Interview with Chaucy Schader, owner
Q: How did you get involved in this business?
A: All I ever wanted to do was study art. Starting at around the age of 6, I would spend my days drawing in my father’s hardware store. It was college that introduced me to sculpture and ceramics, and I haven’t turned back since. After I graduated, I moved from St. Louis to Colorado and almost immediately began to build up a pottery studio and cottage industry out of the basement of my home. After almost 30 years of hard work, I am where I am today, and thankfully that no longer means working out of my basement.
Q: What distinguishes you from other businesses in your category?
A: What really differentiates my pottery from other potters is the addition of relief sculpture on each piece. By combining what I learned from both my ceramics degree and my degree in sculpture, I am able to create a unique piece of art that is also extremely functional. Thanks to my sculpt work, every item from Pottery by Chaucy truly is one of a kind.
Q: What do you like best about your line of work?
A: The best part about my line of work is that I am able to use my creativity in a productive way. Regardless of the struggle that every small business owner understands, I feel extremely lucky to be able to do what I love every day and still support myself and my family.
Q: What is your business’ biggest challenge?
A: The biggest challenge we face here at Pottery by Chaucy is our inability to produce as fast as the demand for our product. It takes quite a bit of time for each piece to be completed, not only due to the nature of pottery in general — the amount of time it takes to dry and fire — but also because of the sculpt work that I add. If only there were more hours in the day.
Q: Something people might be surprised to learn about you or your business:
A: I am the single mother of four children ranging in age from 7 to 21. It is in between the many wrestling matches, lacrosse games and lots and lots of Pokemon cards and Monopoly that I find my time to work. Yes it is exhausting, but I really wouldn’t have it any other way.
Profile
Business: Pottery by Chaucy
Address: 307 Third St., Castle Rock
Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday
Founded: 1993
Contact: 303-660-1213,
Employees: 7
