In owning my business, I have come to realize 2 things.

1.  Competition is good
2.  Finding a niche within the competition is even better!

When I started Peacock Pottery, I looked at all of my competitors big and small and for over the last 5 years have been trying to run my business with something special, something a customer can only get at Peacock Pottery. 

Within the Polish Pottery market, pricing is all very similar - obviously - since we all purchase items from the same factories, wholesalers etc.  So what do I do to compete?  Here are 5 things unique to Peacock Pottery:

1.  Gift with purchase - I always include a gift with purchase - no matter the size of the purchase.  Everyone likes getting a little something extra in their package.

2.  Gift Wrap at no additional charge - I started this from day 1 - I wrap all items individually with bubble wrap and then gift wrap in tissue paper.  The tissue paper is inexpensive for me - but the presentation for the customer is great. 

3.   Thank you Card -  I always include a thank you note to my customer's.

4.  Creating unique products that are only available through Peacock Pottery.  We have one of a kind necklaces, trivets, wine charms, napkin holders and new this year are piggy banks.  All of these items are hand made utilizing the pottery to create a gift that can only be found through Peacock Pottery.

5.  Keeping things fresh - I often have customers or potential customers ask if I can send them a catalog of my products.  My answer is always no, I do not produce a catalog for a couple of reasons.  There are so many patterns (hundreds) and products that are created in Boleslawiec that I don't want to just carry a few select patterns. 

The second reason is that I love seeing all the new patterns and products and hope that my customers do too!  Over the years, I have heard the same comment "I never knew there were so many beautiful patterns - I've never seen these on another website".  That is music to my ears - a customer will keep coming back to your store to see what new items you are selling now and isn't that what it is all about?

I try to treat my customers the way I want to be treated - with kindness, respect and give them a comfortable buying experience.   If you are passionate about your business, the customers will know and continue to shop with you. 

            

        

This morning I enjoyed a pot of coffee with a girlfriend to catch up on business, marketing and just plain "girl stuff".  We had a wonderful morning and were not at a loss for words - we chatted all morning long!  I pulled out an old recipe today that I haven't made in a long time.  Besides, you can't have coffee with a friend without a tasty treat can you? 

Raisin Cinnamon Bars

1/4 C soft butter or margarine
1 C packed brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 C hot coffee
1 1/2 C flour
1 t baking powder
1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1/2 C raisins
1/4 - 1/2 C chopped pecans (I use 1/2 C )

Icing
1C powdered sugar
1/2 t vanilla
5 t water

Preheat oven to 350.  In a mixing bowl, combine butter and brown sugar, mix until crumbly.  Add egg and mix well.  Slowly beat in coffee.  Add flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda & salt.  Mix thoroughly.  Add raisins and pecans - stir by hand.  Coat a 9 x 13 baking pan with cooking spray (Pam) and pour in batter.  Put in oven and bake for 20 - 22 minutes or until the edges begin to pull away from edge of pan.  Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes.

While the bars are cooling, mix the icing - powdered sugar, vanilla and water with a wisk.  Spread over warm bars.  Delicious with a hot cup of coffee!  Enjoy

        

When I started Peacock Pottery, our oldest son was 2 and I felt like I needed a creative outlet.  My dream was always to own a boutique - but a storefront wouldn't work out with staying home to care for our son.  While searching the internet one evening I came across a wonderful wholesaler of Polish Pottery who shared my vision of home, business and spirituality.  I personally LOVE my polish pottery and use it daily.  So this seemed like the perfect fit.  So my vision started and has been ongoing for 5 years now.  My passion is still the same. 

On the other hand, having a home business is also a challenge, we now have 2 boys ages 6 & 2, my days are filled with school, playing, sports, friends etc.  How does a stay at home mom get time to dedicate to the business without just turning on the TV?  Well, that was my dilemma yesterday - I needed an hour just to work on orders and the website.  I went to the kitchen and decided to make bright purple playdoh and super goo!  The boys were thrilled and it kept them occupied for well over an hour - I was able to get my work done - they were able to play independently and we were all happy!

Playdoh Recipe
2 C water
1 or 2 packages of unsweetened KoolAid ( we like to use 2 for brighter colors)
1 t Vegetable oil
2 C Flour
3/4 C Salt
2 t Cream of Tartar

Place all ingredients in sauce pan and cook over medium heat - stirring constantly.  When dough starts to pull away from the edges and forms a ball, take off heat.  Turn onto the counter and knead.  Store in an airtight bag.  Enjoy!

Super Goo - this is great for boys!
1/4 C Water
1/2 C Corn Starch
Mix water and corn starch together so the "goo" is consistent enough to form a ball but when you hold it in your hands it will ooze through your fingers!  This is messy but so much fun! 

        

This is so easy, takes less than 15 minutes to put in the crock pot and tastes so good!

2 lbs Boneless Pork Loin
1 1/2 C Chopped Onion
1/2 - 1 C Diet Cola (pepsi, coke etc.) depending on how thick you would like your sauce
1 C Barbecue Sauce (low sodium if possible)

Mix together cola, barbecue sauce and onions.  Place the pork loin in the crock pot and pour sauce over top.  Cook on high for 4 - 6 hours.  Shred pork with a fork, serve on hoagie rolls.  Top with additional onions, homemade pickles and enjoy.  Serves 8.

        

At Peacock Pottery, of course we sell Polish Pottery, last year we added some German linens.  The 36" table squares are one of my favorite ways to dress up a room.

While living in Poland, we tried to travel as much as possible, either around Poland or taking a couple of days to tour around different countries.  One of my favorite items to purchase were linens - for 2 reasons.  1.  Easy to pack in a suitcase   2.  All handmade - this is a talent that I can appreciate - my grandmother could crochet - something I've never tried. 

Currently in my "Linen" closet, I have tablecloths from Germany, Poland, Hungary & France - each one of them has a memory tied to them - which makes using them even more fun for me - who doesn't love great vacation memories?

When I added the German Table Squares to the website last year, I received quite a few comments on how beautiful they were, but people weren't quite sure what to do with them.  So here are a couple of ideas for decorating, I hope you enjoy dressing up your dining room like I do.

1.  In the middle of your dining room table (rectangular) like a diamond. 

2.  Put a plain colored tablecloth and then lay the square in the middle for an elegant look.

3  Use as a topper on a round corner table.

                                       

Change the linens out with the seasons or your mood - have fun.

        

When I mention entertaining guests with multiple patterns on your dining table, does it send chills down your spine?  Do you like everything to match?  With Polish Pottery, the more patterns, the "happier" your table becomes!  Now let me explain. 

In the summer of 2003, my husband & I were still living in Warsaw, Poland.  I was pregnant and making plans to return to the U.S.A., but before moving back home, I had shopping to do!  My husband & I love the pottery and had made a decision to buy an entire dinnerware set to bring home.  There is a great, small shop in Warsaw, the shopkeeper - Anna is truly a gem.  We had shopped with her multiple times for gifts etc.  I had looked at many, many patterns and had my heart set on one particular pattern.  I grew up in the Midwest and my Great Grandmother had a garden full of tulips, so of course the pattern I chose was Tulips.  I wrote down all of the pieces that I wanted to purchase and took the tram to the store. 

When I arrived at the store and told Anna what pattern I wanted and how many pieces of each, she looked at me and smiled.  This is what she told me "No, no dear, you don't want just one pattern, you want to mix up the patterns because that makes a happy table." 

Now, the thought going through my mind, is "That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard, why would mixing your patterns up make your table happy? and I'm quite sure I just want one pattern."   My friends back home will think I am crazy - no one mixes patterns except maybe your Grandmother. 

Well, I didn't want to offend Anna, so I let her show me how all the patterns mixed and matched.  Since we were the only 2 people in the store, we laid out all of the dinner plates on the floor - 10 different patterns.  I had to admit that she was right, all of the patterns looked great together.  All of the plates had a blue edge with the blue and green flowers, leaves and lines throughout the patterns.  Since it made me smile just looking at them on the floor, I knew it would make a "happy table" back at home.  So, we found plates, mugs, bowls and all the accessories - in multiple patterns.  They were purchased, boxed up and shipped to the U.S.A.,.  I received them about a month later and LOVED, LOVED, LOVED seeing all the beautiful patterns!

I don't even know how many different patterns I now own, but rest assured, they are all beautiful and I love them. 

Now every time I entertain friends and family, I always receive compliments on the multiple patterns and how beautiful they are and I secretly say a Thank you to my friend Anna for her wonderful advice. 

My advice to you.....go ahead and mix up the patterns - every time you use them, I guarantee they will make you smile too! 

                                            

        

2/3 C Crisco
1/3 C Butter
1 C. Brown Sugar
1 C White Sugar
2 Eggs
1 t Soda
2 1/2 C Flour
1 t Salt
1 t Vanilla
Mini M & M's (you may use regular M & M's also)

Preheat oven to 375.  Cream together Crisco, butter, white sugar.  Then add brown sugar and eggs - mix well.  Add soda, salt, vanilla - mix - start adding the flour slowly while mixing.  Mix in M & M's by hand - as many or as few as you would prefer - we like our loaded with M & M's!  Bake for 7 - 9 minutes at 375.  Enjoy with a cold glass of milk!  Smacznego

        

3 C. Cooked Chicken - cubed
1 Package Seasoned Long Grain and Wild Rice - 5 ounces - prepared
14 ounce can of French Style Green Beans - drained
8 ounce can Sliced Water Chestnuts - drained
1 C Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup
1/2 - 3/4 C Mayonaisse
1/4 C. Diced Onion
1 C Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Preheat oven to 375.  In a large bowl combine all ingredients except the cheese.  Place in a greased 9 x 13 baking dish and top with cheese.  Bake - uncovered for 35 minutes.  Serves 6 - 8.  Smacznego

        

1 C. Shoestring Potatoes
! C. Shredded Carrots
1/4 C Sweet Onion - diced
1 C Celery - Chopped
1C Tuna, Diced Chicken or Salmon
1/2 C Miracle Whip (light is fine to use)
Mustard (to taste)
Vinegar (to taste)
1/2 t Sugar
Cream or Milk

Add carrots, onion, celery, tuna (chicken or salmon) in a mixing bowl.  In another bowl mix salad dressing, mustard, vinegar, sugar - add enough milk (or cream) to thin to desired consistency.  Mix dressing with vegetables and meat.  Right before serving, add and mix in the Shoestring Potatoes.  Makes 6 servings. Smacznego

        

It is an exciting time of year for Peacock Pottery, I am busy setting up local holiday boutiques and ordering NEW pieces and patterns!  It is always so much fun to add new products and patterns - the factories add new patterns every year.  That is why it is so much fun to mix and match your pieces - just way to many to choose from to settle on just one! 

So a few new pieces will be available this fall:

1 quart Teapots
More coffee mug - traditional shapes - new patterns
Curvy Edge Serving bowl
Utensil Holders
Heart Shaped Candy Dish
Decorative Cats
Cracker Trays
Cross Ornaments
Snowman Candle Holders
 
Also, new patterns for some traditional items - platters, bread plates, bubble mugs, ramekins, loaf bakers. 

Stay tuned - I will post as soon as all the new items have arrived and when they are available online.