Louisville Stoneware

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Exterior of the Visitor Center
Exterior of the Visitor Center

Louisville Stoneware, previously known as Louisville Pottery, is located in the Highlands section of Louisville, Kentucky. Founded in 1815, making it one of the oldest stoneware companies in the United States, it creates fanciful stoneware that is nationally renowned. [1] [2] [3] It specializes in decorating its pottery with Kentucky Derby and Christmas themes, but it has other themes as well: Noah's Ark, Primrose, and Pear being examples. They can also create personalized items. Besides pottery, they have made bird baths and bird feeders. [4]

Clay used by the company comes from western Indiana, and may be up to 250 million years old.[5] Dishes made at the factory have been proven to be safe for use in ovens, microwave ovens, and dishwashers, and can retain heat for keeping food warm.[6]

Items from Louisville Stoneware are in the Smithsonian Institution and White House.[7] In addition, Queen Elizabeth II was presented a music box made by Louisville Stoneware, given by the wife of Kentucky's governor Ernie Fletcher, that played My Old Kentucky Home when the Queen visited Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby in 2007.[8]

The New York Times singled out Louisville Stoneware as a business especially affected by the United Parcel Service strike of 1997.[9]

During the U.S. presidential campaign of 2004, John Kerry gave a campaign diatribe on small-business healthcare insurance in May 2004 at Louisville Stoneware.[10]

In March 2007, Louisville Stoneware laid off most of its employees (38 out of 49), after which they retooled their visitor's center and temporarily opened a store at Oxmoor Center in St. Matthews, Kentucky. In July, it was sold to Two Stone Inc., as the previous owner, Christina Lee Brown, wished to retire.[11] The chief concept officer, Lisa Mullins, decided to increase the number of places that sold their stoneware from just one, Taste of Kentucky, to three additional locations in Louisville, and one apiece in Bardstown, Kentucky, Owensboro, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio.[12] There has been plans to open stores in Chicago, Illinois, Cincinnati, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana.[13]

Since 1997, company sales have averaged $3 million a year. In those ten years, the business switched from a mostly wholesale business to mostly retail. Over 90% of their business has been centered around Louisville and Kentucky, but internet and national advertising is expected to expand distribution.[14]

Factory tours are available weekdays by appointment, with group discounts available.[15] It is anticipated that, eventually, tours could make the factory as big a center for Louisville tourism as the Louisville Slugger Museum.[16]

[edit] Gallery

The Visitor Center's interior

Display at Louisville Stoneware

[edit] References

  1. ^ Louisville Stoneware Company Profile | Company Information
  2. ^ VandeHe, Jim. Kerry Describes Health Proposal Washington Post May 12, 2004, pg A08
  3. ^ Nold, Chip. Insiders' Guide to Louisville, Kentucky & Southern Indiana, 2nd pg.106,107
  4. ^ Nold 107
  5. ^ Artistry in the Making | Our Story | Louisville Stoneware
  6. ^ Kentucky Haus • Louisville Stoneware
  7. ^ Nold 107
  8. ^ Gumbrecht, Jamie. Queen keeps a low profile at Churchill Downs. Lexington Herald-Leader May 5, 2007
  9. ^ Uchitelle, Louis. First, Big Spurt in Business And Then a Probable Drop New York Times August 20, 1997
  10. ^ VandeHe
  11. ^ Louisville Stoneware sold to local investment group Business First of Louisville July 17, 2007
  12. ^ Louisville Stoneware partners with retailers Business First of Louisville November 7, 2007
  13. ^ Slawsky, Richard. Louisville Stoneware's new strategies shift from wholesale to retail focus Business First November 24, 2006
  14. ^ Slawsky
  15. ^ Factory Tours | Locations | Louisville Stoneware
  16. ^ Slawsky

[edit] External links