GBEA winner – Home-based and Micro Business Award – Elizabeth Bell Ceramics

Elizabeth Bell Ceramics impressed this year’s judging panel from the moment they entered the business.

Nestled within the historic Fyansford Paper Mill precinct, the business houses a range of functional, handcrafted ceramics designed by artist Elizabeth Bell, alongside a thoughtfully curated range of giftware and pottery tools.

After falling in love with pottery while on her honeymoon in 2014, Ms Bell travelled through Europe, Asia, and Africa learning from masters of the craft and honing her skill.

Elizabeth Bell Ceramics was launched in 2019, on Ms Bell’s return to Australia, and has shown remarkable growth over the past five years.

The business has now been awarded the Home-based and Micro Business Award, sponsored by the Times News Group.

Judge Mark Edmonds said Elizabeth Bell Ceramics is a “deserving winner” of the award which recognises a business operating with the equivalent of no more than three full-time employees.

Elizabeth Bell Ceramics was also shortlisted by the judges in both the digital engagement and retail award categories.

“The fantastic location, seamlessly aligned with their brand and values, is reflected beautifully in the fit-out,” Mr Edmonds said.

Designed and renovated by Ms Bell and her husband Jordan to embrace the rustic beauty of the space, the business moved to the riverside showroom earlier this year after outgrowing its former Geelong West-based home studio.

“Strong financial management has enabled the business to grow and expand within its own cash flow,” Mr Edmonds said.

“A team approach across all aspects of the operation has been a key driver of growth.”

The studio also boasts a dedicated space for pottery classes and workshops, a key focus of the business that allows its team to share the joy of working with clay with the community.

These intimate and highly personalised classes cater to people of all experience levels – ranging from one-off taster sessions for beginners to masterclasses for more advanced students – and strive to provide participants with an inspiring and empowering environment in which to explore the art form.

To best allow students to discover their own potential and grasp the techniques, classes are limited to just eight students per session and facilitated by two dedicated teachers.

“Their customer-centric focus, particularly in maintaining teacher-to-customer ratios, sets them apart from competitors,” Mr Edmonds said.

He also praised Elizabeth Bell Ceramics’ “passion for helping others,” which he said is evident through its collaboration with the Geelong Ceramic Market, an annual showcase of the region’s ceramic artists co-founded by Ms Bell.

For more information, head to elizabethbellceramics.com

Sponsored by Times News Group.

The Times News Group is your hyper-local community media outlet across print, digital and social channels and is this year’s sponsor of the Home-based and Micro Business Award.

With coverage spanning the Surf Coast, Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula, as well as Ballarat, Bendigo and the Golden Plains, the Times News Group embodies ‘What’s good about where we live’.

The media outlet is headquartered in Torquay and prints more than 650,000 free newspapers each week on a Thursday. These print publications are complemented with dedicated local websites and social media pages.

An avid contributor to the communities it represents, the Times News Group has a long history of supporting local non-profit organisations, sporting clubs and businesses. Its passionate team work to showcase and elevate local stories, providing organisations of all sizes with an audience.

The Times News Group is honoured to support the Geelong Business Excellence Awards and, as this year’s news media partner, celebrate in the achievements of the region’s local talent.

Times News Group