Posts Tagged ‘custom stoneware mugs’

Over Easy Cafe – Deneen Pottery Mugs

Monday, March 21st, 2011

A very close family friend, Anna Rachelle, sent me an email last week while on vacation in Florida.

“Walked into a lovely little cafe,sat down and exclaimed to my husband. ‘Hey this mug is was made by the Deneens.’ Sure nuf… met Trasi and she had talked to you even previouly in the week,” wrote Anna. Trasi, who is the owner of the Over Easy Cafe in Sanibel, FL has been using our custom handmade mugs to serve coffee and tea to her guests since 2007, and before that we made mugs for Amy Horton the previous owner.


Here is a picture that Anna’s husband snapped of Anna and Trasi in front of the cafe… In the busy months there can be a line of people waiting to have a delicious breakfast or lunch. It is always fun to talk to Trasi because she love trying out new colors for the handmade mugs that we make for her – We have 169 different glazes to choose from!?! Here is a picture of her mug display – How many different colors do you count?

Making restaurant proof mugs is great – Our mugs are so durable they can handle the abuse of busing, and the commercial dishwasher… “I swear by your mugs, I sell a ton of them – They are durable, we are tough on them and serve over 600 people per day,” Trasi once told me. Being able to feed 600 people in a single day it’s no wonder I get emails like this. “It’s been kinda crazy here I’ve lost track. I’m about out of mugs – So I need to put in another order in.” That is never a problem since our dedicated staff of 24 loves making custom stoneware mugs, especially for our friend Trasi!

If you own a restaurant, or have a favorite restaurant, that would love our mugs let us know!

Thank you for reading our blog!
Niles Deneen – CEO
Deneen Pottery

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Back from the Innkeepers Conference

Tuesday, January 18th, 2011

This one will go down as the ‘COME BACK’ year…

Like most businesses and cycles there are good times and, well, some not-so-good times. Over the last 18 years that we have been vendor members of Paii, we have seen some high highs and some lows… Ever since Jay Karen became president, things have slowly but steadily started to change. Change takes time, but in just a few short years with Jay focusing on the innkeeping industry and as president of Paii, amazing things have started happening, and the Charleston Innkeepers Conference is proof.

We met more new customers, and wrote more orders for existing customers that we have in at least 6 years. “This is the best conference in a long time”, Peter Deneen mentioned after the closing. Peter also said that “more innkeepers increased their orders for our handmade stoneware mugs, and that shows that Jay is doing a great job.” We heard that the attendance was up by 20% over last year! Also the overall mood of all that we talked to was of positivity, filled with renewed hope, excitement for Paii, and the innkeeping industry as a whole.

(more…)

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Innkeeper Q&A: Katherine Brown of Bloomsbury

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

The snow and cold is a distant memory, but the mornings are still starting out on the chilly side – Today it was 35º when dawn broke here at the pottery shop. Finding things that fit makes life more fulfilling, and definitely makes work more fun… Be it a perfect pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes as spring comes, or a perfect mug.

I’ve been waiting to find the next Innkeeper to interview and after hearing from Katherine Brown of Bloomsbury located in Camden, SC earlier this week I knew she would be perfect. In October of lat year we first talked about her property and our mugs and a few weeks later we combined a photograph of her property, and a drawing, by Randall Peterson, into this beautiful creation by Teena our Art Director.

At the start of the week I received a sorta tap-on-the-shoulder email that, more or less, hit me over the head and prompted me to see if Katherine would want to be the second official participant of  our Innkeeper Q&A.

“Good morning Niles – this is where you can share a ‘great laugh’ with everyone at Deneen Pottery!  When we ordered mugs a few short months ago, it was primarily because I like them–I wanted to try them on our breakfast table.

As it would never have occurred to me to buy a mug (with some logo) when I was traveling — I rather dismissed when you said how well they sell.   OK – I need to place an order.   Quit laughing and tell me what you need.”

I don’t mind being dismissed especially when I get to hear about it – That’s why this statement is also on our testimonials page… It helps to look back at positive statements when you are having a rough day – And I figure if I keep stacking up the positive things that have been said, more will KNOW that we ARE the best at making Custom Stoneware Coffee Mugs! (more…)

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Not Just Handmade Mugs – Vases too!

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

At the end of January Annie and I flew out to California for the CABBI conference which was held in Monterey, CA. Since we are a fan of staying at Inns, and love staying with Innkeepers that serve coffee in handmade coffee mugs – The Jabberwock was an easy pick. The image you see below is of a Custom Handmade Vase by John Deneen… This item was donated to CABBI and surprisings won by Dawn in the silent auction. What a beautiful center piece it makes especially as it is the same custom glaze color as the handmade mugs that surround it.

Large Custom VaseLarge Custom Vase

John and Dawn have such a timeless and elegant B&B that is perched up on Laine Street overlooking the bay. The conference wasn’t the best as far as business goes, but our trip was… As we were able to visit Big Sur, Santa Cruz and San Francisco. The highlight was being able to look out the windows of the Mimsy Suite each morning at the Monterey Bay, and then come downstairs for breakfasts that were delicious, rich, and fresh! The coffee was amazing as well, and it didn’t hurt that it was served in such beautiful custom handmade mugs :-)

View from our roomView from our room

The last morning of our trip we ran across the Golden Gate Bridge… A nice activity considering in Monnesota that day it was -15º. Luckily we have our kilns back here at the pottery that keeps us warm! There are some definite positives to growing up in a family that makes custom handmade stoneware!

Annie and Niles in SFAnnie and Niles in SF

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Attention Catalog Request Recipients

Wednesday, April 15th, 2009

If you requested a catalog and didn’t receive one in February or March your information did not makes its way through our website to us.

We apologize for this miscommunication and failure to send you our catalog.

The problems have been fixed and the “Catalog Request” page is now working. We promise to send one to you if you’ll request one again. Click here to request another one.

Sincerely,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Niles Deneen VP, Marketing                                                                                                                                                                                            Deneen Pottery

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