In 2021, my partner and I founded Zena Ceramic in a tiny 9-square-meter workshop. From the very beginning, our goal was to create handmade ceramic pieces for people in Azerbaijan, especially in Baku. We started by making incense holders, plates, cups, and mirrors, each one carefully handcrafted with love and attention to detail. What began in a small space became the first step of a much bigger dream.

To grow our brand, we took a big risk and moved into a larger workshop, starting a completely new chapter for Zena Ceramic. Alongside creating handmade ceramics, we also began hosting ceramic workshops for people who wanted to experience the art themselves. Through these workshops, thousands of people discovered ceramics and connected with our brand. To this day, more than 10,000 people have officially attended our ceramic workshops.

2023 became one of the most important turning points for our brand. We launched a new collection featuring cups and plates with handmade figurines inside, along with ceramic night lamps. The collection received incredible attention and played a huge role in the growth of Zena Ceramic. Our audience on social media grew rapidly, and our creations started reaching more people than ever before.

This year, we opened our own store and began welcoming people into a more comfortable and inspiring space. Zena Ceramic started gaining attention not only in Azerbaijan but also internationally, and we began receiving custom orders from different countries. Visitors traveling to Baku would stop by our store, join our workshops, and discover our handmade pieces in person. Step by step, our brand started becoming part of a global creative community.

It is a good idea to make a list to identify the needs of the potter. Instead of wasting time, energy, electricity and maintenance, it is possible to convert the extra space to money by renting a part out to a person with a complimenting business.