

With over 100 suggestions to choose from this was no simple, easy task.

Reading through the suggestions on the final night of the conference was fun.

They made us smile, laugh, and also reminisce…

Remember we’ve been handmaking stoneware for 40 years and coming up with new names is an important part of the creative process. Time and attention must be given because these mug styles will continue to be with us for forever!

After careful “Team Centered” consideration our winner was a combination:

“Bell Bottom” – Submitted by Vinessa Milando

William Murray from the Montford Inn suggestion which was brilliant,
“to recognize the customer who has been with you the LONGEST.”

Clearly the “Bell Bottom” spoke clearly about the SHAPE of the handmade custom mug – but we wanted something more… As the discussions weaved to Watkins who was our first customer, to galleries in the Twin Cities like the Bibelot where we first sold more artistic one-of-a-kind pieces, it dawned on us that Jo Ann Bell was officially retiring. Jo Ann along with Pat Hardy were the Radically Hospitable founders of PAII. Another blog will be written about the first letter that Jo Ann wrote to my dad, Peter Deneen, when she was looking for a “Mug Maker” for the first PAII conference 20 years ago.

Back to the naming of the mug. We decided to combine the first letter of JoAnn’s name “J” with the latter half of “Bell Bottom” – which so perfectly gave us J-Bell! clearly a WIN-WIN! Not a day passes that we don’t think about how lucky we are for our relationship with PAII and for the friendship and we have with JoAnn and Pat. Now we have an official mug that marks this time.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
Niles Deneen – CEO, Marketing
Deneen Pottery

]]> http://deneenpottery.com/how-the-j-bell-got-its-name/feed/ 0 http://deneenpottery.com/an-innspired-decision/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=an-innspired-decision http://deneenpottery.com/an-innspired-decision/#comments Wed, 30 Nov 2011 18:49:24 +0000 deneen http://www.deneenpottery.com/blog/?p=1810 Here is a story about a recent order that we completed about an amazing innkeeper named Kathy Hartley, and an annual retreat that she hosts at her inn.

The three-day retreat is offered to those who are undergoing treatment for any type of cancer, not just breast cancer.  Some of them even have multiple forms of the disease.  There is no cost to the women who attend because of Kathy’s tireless efforts to provide funding for the event.  Not only has she applied for and received grants, but she also approaches local businesses for their support. She has been successful at getting the retreat covered under the Ventura County Medical Group’s 501(c)(3) status which recognizes it as a nonprofit program. According to the article, a locally-owned grocery store offers food that the ladies use to prepare meals together in the kitchen.

We were so moved by this article that we wanted to do something for Kathy and the ladies who will attend the next retreat.  Since making handmade stoneware mugs is what we do best, we decided to create the first-ever INNcourage commemorative mug as our way of thanking Kathy for her noble and benevolent work.

 Teena, our talented art director, was able to combine the two pieces to create the beautiful medallion. For this unique run we selected the round belly mug because of its graceful shape and it’s a perfect size for wrapping your hands around. This is our first announcement of the special project for Kathy and the INNcourage retreat!

The entire retreat is designed around serenity.  Facials, makeovers, and yoga by candlelight are just some of the examples of the special treatment that Kathy provides. One-on-one therapy as well as group sessions led by a certified therapist are also offered. Those who attend are always encouraged to participate in the activities but are free to spend time alone.  Kathy’s goal is to make them feel as comfortable and as welcome as possible.  They are also treated to dinner at Ojai’s Feast Bistro. The owners there have supported Kathy since day one.

The most touching part of this story for us is that these ladies are hand-selected by nurses at the local oncology clinic. Those who get chosen are ones who wouldn’t normally have the chance to experience this type of retreat due to financial or familial obligations. Many of them don’t even have insurance, and some of them are single parents working two jobs. This year each guest will receive her own INNcourage mug that we created especially for the retreat.

We hope that our small donation will not only raise awareness for cancer itself, but will also be a call to action for others to make a difference whenever and however possible. We are so fortunate to have grown our family business within this industry where individuals like Kathy continue to inspire and INNcourage us every day.

Niles Deneen – VP, Marketing
Deneen Pottery

We have been making handmade stoneware mugs for Rebecca Gallagher since 2009, but The Historic Smithton Inn has been a customer since 1996. Rebecca has a background in marketing, and is as sharp as the come, always full of ideas, and whenever I see her I always grab my idea’s notebook!!!

“I just learned the secret to increasing sales of your Deneen coffee mugs… buy the BOXES!!!!!”

“It may seem like a little thing, but I’m telling you, it’s MAGIC.  Here’s how it’s worked for us:

I’ve gotten in the habit of having Deneen produce coffee mugs for us in batches of 100 that they put into storage [Pack & Hold] for us.  Any time I start running low, I have them ship me 50 [handmade mugs] out of inventory, and when inventory runs low I have them make up another batch.  On June 10th, Deneen shipped me 50 mugs… that order lasted until October 3rd when they shipped me another 50.  I made a  change with my October order though, I also purchased 50 boxes to go with the mugs.  And Voila, Magic!  TODAY, a mere 24 DAYS since my last order, I called Deneen to have them send me another 50 [handmade mugs]!!!  I’d expected to see a small increase in sales, but this went far beyond what I anticipated.  Luckily I already have another 100 mugs in production because at this rate I’m going to need them quick!”

“I’m not sure why, but [the single gift box] really seems to make a difference for guests… maybe it’s that little-bit more obvious that the mugs are for sale, and it’s clear that they’re not taking a mug that’s been used by someone else during breakfast…that it’s new and ready for them to take home safely or give as a gift?  Whatever the reason, I’m a believer! Give it a try… the boxes are reasonably priced and the results speak for themselves!!!”

Thanks Rebecca!!!

The gift boxes are 75¢ each, they ship flat are easily assembled and you can order as few as 5. We can ship them out with your order and from now until X-mas if you mention reading this blog we will give you 5 for free, just to test out! That about sums it up, if you want to sell more mugs, then dressing them up in our single mug gift boxes this holiday season is an easy idea to try. Attempting to slow Eloise down will not be nearly as easy!

Thank you for reading our blog!
Niles Deneen VP, Marketing
Deneen Pottery

The style of the mug that we are focused on today is our latest and greatest called the patriot. This 12 oz. mug was designed by our potter Wade, who has been throwing pots here for coming up on 15 years. He is also fast becoming our glaze chemist, and we will have some new matte finishes very soon thanks to him. Anyway, back to the story, the Patriot mug! This mug was named on in honor of Independence Day with help from a close knit group of our fans on Facebook.

Pictured in our Navy w/Sand marble glaze and our fieldstone matte – These mugs are on now on their way out to Valley Forge, Pennsylvania’s
first state park, which was established in 1893. “In 1976, the bicentennial year of the Declaration of Independence, the park was transferred to the National Park System as Valley Forge National Historic Park.” The image that was chosen for the mug is George Washington’s head quarters and the intricacy of the each stone of the building is visible in the design.

Seeing this important building on our Patriot mug reinforces what it is that we are doing – Creating timeless permanent pieces of our nations history, one handmade mug at a time.

Look for more mugs at National Parks this season and you can always use our map www.deneenmugcollector.com to find your next original piece of Deneen Pottery – Handmade in the USA since 1972.

Thanks for reading our blog,
Niles Deneen VP, Marketing
Deneen Pottery

Since we are one of the few manufacturers still producing 100% American Made Mugs we stand behind this and also pledge to vote with our wallets. Through innovation, pride, and passion we strive to produce the best stoneware mugs that we can everyday! Here is our latest and greatest new mug style called the Patriot – Aptly named for the approaching celebration of Independence Day.

We are a family business that has been hand making stoneware pieces since 1972. Since the beginning our goal has remained simple, provide the best stoneware to our clients. Every piece that we produce is made at our factory in St. Paul, MN and all of our mugs are 100% American Made!

Thanks for taking time to read this small blog, and we hope that you will vote with your wallets this summer especially when it come time to purchase your next mug. Always look on the bottom – Our name is stamped along with the year that the piece was created.

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
Niles Deneen
VP, Marketing
Deneen Pottery

Did you say all 50 states?!?
“Yes – A round belly mug from each of the 50 states.”

Last month I wrote about about a couple that stayed at the Green Lake Guest House specifically because they had Deneen Pottery Mugs. The very next day I received an email from a self professed mug collector named Vince Smith (yes, his last name is really Smith) who let me in on his mug collecting goal. “Several months ago I decided to start a collection of round bellies WITH logos with the ambitious goal of acquiring one Round Belly from each of the 50 states.  I’ve been using Ebay for [some of] these purchases and now have 14 mugs from 12 states – pretty good progress for just a few months.”

“The collection now has 13 states or 26% of the way.”

Vince first contacted us back in April of 2009 when he was looking to replace a round belly mug that he purchased years ago from the Rose Hill Inn (read that story here). Because the Inn was destroyed in a horrible fire, and it has not yet reopened, replacing that mug seemed impossible. “Unfortunately, the mug was broken beyond recognition,  I know that’s hard to believe since they are so sturdy.” Here is a picture of that broken Rose Hill Inn mug, along with a distant ‘cousin’ mug from Scotland that Vince picked up on a vacation years before he knew anything about Deneen Pottery.

As fortune would have it, while sorting out samples for the Paii Conference at the start of they year I found a random box of samples… And inside of that box was… Yep, you guessed it, a lone Rose Hill Inn mug!?! Upon the suggestion of our newest employee, Heath Croft [Director of Social Media, Sales], we packed up that mug and quietly sent it to Vince, this was his reply.

“I really was surprised to see that you sent a Rose Inn mug exactly like the ones that I had before.  Thanks so much.  It is extra special with the matching cover.  My wife is a big tea drinker, so she will probably want to steep her tea in the Rose Inn mug. Plus that adds a state that I did not have, due to the unfortunate demise of the two originals from the Rose Inn.  With New York, the collection now has 13 states or 26% of the way.”

It’s been a pleasure working with you, Vince! We look forward to hearing back about your collection as it grows!!!

Thank you for reading our blog!
Niles Deneen, CEO
Deneen Pottery

#1 Use Them!

It has been said that if you want to know how good a mug is, YOU HAVE TO DRINK FROM IT!  People fall in love with our mugs when they use them, and once they are in love, they’ll want to take them home!

#2 Knowledge is power. So, talk about the mugs!

Here are 4 easy points:
1). The mugs are made by Deneen Pottery, a family business since 1972.
2.) Each mug is individually hand-thrown on a potter’s wheel.
3.) All materials are lead and cadmium free.
4.) The mugs are microwave, dishwasher, oven and freezer safe.

#3 Display Them!

You don’t need a gift shop to do this.  A simple pyramid or a couple mugs with the stand-up card that we provide in your shipment will do.  By allocating a space for the mugs to be seen, people will then know that they are for sale.

#4 Put them in your guest rooms!

Worried that they’ll grow legs?  Not if you put a well-worded sign like this one with them.  Feel free to use it as it is or change up the text to make it your own.

#5 Give a Little to Get a lot!

Don’t be afraid to give away a mug or two. Of course we know you paid for them, but just think of the return you could receive when someone asks where the mug came from… We hear stories all the time about travelers who plan their trips according to which Bed & Breakfasts carry our mugs. Consider it the most affordable form of advertising that you can buy. You’ll never know whose hands the mugs will end up in, it could be your next loyal guest!

Thank you for reading our blog!
Niles Deneen – CEO
Deneen Pottery