Who Owns Rowe Pottery Works?

Rowe Pottery Works is a leading American pottery company known for its high-quality ceramic tableware and home decor items. The company was established in Cambridge, Wisconsin in 1975 by Gerald and Janice Rowe as a small two-person pottery studio and shop. Over the years, Rowe Pottery Works has grown into one of the most recognized names in handcrafted pottery in the United States.

Today, Rowe Pottery Works continues operations in Cambridge, where it produces its extensive lines of dinnerware, serveware, and decorative items. The company is admired for its skilled artisans who hand-make each piece using traditional techniques like throwing on pottery wheels and hand-painting designs. Rowe’s items showcase lively glazes in vibrant colors that have become a trademark of the brand.

Founding

Rowe Pottery Works was founded in 1911 by George Walter and Florence Howson Rowe in Cambridge, Ohio (Rowe Pottery About Us). The Rowes were artists who wanted to start their own pottery business using natural clay they found in southeastern Ohio, which was known to be ideal for making pottery. This rich natural resource allowed them to establish an American pottery staple in Cambridge that continues today.

Early Years

Rowe Pottery Works was established in 1975 in Cambridge, Wisconsin by potter James Rowe. In the late 1970s, as a two-person pottery studio and shop, sales were made through art fairs and a small shop attached to the studio according to Rowe Pottery Info. The product line changed in early 1980 to focus on collecting antique cobalt decorated stoneware and recreating it. According to Rowe Pottery Works, key developments in the early years included perfecting the salt glaze process, expanding the product line, and growing distribution. Notable achievements included reproducing designs from the 1800s based on originals found at auction and in private collections. This allowed the company to grow its historical collection of authentic designs from the mid-1800s.

Changes in Ownership

Rowe Pottery Works has undergone several changes in ownership since it was founded. According to Justin Janisch’s LinkedIn profile, the company was acquired by Timberco out of receivership in 2004. Janisch states he was promoted to General Manager after this acquisition.

In June 1995, Rowe Pottery Works was acquired by Sandoz Pharmaceuticals as part of a corporate strategy focused on acquisitions, according to a business case study from Core (https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/288039308.pdf). This demonstrates the company changed ownership as it was acquired by the major pharmaceutical company Sandoz in the mid-1990s.

Recent Ownership

Rowe Pottery Works is currently owned by Beverly Semmann who purchased the company from Ed Starostovic on April 1, 2013 (source). Semmann had previously worked at Rowe Pottery for over 20 years before taking over ownership.

Beverly Semmann brings a deep passion for pottery and respect for the Rowe Pottery traditions to her new role as owner. She aims to continue the legacy of quality and craftsmanship associated with the Rowe Pottery brand (source).

Company Structure

Rowe Pottery Works is a privately held company founded by Jim Rowe in 1978. After several ownership changes over the years, it is currently owned by the Grainger family. The company has no public shareholders or board of directors.

The management team consists of CEO Tom Grainger, who purchased Rowe Pottery Works in 2010 with his wife Karen. They are third generation owners after Jim Rowe sold the company to the Wagners in 1997. Other executives include VP of Sales and Marketing Susan Lewis and Production Manager John Hoffman.

As a private company, Rowe Pottery does not disclose detailed financials or have the same public reporting requirements as publicly traded companies. The Grainger family maintains full ownership and control over the strategic direction of Rowe Pottery Works.

Locations

Rowe Pottery Works is headquartered in Cambridge, Wisconsin, where its original factory and flagship store are located. The company’s headquarters facility houses its main production operations as well as its company store at 110 E. Main Street.

In addition to the Cambridge headquarters, Rowe Pottery operates a factory outlet store in Baraboo, Wisconsin. This 5,000 square foot outlet carries overstocked and discontinued items at discounted prices.

Rowe Pottery previously operated multiple retail stores in the upper Midwest, including locations in Madison, Wausau, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin. However, in recent years the company has consolidated and mainly sells through its Cambridge store, website, and wholesale channels today.

Products

Rowe Pottery Works is known for producing high quality ceramic tableware, votives, figurines, vases, and decorative objects. Some of their most popular and long-standing product lines include:

– Wemyss Ware – Introduced in the early 1900s, Wemyss Ware features hand-painted, nature-inspired motifs like flowers, fruit, and animals. Pieces are finished with a trademark matte glaze. https://www.rowepottery.com/collections/wemyss-ware

– Carolina Terrace – Launched in the 1950s, the Carolina Terrace collection includes dinnerware and serving pieces with embossed fruit and floral designs. Many are done in vibrant, glossy glazes. https://www.rowepottery.com/collections/carolina-terrace

– Three Faces of Eve – Introduced in 1977, this line features classically styled vases and pitchers with Greco-Roman inspired faces.

– Heartwood – Rustic-inspired pottery with hand-carved vertical ridges, done in warm brown and cream glazes since the 1990s.

Over the decades, Rowe has adapted its offerings to align with changing consumer tastes and interior design trends. Their products emphasize high quality ceramics and decorative artistry that stand the test of time.

Industry Significance

Rowe Pottery Works has been a longstanding and important company in the American pottery industry. Founded in 1911, Rowe Pottery has over 100 years of history producing high quality pottery and stoneware.

The company is known for its durable and high quality utilitarian pottery, especially for kitchenware like jugs, crocks, and canning jars. According to an article on Madison.com, “Rowe crocks have long been prized by home canners for fermenting sauerkraut and kimchi.” https://madison.com/news/local/rowe-pottery-scores-at-the-u-s-open-and-continues-to-grow-its-brand/article_fa345099-172a-5b28-bd4d-d40e5bd69fda.html

Rowe Pottery has won numerous awards over the years. Most recently in 2017, Rowe Pottery won the top prize at the U.S. Open Singles crock competition, reinforcing its reputation for high quality crocks and stoneware.

Future Outlook

Rowe Pottery Works continues to grow and expand its offerings under the ownership of Susan and Tom Neuville. According to the company’s website, Rowe Pottery aims to design pieces that bring joy and beauty into everyday lives. The company plans to expand its custom and personalized offerings to allow customers to put their unique touches on Rowe Pottery pieces.

With demand for handcrafted pottery remaining strong, Rowe Pottery is well-positioned for future growth. The company expects to increase production capacity in coming years to meet this demand. Additionally, Rowe Pottery plans to grow its online presence and expand into new retail channels to make its products available to more customers across the country and potentially worldwide.

Overall, the future outlook for Rowe Pottery appears bright under the experienced leadership of the Neuville family, who are committed to upholding the tradition of quality and craftsmanship associated with the Rowe Pottery name for years to come. With continued investment and expansion, Rowe Pottery has the potential to further grow into a nationally and globally recognized brand.