From Corporate to Clay: Building Kona Clay from the Ground Up

by Julia Rath

When I first started working with clay in 2020, I didn’t have a business plan. I had a garage, table, a few tools, and a deep need to create something meaningful.

At the time, I just got a new job and also wanted to start a family. Life was loud and fast and full. Clay was the opposite. It slowed me down. It required presence. It taught me patience.

What I didn’t realize then was that those quiet moments at the wheel would eventually turn into something much bigger.

The Idea That Wouldn’t Leave

Fast forward 2025, pottery has clearly became more than a hobby. It became the place where I felt most like myself. I started dreaming about having a studio — not just a place to make work, but a space where other people could reconnect with their creativity too.

The idea felt impractical. We now had two toddlers and another little one on the way, A full-time job. A mortgage. All the “real life” things that tell you to stay safe, don’t take risks.

But the thought kept coming back:

What if I actually did this?

In August 2025, I secured a studio space.

Walking into that empty room was equal parts excitement and fear. Blank walls. Fluorescent lighting. horrendous bathroom. Concrete. It didn’t look like much — but I could see it. I could see shelves of glaze tests. Members at wheels. Laughter during workshops. Clay on hands and meaningful conversation in the air.

The Challenges
(Because There Were Many)

Opening a studio isn’t just about throwing pots.
It’s rent. Insurance. Kiln logistics. Electrical capacity. Flooring that can handle clay slurry. Budget spreadsheets at midnight. Doubt at 2 a.m.
And then there’s the emotional side:
“Will anyone join?”
“Am I charging too much?”
“What if I fail publicly?”
Starting something new while raising three little ones teaches you humility quickly. There were days I was drafting membership structures with a baby in my lap and answering emails between bathtime and bedtime.
But there was also clarity.
I didn’t want to build something massive and impersonal. I wanted to build something intentional.

What Kona Clay Is Meant to Be

Kona Clay isn’t a production facility.  It’s a working studio. A space for people who want to push themselves, refine their skills, and create pieces that last.
It’s about texture. Process. Experimentation.
It’s about turning mud into something meaningful.
Art isn’t magic. It’s repetition, failure, refinement, and community.

Advice for Anyone Considering “The Thing”

If there’s something that won’t leave your mind — a creative idea, a business concept, a shift you know you’re meant to make — don’t ignore it.
Start small.
Start imperfectly.
Start while you’re scared.
You don’t need everything figured out. You just need to move.
Clay has taught me that you can always wedge it back down and try again. The same is true for business.

What’s Next

Kona Clay is still new. We’re hosting our first workshop this March and slowly building a community of makers who want more than just a class — they want a studio home.
It’s early. It’s raw. It’s evolving.
And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

For more information contact Julia by email and follow on Instagram at Kona Clay Ceramics