I’ve known Eric for about four years, and he’s just one of those genuinely good people — kind, thoughtful, and seriously passionate about what he does. He’s been running Capital Pottery Supplies for a while now, but recently took things a step further by opening a brand-new studio space for experienced potters. It’s a unique concept in Ottawa, and one that’s beautifully complements the store. I caught up with Eric to talk about the journey, the challenges, and his vision for what comes next.
Here are 5 questions with Eric Ladd, Owner of Capital Pottery Supplies and Studio
What inspired you to open Capital Pottery Supplies, and what gap did you see in Ottawa’s pottery community that you wanted to fill?
Capital Pottery Supplies had already been around for over a decade before I walked in for the first time during October 2013. The previous owner; Sarah, had decided to sell the business in order to retire with her husband. I thought it couldn’t hurt to ask about buying it and by February 2014 I owned the place. I took ownership and was set to reopen on February 13th which happened to be a Friday. I’m not superstitious, but an hour before opening my one employee quit over the phone. This employee had told me they would stay onboard after the ownership change and had untimely second thoughts.
The local pottery community grew out of the European diplomats staying in Ottawa. It has grown over three decades to be robust and vibrant, but completely depends on the store for quality ceramic tools and materials. The pottery community must have one store and will hopefully grow to accommodate a second in the future.
You recently opened a studio — what can people expect when they walk through the doors for the first time?
In June 2023, we opened Capital Pottery Studios to accommodate experienced potters in Ottawa. Most studios teach pottery classes and make the studio available to experienced potters when classes are not in session. However, every studio in Ottawa has a waiting list of experienced potters looking to practice and hone their craft or hobby. We don’t teach classes at our studio so experienced potters can come when their schedule allows anytime we are open.
When people see our space for the first time they are struck by the uncrowded and ample space afforded our members. Our members have more shelf space and work space than any other studio in Ottawa. The community within our studio is also very supportive, informative and encouraging. Our members just threw a surprise birthday party for our lead technician; Jason, who is the reason things run smoothly in our studio.
How has the response been from the local artist and hobbyist community since you opened your doors?
The potters I speak to in the store definitely like the idea of a studio where the focus is on making ceramics instead of teaching ceramics. There will always be a need for new people to have a chance to learn and plenty of places that teach. But our studio is the only one focusing entirely on experienced potters.
Do you offer any classes, workshops, or opportunities for people who are new to pottery to get involved?
As I mentioned previously, we don’t offer classes to teach people that are new to pottery. We feel like the Ottawa pottery community has matured to a point where there are enough teaching facilities to help newcomers to pottery. The experienced potters need more opportunities to do their work that can accommodate high volume production. We feel strongly that Ottawa needs a place that allows experienced potters to flourish on their terms.
What’s your vision for Capital Pottery Supplies over the next few years — any big plans or dreams you’re working toward?
We see lots of opportunities for business to business relationships in Ottawa with regard to ceramics. The majority of potters sell their work at local markets and while some are doing commission work or making things for other businesses, we think there are more opportunities to be had with other businesses. That is what we want to explore going forward and into the future. We want to work with interior decorators, wedding planners, restaurants and any other business that has a need for handmade made ceramic products.
In the end…
Eric’s love for pottery and his commitment to the community are at the heart of everything he does. Capital Pottery Supplies isn’t just a place to pick up tool, It’s a hub. And now, with Capital Pottery Studios, there’s a much-needed space where experienced potters can focus on their craft without compromise. It’s exciting to see someone not only recognize a gap in the local arts scene, but actually step up to fill it. If you’re an experienced potter looking for space to create, or just someone who wants to support local, Eric’s got you covered.
Capital Pottery Supplies is located at 877 Boyd Ave, Ottawa, ON K2A 2E2
Capital Pottery Studio is located at 1580 Liverpool Ct Unit 3, Ottawa, ON K1B 3T3
