For many businesses across the country, the coronavirus pandemic spelled the end of their livelihoods and income as shops and restaurants were forced to close their doors. For others, it was just the beginning.
Although it had been established in 1969 by the Cross family, Pilling Pottery used the pandemic to grow from strength to strength – a strength they’re still experiencing now four years later. At the helm of the business these days is Adrian Cross, son of Jim and Vi Cross who started it up in Pilling, a village in the borough of Wyre.
Talking about their business boom when we visited the shop, Adrian said: “Covid was absolutely amazing for us, absolutely amazing. It was a springboard really. We’re currently shifting around two tonnes of clay a fortnight, it’s a lot.
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“Ceramics is absolutely flying in the UK at the moment and we are happily riding that wave.” The business specialises in making pottery and pottery equipment in the heart of a small rural village.
Having been established in 1969, its popularity took over and Pilling Pottery quickly became the primary employer of the village, producing over a thousand hand-thrown pots a day, as well as kilns and potter’s wheels. Adrian joined the business in 1980 and helped to expand it with kilns, wheels and pottery offerings.
(Image: Joe Mather/Northern Kilns)
As this grew, a new name for the kiln side of the business was born and thus, Northern Kilns began.
As a family affair, Adrian’s son Adam joined the business in 2009 and has improved designs to be the most effective and efficient they’ve ever been as Production Manager. Adrian’s daughter Jen also joined the business in 2016 as part of the office team and is now Operations Manager and a valuable member of the eight-strong team at Pilling Pottery.
With more and more people wanting to create their own items for small businesses or leisure, Adrian and the team can help with their needs. Kilns are available to buy online, as are potter’s wheels, banding wheels and raw materials.
Once customers have made their items, they may want to paint or glaze them which the business can also provide. Adrian states he wants Pilling Pottery to be like a “sweet shop” for those interested in creating their own items and decorating them to how they see fit.
(Image: Joe Mather/Northern Kilns)
But, due to its popularity, Adrian says the business is sold out until February. “We’ve got no stock in the shop, the shop isn’t usually empty as it’s full of kilns,” Adrian added. “We can’t make them fast enough.”
Adrian and the team also go into schools, universities and colleges to service their kilns, keeping them incredibly busy as they are shut for the summer holidays.
However, Pilling Pottery isn’t just in the ceramics trade. Adrian says he’s made kilns for shotgun barrels and sword makers, as well as breaking into the business of creating filters on trucks to make sure the air is cleaner coming out of a truck than it is going in.
This post was originally published on here
