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Sussy's
Ceramics
Sandy,
Utah
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Jolene Shields
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Celebrating
the Human Spirit through Ceramics
Sussy’s
Ceramics was born out of Jolene Shield’s
passion for creativity and her need for a home-based income.
In 1982, Jolene began producing hand-crafted ceramics and
home decorating items to help pay for the costs of daycare
for her three small children. The extra $200 to $300 she earned
each month were critical to meeting her household expenses
each month.
As
her sales grew, her products were picked up in Park City ,
and eventually they caught the attention of a sales representative
from San Francisco . Soon, they were featured in a permanent
showroom there, and with so many requests to cater to new
clients living in ‘wine country,’ Jolene developed a new technique
to customize her pieces. Her annual sales soared. |
“
You will never know how much of a lift this
has given my self esteem and confidence.”
Jolene
Shields |
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But
then in 1997, her life took a stressful turn.
She found herself facing divorce proceedings and
a subsequent home foreclosure. Without an adequate
place to operate her business, Jolene thought
she had reached a dead end. She found herself
with children to care for and no other financial
support. |
Thanks
to a $3,000 microenterprise loan, Jolene was able to
purchase a new kiln and pouring table so she could pour
her own molds in the basement of the home she was renting.
She was also able to fire her own molds, which significantly
reduced production time.
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| Sussy’s
Ceramics
products are now available at the Art Garden, Country
Furniture and Appleyard Art. Her creative designs include
personalized pieces for new babies, birthdays, anniversaries
and other holidays. |
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Jolene is not yet rolling in money, she is happier and
feels more in control of her own life than ever before.
She incorporates this sense of spiritual triumph in to
all of her work. |
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“All
things happen for a reason,” Jolene says. “You just have to
believe in your dreams!”
To
learn more about how a microenterprise loan helped Jolene
accomplish her small business goals at Sussy’s
Ceramics, feel free to call her at 942-6175. |
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