Niles Deneen
Favorite part of working at Deneen Pottery? Everything! Working alongside and inspiring our awesome staff and assisting our incredible customers. Getting to be around such a creative process and talented artists - the variety of 'opportunities' that fill my day keep me on my toes. Witnessing the transformation from proof to product.
Now, we certainly aren’t in this business for the accolades.
Here at Deneen Pottery, we are passionate about creating quality, handmade mugs for our clients, providing excellent customer service, and working toward building a sustainable operational structure.
That’s what we do, and it’s what we love.
That said, being acknowledged for your hard work is fun too!
Recently, we were fortunate enough to receive the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Family-Owned Small Business of the Year for Minnesota.
The accepting of the award…
This award, based on our success as a small business — as well as our efforts to give back to the community — belongs to everyone throughout our business. It wouldn’t have been possible without their dedication to their craft.
We had a great time at the luncheon where we received our award, which just so happened to fall on the same day as our son Theo’s birthday. Once the District Director, Nancy J. Libersky, found out, she asked if it would be alright to acknowledge Theo.
We weren’t sure what would happen, but after we went through the formalities of accepting the award, Nancy presented a piece of chocolate cake complete with a lit candle. The whole room even joined in on a quick ‘Happy Birthday.’
We will never forget just how special they made this afternoon.
… and the accepting of the birthday cake!
Small Businesses and the Community
Small businesses are very important when it comes to the economy of their local community. However, in addition to providing jobs and filling needs in the marketplace, small businesses should also work towards improving the community around them in other ways.
At Deneen Pottery, we make sure to spend ample time volunteering and contributing to non-profits. We’ve done everything from volunteering on the Board of the Midway Chamber of Commerce to grabbing a shovel and getting dirty working on the Merriam Station Community Garden. We’ve also worked with the following organizations: One Heartland, Simpson Shelter, Saint Paul Public Housing Agency, The Firefly Sisterhood, and the Minnesota Breast Cancer Coalition.
We love looking for ways to help out mission-based organizations, and we believe that as a business — regardless of our size — we should all be heavily involved in the community.
So once again, on behalf of everyone here at Deneen Pottery, we’d like to thank the U.S. Small Business Administration for this award!
Niles Deneen
Favorite part of working at Deneen Pottery? Everything! Working alongside and inspiring our awesome staff and assisting our incredible customers. Getting to be around such a creative process and talented artists - the variety of 'opportunities' that fill my day keep me on my toes. Witnessing the transformation from proof to product.
