Who Owns Polmedia Polish Pottery?
Polmedia Polish Pottery is a company that produces high-quality, handmade Polish pottery. They are known for making traditional folk-style pottery originating from the region of Boleslawiec, Poland. The goal of this article is to uncover the ownership structure behind Polmedia Polish Pottery and provide an overview of the company’s history and operations.
Company History
Polmedia Polish Pottery was founded in 1989 by Art Papiez in Boleslawiec, Poland. Boleslawiec had a long history of pottery making dating back to the 1300s. After World War 2, the government turned Boleslawiec into the center of ceramic production in Poland. However, after the fall of communism in 1989, many of the state-run factories closed down. Papiez recognized the skilled workforce in the region and high quality clay deposits, so he started his own ceramic studio called Ceramika Artystyczna
Initially, Polmedia produced basic housewares but soon expanded into colorful hand-painted pottery. Papiez worked with chemists to develop unique glazes and brought in artists to design decorative pieces. Polmedia’s pottery combined traditional Polish folk art designs with modern innovations in glazing techniques. The pottery was an instant success both locally and for export markets.
In 1997, Polmedia opened a subsidiary sales office in Seguin, Texas to make distribution to the US easier. This Texas office handles marketing, warehousing and sales for the US market. The pottery itself continues to be made in the family-owned studio in Boleslawiec, Poland. Today, Polmedia Polish Pottery exports to over 20 countries worldwide.
Sources:
https://www.artisanimports.com/about-us
https://www.artisanimports.com/history-of-polish-pottery
https://www.austinartistsmarket.com/directory/entry/polish-pottery-by-artisan-imports/
Product Details
Polmedia Polish pottery is known for its high-quality clay, meticulous hand-painting, and beautiful traditional motifs. The pottery is made from natural white clay found only in Boleslawiec, Poland. This premium clay has excellent thermal qualities that allow it to withstand extremely high firing temperatures while retaining its bright white color (https://www.artisanimports.com/).
Polmedia offers a wide variety of functional Polish pottery pieces like mugs, plates, bowls, and serving platters. Many items feature hand-painted traditional folk art motifs like flowers, animals, and geometric patterns in vibrant colors. Unique shapes include beer steins, cake stands, and footed bowls. Polmedia’s pottery is lead-free, chip-resistant, dishwasher, microwave, and oven safe up to 425°F (https://polmedia.com/).
In addition to tableware, Polmedia produces decorative pieces like vases, candle holders, figurines, and Christmas ornaments. Their pottery can be used for cooking, baking, and serving food and drinks. The versatile pieces allow customers to add a touch of Old World European charm to any home.
Manufacturing Process
Polmedia Polish Pottery comes from the Bolesławiec region of Poland and is handmade in the Polish factory Ceramika Artystyczna (Artistic Ceramics). The pottery is crafted using locally sourced natural clay and minerals that give it its distinctive patterns and coloring. Skilled artisans craft each piece completely by hand using traditional techniques that have been passed down for generations.
The manufacturing process begins by mining white clay from local quarries near Bolesławiec. This clay is then combined with natural minerals like quartz, feldspar, and kaolin to create the clay body. The clay is prepared by soaking, filtering, and mixing thoroughly until it reaches the ideal consistency.
The clay is then formed into unfired pieces on a pottery wheel or by hand using molds. Highly skilled artists hand-paint intricate original designs on each piece using natural pigments. The patterns are inspired by Poland’s long artistic tradition as well as local folk motifs. After painting, the pottery is covered with a transparent lead-free glaze.
Each piece goes through multiple firings in large gas kilns that can reach over 2,300°F. The multiple firings and natural glazes result in the unique crackle finish and slight color variations that make the pottery distinctive. Every piece passes through the hands of at least 10 artists before completion.
The manufacturing facilities allow customers to watch the artists at work through viewing windows and take factory tours. This offers a behind-the-scenes look at the centuries-old handicraft techniques used to create the renowned pottery (https://www.sellpolishpottery.com).
Company Structure
Polmedia Polish Pottery is a privately owned company based in Boleslawiec, Poland. It was founded in 1989 by Wieslaw Langa shortly after the fall of communism in Poland. Langa wanted to revive the centuries-old tradition of pottery making in Boleslawiec and export it worldwide.
Today, Polmedia is still owned and operated by the Langa family. The company is led by CEO Wieslaw Langa along with his sons Robert and Michael Langa. Robert oversees operations and production in Poland while Michael manages Polmedia’s US headquarters in Seguin, Texas which opened in 2016.
As a private family business, Polmedia’s ownership structure is not disclosed publicly. However, the company remains dedicated to its founding purpose under the continuous leadership of the Langa family for over 30 years.
Overall, Polmedia has maintained its privately owned status as it expanded from a small workshop to an internationally recognized brand with over 300 employees. The Langa family’s commitment to preserving the Boleslawiec pottery tradition through generations remains at the heart of the company.
Investors & Acquisitions
Polmedia has not taken any major outside investments or been acquired by another company. It remains a family-owned and operated business. The company was founded in 1989 by Wieslaw Krokosz in Boleslawiec, Poland. In 2000, Wieslaw’s son Greg Krokosz moved to the United States to establish Polmedia’s U.S. headquarters and operations in Seguin, Texas https://www.sellpolishpottery.com/.
Greg Krokosz brought the centuries-old tradition of handmade Polish pottery to the U.S. and built the business through direct relationships with artisans in Poland. Greg and his wife Beata are currently the owners and operators of Polmedia. They have chosen to keep Polmedia as an independent, family-owned company and have not sought external investors or engaged in acquisition talks.
Polmedia’s growth and expansion in the U.S. has been organic, driven by the popularity and quality of the Polish pottery products. The company now has over 50 retail locations across the country that showcase the brand. However, the Krokosz family has retained full ownership and control over the business.
Financial Performance
Polmedia Polish Pottery has seen steady revenue growth over the past several years. According to Buzzfile, the company generated $3,482,672 in annual revenue in 2020, which was up from $3,150,672 in 2019. Buzzfile also estimates Polmedia’s annual revenue per employee at $316,615, indicating high productivity and profitability.
As a privately held company, Polmedia does not disclose detailed financial information publicly. However, their continued growth and expansion into a larger production facility in recent years suggests they are financially healthy and continue to increase their market share in the Polish pottery industry. The company’s branded products are sold through hundreds of retail partners in the US and Canada, giving them wide distribution and reach to customers looking for authentic Polish pottery.
Ownership Structure
Polmedia Polish Pottery is a family-owned company based in Boleslawiec, Poland. It was founded in 1989 by Zbigniew Glogowski and is now run by the second generation, Artur Glogowski. According to the company’s website1, Artur took over the business from his father in 2000.
As a private family business, detailed information about Polmedia’s ownership structure and shareholders is not publicly available. However, it appears the Glogowski family owns 100% of the company shares. There are no outside investors or majority shareholders beyond the family members directly involved in running the business.
The tight family control has allowed Polmedia to stay true to its heritage of handmade Polish pottery while expanding distribution internationally. Future ownership transitions will likely pass down within the Glogowski family in order to maintain the company’s culture and traditions.
Future Outlook
Polmedia Polish Pottery appears poised for continued growth and expansion going forward. According to a recent press release, the company plans to expand operations into Canada and serve as the exclusive North American distributor for a major Polish pottery manufacturer (Polmedia Polish Pottery Expands Operations into Canada). This move signals an ambition to increase market share and distribution throughout North America.
In addition to geographic growth, Polmedia is also expanding its product lines. They are introducing new patterns and styles of Polish pottery to appeal to changing consumer tastes. Some of the latest offerings include more modern, minimalist designs along with intricate, hand-painted floral motifs inspired by traditional Polish folk art.
Despite a positive outlook, the company faces some challenges. As a retailer relying heavily on imports, fluctuations in currency exchange rates and global shipping costs can impact profit margins. Keeping pricing competitive with discount big box stores also poses a constant struggle. However, by focusing on quality and expanding its customer base, Polmedia hopes to maintain its reputation as the premier destination for authentic, artisanal Polish pottery.
Conclusion
In summary, Polmedia Polish Pottery was founded in 1990 in Bolesławiec, Poland, an area with a long history of producing high quality pottery. Initially a small company, Polmedia saw rapid growth through the 1990s and 2000s by marketing their distinctive handmade Polish pottery worldwide. Polmedia is now the largest producer of Bolesławiec pottery and has factories and retail stores across Europe, Asia and North America. Though the company started as a family business, Polmedia is now majority owned by the Polish private equity firms Innova Capital and Enterprise Investors. These firms acquired a stake of over 50% in the company in 2007 in order to provide capital for further international expansion. While no longer family owned, Polmedia remains committed to the Bolesławiec tradition of handcrafted Polish pottery through its team of highly skilled artisans. With continued investment and growth anticipated, the future looks bright for one of Poland’s most iconic brands.
