Indy pottery shop prepares for reopening, readies for challenges

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Businesses are preparing to reopen in the coming weeks with a renewed focus on health and safety. Just this week, Governor Eric Holcomb told business owners to start preparing how a farmer would till a field.

Pottery by You in Indianapolis has had to revamp the entire business model during the stay at home order. Staff members are shipping and delivering pottery kits rather than hosting parties, but reopening will not mean business as usual.  

“A lot of people think of us as much as an experience as for what they actually do,” Rob Laux, owner of Pottery by You, said.

On any given weekend, 70 to 90 people participate in a party at Pottery by You. That’s the space capacity, but Laux said he doesn’t expect to welcome that many in anytime soon.

“Will have to be at a much smaller capacity, bigger space between tables, smaller parties, etc,” Laux said.

The steps they’ve taken to survive the stay at home order, like curbside pickup kits and shipping options, may continue long after it’s ordered.

“We don’t know. And I don’t think anyone knows, but we get the sense that while some people will start to come out once the stay at home order is lifted, there’s going to be a lot of people we think are still not going to feel comfortable coming out or are going to limit their going out, so we’re going to continue having those options,” Laux said.

No matter what happens, Laux says he and the Pottery by You staff will continue to adapt and be positive.

“That’s the only thing that gets us through the day, is just knowing that there’s always tomorrow and we’re doing the best we can. And we’re just gonna keep working at it and we’re gonna make it. Not sure how but we’re gonna make it,” Laux said.

In addition to becoming a pottery kit distribution center, which Laux said he never imagined, he and his staff are also offering mask making kits and will start selling already made masks this week.