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 Photograph by : Dean Bicknell, Calgary Herald |
| Small business owner, Maureen Dennis, in her Clay for Kids studio, displays one of the many finished pottery projects students have created over the years in her classes. |
The Clay for Kids pottery program concept began after Maureen Dennis taught some classes in her children's school.
About 26 years later, it is a burgeoning business reaching out to thousands of Calgary students each year.
The home-based operation she created in 1981, after conducting a few free classes, has grown by leaps and bounds where today the concept has been franchised in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge. Dennis is now looking for franchise opportunities elsewhere in Alberta and British Columbia and eventually to take the idea nationally.
"It started through a need -- a need to make some money. I wanted to work around my family schedule which means not putting the kids in day care, work around a school schedule. I wanted to feel proud of what I did," says Dennis.
"I wanted to do something creative. I had been a potter. So I started just by teaching some free classes in my children's school. And they went over very well . . . When I started being asked (about the availability of the classes) by teachers in different schools, I thought I might be onto something and I couldn't do it for free anymore."
Clay for Kids is a portable pottery program that teaches children "the fun and wonder" of working with clay. The art and curriculum pottery program is delivered to schools, guides and scouts, birthday parties and special occasions and as professional development for teachers.
Each class is 60 to 90 minutes and begins with a pottery wheel demonstration. The instructor guides the children in making their own creations and at the end of the class the instructor takes all the projects to a studio for firing in a kiln. They are returned within 21 days with instruction for painting and finishing.
"Everything is supplied. The teachers will need water, toothpicks and paper towels. And a great attitude. And they all have," says Dennis. "It's fun. One of our best testimonials I received a couple of years ago from a teacher -- actually an arts specialist who brought us into a whole school -- said Clay for Kids brings the curriculum to life . . . . What better thing can I say? It's fun for the kids. They're in the midst of a curriculum subject that maybe isn't their favourite and in comes Clay for Kids and they're going to make something with their hands to tie in to what they're learning."
Classes are presented to children primarily from preschool to Grade 6, but the program has also been presented to youth in junior high school.
Cost is about $7 to $8 per student depending on the project.
"We offer our programs primarily to schools where there is a huge need. We have 55 art and curriculum projects," says Dennis.
Clay for Kids is a home-based franchise and each location is 100 per cent owner-operated with three operations now in Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge. There are six instructors in Calgary, three in Edmonton and one in Lethbridge.
When asked why children are so attracted to working with clay, Dennis, who has a passion for pottery, responds quickly and emphatically: "Why wouldn't they? Why wouldn't they?
"We always want to make the children understand that this is their own creation. It doesn't have to look like Mrs. Dennis's. It doesn't have to look like your next door neighbour. As long as you are following our simple instructions, we will be thrilled with what you do and we would encourage the child to be thrilled too."
Three years ago, Dennis had teachers from all over Alberta wondering if they could access the Clay for Kids program. It was then she realized the opportunity to franchise the concept. The first franchise was established in Calgary in March 2004.
"I wanted to give women an opportunity to experience what I had created and how much I loved what I did," says Dennis. "And one of my instructors wanted the Clay for Kids Calgary franchise as soon as I talked to her about that. When she took over Calgary, then it freed me to find somebody in Edmonton and I found somebody within a year and trained her and got her up and going."
Dennis's major role now is supporting those franchise operations and recruiting new franchises. Dennis is a potter. Years ago, she sold her pottery in some shops in Calgary and Bragg Creek.
"I've always enjoyed working with children. When I thought about doing some pottery in the schools . . . then that just became my love. My passion," she says. "This is giving women the opportunity to just experience owning their own business, doing something, having something they can be proud of and really making some money too."
mtoneguzzi@theherald.canwest.com
Small Business
Clay for Kids
- Owner: Maureen Dennis;
- Phone: 281-4811;
- Fax: 281-4816;
- Email: maureen@clayforkids.com;
- Website: clayforkids.com;
- Description: Home-based business franchise pottery program that teaches students and youths how to work with clay.