Client Case Study: Barton Croft
‘The story of Barton Croft begins with a ball of clay. Flying off the pottery wheel. A look of despair at the grey mark it left on the wall before it slid sadly to the floor. I had no idea what I was doing, but even before I’d made my first pot, I knew I was in love.’
The moment Laurena, the founder of the pottery business Barton Croft, described that flying ball of clay, I knew we had the beginnings of a beautiful story; a tale of discovery, and a love of making.
“The story represents everything I wanted but couldn’t find the words to say myself. I couldn’t be happier, thank you!” - Laurena, Barton Croft
Services provided:
Brand Storytelling & Copywriting - A refreshed brand story for a growing pottery business.
‘Swapping stories and laughter, while passing around generous plates, overflowing with favourite recipes.
Fresh coffee in a tactile mug, sipped in a quiet corner of the garden, to catch the early morning sun.
Or a simple bowl of soup that rests perfectly in your hand.
Barton Croft pottery is made with care, for life.’
I love it when a project and client challenges me. It always leads to the best outcome. The brief for Barton Croft was to create a story to bring the existing brand to life, capturing their ongoing success, but without losing the importance of the handmade tactile qualities that make each piece special. Laurena had already commissioned a new brand design by the super talented Joyce Of All Trades and needed to find the words to communicate the beautiful visuals.
“I love what you’ve done, it’s beautifully written. You’ve captured the essence of Barton Croft perfectly. The business is very personal and it felt a big thing for me, but I’m so impressed and couldn’t be happier.” - Laurena, Founder of Barton Croft
There is always a little more pressure to create something for an established brand. It’s a delicate balance to keep the core values and tone that have made the existing brand successful, while still allowing the story to evolve as the brand grows.
The creative process, is exactly that, a process. The first draft I wrote focused on a beautiful patch of land from Laurena’s childhood. A place where her extended family would gather every summer, by the river, where they would play, talk and eat in the shade of an old oak tree. Those shared meals, where everyone came together inspired Laurena’s love of cookery and in time lead to her creating pottery and tableware as the setting for sharing food, stories, laughter and love. The field that inspired it all was called Barton Croft.
It was a compelling story, one that really captured my imagination, reminding me of my own childhood days. But it wasn’t quite right, while it told of the inspiration for the brand it was only one chapter and didn’t capture enough of what Barton Croft has become.
Laurena and I talked it through and I asked her more about her love of pottery. Lauren shared her passion, for the feeling of clay on her hands, the idea of creating something beautiful and functional from mud, and then, Laurena described the first time she ever tried to make a pot, and the frustration of seeing that lump of clay fly off the wheel. It was one of those little moments of magic I’m always trying to find, a beautiful detail that suddenly brings everything to life. I immediately knew we had our story.
The best stories are so often rooted in truth, it’s what makes them personal, unique and memorable and elevates a brand into something truly distinctive and special.
“Thank you for all your hard work and effort. I really appreciate that you took the time to listen to my feedback, and really understood the change in direction and made sure the final story was exactly right.” - Laurena
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