Ballymoney artist Zara is ‘kiln’ online sales with her new ceramics business

A recent graduate from Ulster University Zara McLaughlin is currently operating ‘Zara’s Ceramics’ from a small studio space in her home town.

And thanks to her inovation during lockdown her business has taken off over the past few months with a large online following of 13,000 - and it continues to grow.

Describing her art as “fresh, contemporary and bespoke”, Zara said she was “was bitten by the clay bug” and has never looked back.

“I started my business this year after graduating from University,” she says. “When I was at school I chose business studies as one of my A levels because I knew I wanted a creative career when I left. The plan was to carve my own path because when you pursue art you are not guaranteed to just walk into a job once you finish your degree. I just didn’t know that it would take me down so many different avenues.

“It took a long time and a lot of graft behind the scenes before setting up as a business.”

However lockdown at the start of the year allowed Zara the time she needed to grow her online status.

“I spent a lot of time in lockdown growing my online presence and finding my voice in order to keep creating work and it really helped me grow my business in the middle of a pandemic,” she explained. “To come out of the other end thriving is my biggest achievement to date.”

Her website not only shows her work but also lets potential customers know when the next batch of her mugs and travel mugs are available.

The online community has been a real motivating factor, said Zara.

“My personal highlight is the community I have created online. It really does feel like I have a team of cheerleaders championing me on from the other side of the screen.”

Like many final year university students, Zara had to finish her degree in uncertain circumstances: “My biggest challenge so far was finishing my degree in the middle of a global pandemic.

“There is a lot of stress that is tied into finishing a degree, it doesn’t matter what area you are in. It’s a huge mental strain to push yourself to the finish line. You normally have a graduation to strive towards and in my case I was running towards a large exhibition at the end of the year. Then lockdown struck and my plans took a turn.

“What I had planned was almost ripped from below my feet and I had to learn to adapt and pivot.

“I think for anyone stepping out and deciding they want a creative career it can be met with a lot of skepticism in the beginning, but if you are thinking about it I couldn’t urge anyone enough to go for it. This has been my dream since I was a little girl.

“This is only the beginning for me as a new business but if the pandemic has taught me anything it’s that you can only plan so much and sometimes you just have to do what you can with the time and talents that you have - and everything else will fall into place. I always think back to my past self when I was at school and I wish I could show her how far I’ve came and I hope my future self is looking back thinking the same.”

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