Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gabrielle King. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Gabrielle, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, naming is such a challenge. How did you come up with the name of your brand?
There is so much that goes into creating and sustaining a small business. The name was one of a million things I was juggling at the time. At 18, when I first started learning ceramics I wasn’t entirely confident in the name. Which I now know speaks to the terrifying nature of starting truly anything. The perks of being that young and unfiltered created some of the most memorable moments in my life probably because they were often lessons in disguise. Formerly known as Subpar Pottery with the tag line, “I’ll get better eventually” was the foundation for my now haven, The Slap Shop. In slang terms, ‘Slaps’ means great or awesome. A Roanoke local would pick up what I was trying to say if they heard, “That spinach artichoke croissant from Bread Craft… SLAPS!” I hear all the time, “Will your pottery slap me?” or “Do you abuse your clay by slapping it?” I laugh at the comments now, but when I first launched the rename I wasn’t completely sure. One thing I am sure of is that part of being an artist is following a feeling and letting creativity take over. I’ve enjoyed every conversation and encounter that has allowed me to share the ethos of my work. I would love for The Slap Shop to be around long enough for ‘slaps’ to be overheard at a wine bar or dinner party. I do believe it’s catching on, especially when I do events and new customers say, “Wow this piece really slaps.” It affirms all the feelings that I felt about my 8 years as a ceramicist.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Gabrielle King, and I’m the owner and creator behind the magic at The Slap Shop. I create one of a kind, handmade and functional pieces of art from clay, resin, or glass. I have always felt like I was my truest self when creating. I went to Radford University and graduated with a Bachelors in Speech Pathology. This was equally motivated by the fact that I had a stutter growing up, and I knew the field could create financial stability for my family. Maybe it’s just the Appalachia in me, but this area has always understood the infinite ways to tell a story. I was drawn to that degree because it’s a field that requires deep connections and storytelling. The rolling of our eyes, the font of menu, the plates we eat on, they all tell a story if you know how to listen. That’s also what art does. It is our softest and kindest teacher. In between the joy of creating there is no denying that being an artist is hard. Working as a teacher for the arts is difficult, but this path called out to me so loudly I couldn’t shut it out. I graduated college with a degree I would no longer use and set off to take my passion for clay to a business level. I found a small studio in Roanoke, Virginia, about an hour from my college town. I saved every penny I had and took classes. Being able to create fed my body more than the entire buffet at Golden Corral could. I dreamed of a life where creating with clay was my main source of income. So, I did that. After I graduated college, I worked a few jobs but ultimately realized I need to go full time with my business to give me the life I wanted. In August of 2022, I went full time. Being able to create beautiful piece for beautiful humans to enjoy in their day-to-day life is my purest connection to community. I am proud of my business in so many ways. I remember my first large order. I was a one woman company and 200 mugs seemed impossible. I threw rationality to the wind and then threw down 200 mugs on my trusty pottery wheel named Willy. Together with 9 seasons of The Office playing in the background and my 1997 Volvo station wagon named Vector, I finally turned all 200 mugs in. This broke the ceiling of what I knew I was capable of. It felt so different than the other accomplishments. When I graduated college I felt like I was given a participation trophy. Delivering this order, I felt like I had been given an Oscar. The celebration of art has always meant so much more to me.
Since that order I have gone on to do so many incredible things with my business. Roughly I’ve made over 30,000 pieces in 7 years. I have work for sale in lots of Virginia storefronts and e-commerce sites. I have spoken on a panel at a women’s entrepreneurship conference. I have taught countless workshops to students of all ages and backgrounds. My business can finally donate pieces to schools, nonprofits, and other organizations to help raise money for our community. The celebration of art looks like so many things, and for me this is just the beginning.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I’m eternally grateful to Star Hill Brewery in Roanoke who took a chance on me when they asked for a three-digit wholesale order of mugs. During the firing process you load all the air-dried pieces into the kiln by stacking all the pieces on top of each other like brick layers. This firing held the final 60 mugs of the order. After the firing cycle was complete, I opened my kiln to find the contents looked like a rock quarry. 1 mug exploded because it wasn’t completely dry before firing. All 60 mugs broke, and I had to start over. This is one of those moments where you painfully learn nothing is wasted. Every hour working with that clay made me a better potter. This work requires patience and endurance both physically and mentally. I hope I will be lucky enough to continue growing in those areas for the rest of my career.
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
I had no funding. I had no credit to get a loan. I didn’t qualify for a credit card. I had to work 4 jobs for years to support my business. I worked 8am-8pm and would get home to start working at The Slap Shop until 1-2 am. You start a business because you believe in it. Sleep doesn’t seem necessary when you can reach your dreams in person. That initial hustle will always be part of the motivation to learn from others and find new ways to grow. I’m proud of the years I struggled. There will always be hard work, and I know I’m capable of anything.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.Theslapshopllc.com
- Instagram: Theslapshopllc
- Facebook: The Slap Shop Va
Image Credits
Will Bower Photography for the photo of me with all the mugs Brent butler photography for the photo of my infront of my table