Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carolina Spitzer. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Carolina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Alright, let’s jump into one of the most exciting parts of starting a new venture – how did you get your first client who was not a friend or family?

My pottery journey started as a hobby, but quickly became a passion. Working with clay allowed me to express my creativity in a way that other design disciplines didn’t. The natural imperfections of my pottery gave each piece its own, unique character – I believed there was value there, and an opportunity to share it with others.

After two years of perfecting my craft and creating a variety of pottery products, my house was filled to the brim with my creations. It was time to start selling them. I scouted for businesses in Brooklyn that shared a similar aesthetic and vibe to my products. I prepared a presentation on my iPad to showcase my work, and hit the streets, knocking on doors and introducing myself and my wares. 
One of my first successes was when I approached a lovely shop in Myrtle Avenue, and they agreed to sell my pottery on consignment. While the sales were slow at first, it was incredibly rewarding to see people outside my inner circle getting excited about my the objects I designed and created. This early victory gave me the confidence to continue exploring new ideas and products.

I remember a lazy morning in the studio when I was experimenting with hand building, instead of the wheel which was my usual format. That morning I stumbled upon what would become my best-selling product, the “Amigo Match Striker” (https://www.carolaspitzer.com/product-page/amigo-matchstriker-blue) I felt strongly about this cute, whimsical object and developed a few color variations. I had a friend take professional photos to create a new presentation showcasing the Amigo Match Striker among other new products that I added to the line. This time around, I was able to secure my first wholesale order, selling twenty pieces.

My original scope was home accessories, but I was inspired to expand into a handmade ceramics jewelry line. I followed the same process as before, seeking out businesses that shared my aesthetic and vibe. Today, my jewelry line is becoming a success, and I’m thrilled to see clients buying both home products and jewelry.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am Carolina (Carola) Spitzer, a multidisciplinary artist and designer with expertise in graphic, packaging, textile, and industrial design. Throughout my career, I have worked in a variety of industries, including branding design, advertising, and museums, catering to both the South American scene in my hometown of Buenos Aires and the US market in New York City, where I currently reside with my family.

In 2017, I made the decision to focus on achieving a higher work/life balance and spend more time with my young child. During this time, I started exploring clay as a new medium and realized that I could combine my design expertise and my passion and experience in home fashion to develop a unique line of products that would add warmth and personality to people’s homes. My products are whimsical yet sophisticated, offering the perfect blend of style and practicality.

My bestseller and one of the products I’m most proud about is the Amigo Match Striker. A cute small cup shaped container with a sculptural nose and sweet little face features that is designed to contain and strike matches with the flick of a wrist, making all the lightning events in someone’s life significantly more fun and meaningful.

It’s been my own practice for years now to shop almost exclusively for things that can stay with me for the long run and that make sense in my everyday life. That is the kind of object I want to offer my customer too: something that is not set on the newest trend and rather speaks to the soul, style and personality of the individual.
 I carried the same concept to my jewelry line and was determined to create pieces that had a soulful, timeless feeling. My line of products speak to that idea and maybe one of the best examples is The Bowie necklace, where the natural imperfection of the clay, along with an edgy design and hand painted gold finish make a statement piece that is stylish sophisticated and elegant yet bold and fun.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

In-person markets and pop-up shops have been the most successful in bringing me closer to new clients. It certainly is physically demanding, but I love the opportunity to tell my story and see the excitement of total strangers to my creations.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

“Everything needs to be perfect” – I had to let go of this idea of perfection to start and sell my products.  
My undergrad was in graphic design where training is strict on letter spacing, word spacing, color palettes, strong cohesive concepts, innovation etc. Most of the work I did was heavily governed by the use of software and technology that allowed for perfect centering and exact measurements, sharp lines etc. 
Nothing in my current practice works like that. When I first started exploring clay I was sort of both captivated yet horrified by the idea of clay’s natural imperfection. I wondered whether others would find it appealing too. It was so rewarding to learn that people appreciated the craft with all of its expressions, such as someone appreciates an honest response or a genuine character.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.carolaspitzer.com
• Instagram: @carola_spitzer

Image Credits
Ana Maria Gastañeta