Bocane Ceramics – small business, big influence

By Donovan Matthews
Nevis Senior Reporter-SKNVibes.com

CHARLESTOWN, Nevis - IT started off as a means of earning some extra dollars while providing home-care for her infant son. Now it has blossomed into a business that is truly without boundaries.

In the words of its creator Cheryl Liburd: “Bocane Ceramics has sent things literally all over.” The quiet unassuming owner of Bocane Ceramics is referring to the many consignments of delightful pieces of art she has shipped to customers who patronise her business from all parts of the globe.

In an exclusive interview with SKNVibes, Liburd revealed that she has shipped orders to such diverse places as England, Japan, the USA, the Ukraine and Saudi Arabia.

“We have a very large base of customers; locals who always want something custom-made for special occasions or just a souvenir, and tourists who also want souvenirs.

We also sell to hotels, which is a two-part clientele since tourists purchase from the hotels then go back home and purchase from our website. We have sent things literally all over. “ 

The website, www.bocane-ceramics.com, was created and is maintained by SKNVibes.com. Liburd explained: “Even though we don’t have people coming through the door all the time we are usually downstairs working on something that is going out somewhere – be it local, groups, resorts, hotels. So, it’s a two-part business – manufacturing and exporting. Our clientele is pretty broad.”

Liburd describes Bocane Ceramics as a ceramic art form that is functional and useful. “We have from souvenir items all the way up to the collector’s items, but the main bulk of our stuff would be tableware; stuff you could use doing dinner. All our products are food safe, microwave safe, oven safe and dishwasher safe.

Our products can also be used on a daily basis or on special occasions and can be put back up on a stand where it becomes a piece of art.

“I think that is what differs in the way I go through every design I put out. It is not only supposed to be functional but also has to have some kind of artistic value. “

The company also designs its own shirts, among other items, at the gift shop located at Main Street, Stoney Grove. 

How it all began

A native of St. Croix, Liburd explained that while growing up she did water colors and sketches on her own.
“That is what I did to relax. Some kids read, some kids play; I draw. So, when I went to high school it was just to refine the process, taking what I did on paper and putting it on clay.”~~Adz:Left~~

She continued: “Once I learned ceramics I continued with that same kind of practice, where I just took what I loved and put it in whatever form. It is just another medium. Instead of canvas or wood or glass…my medium that I decided to concentrate on is clay – ceramic clay, as opposed to potted clay.

There are different techniques with potted clay.” Liburd took up ceramics quite by chance when her military husband was based in Germany around 1991. The Air Force needed someone to teach the servicemen and their wives ceramics. Liburd, who was trained in pottery, took the knowledge from that field and turned it into teaching ceramics.

The couple returned to the United States when her husband’s tour of duty was over, and it was there that another change occurred that led to her taking up ceramics fulltime. The couple had a son.

In the interest of providing the best childcare, Liburd decided to stay at home with the baby. She was fortunate to find someone who was selling out their ceramic business supplies and paid about $1 500 for what she described as “some vital pieces”. 

Liburd acquired what other pieces were necessary and set about working on her craft while simultaneously caring for her son. She sold her ceramics around Tampa and entered art shows on weekends. 

She also had a need to make a collectible series that depicted the historical items in the West Indian society: “Much like they did in Germany where everything was kind of preserved.”

Liburd had a passion about sugar mills, so she made a collectible about sugar mills ornaments that could be reproduced and enhanced.

“We in the Caribbean did not have any collectible items that depicted our culture. I put together a collection from various islands and different sugar mills around the Caribbean, and looked up the history.”

Liburd explained that with the money she made from that she was able to open a store “doing the ceramics and the collectibles”.
Soon after that the family came to Nevis where the business slowly began to flourish. In 10 years Bocane Ceramics has moved from a 40-foot container to a three-story building which the company owns. 

European Influence

According to Liburd, customers believe they see a European influence in the shop which, she says, is not intentional.
“I was exposed to so much in Europe and America that when I returned to the Caribbean it was more or less taking everything I learnt and experienced and adding and creating my own design to it.

I might not interpret it exactly like someone who has lived here all the time because I have been influenced by other cultures and other ways of life.”

She explained that Germany is unlike the USA in its culture; whereas, the US has a variety, but in Germany they had to utilise what they had in a more decorative way to make it unique. 

“They really respected their culture. They knew there was a story to be preserved and they went about it in any way they could. We don’t do that in the Caribbean and in the USA it was all about new things.”

Liburd also lived in Italy where there were villages that had families of potters that went back for generations. Each family had their own unique style which could be identified anywhere.

She believes she has a distinctive flavor: “People come into the store from all over the world and tell me I have something different.”

Liburd has some advice for persons who may be thinking of becoming involved in the ceramics business.
“Have an open mind. Look at things in many different ways. Do not be one-dimensional.”

She explained that there are different forms of ceramics or pottery. There is pottery where concentration is more on the piece itself, and ceramics where the focus is more on the decorative part of the piece.

“So, they would have to decide which part of the craft they would like to concentrate on, which one speaks to them personally.”
 She continued:

“They would have to be true to what they like. Like in any other business, after a while it is no longer a hobby. It is a business and you have to produce and make sure you can withstand what you are putting out.”

According to Liburd, “You have to make sure you know how to make decisions so you have to learn a bit about business. Talent can only take you so far! “

She said it does not make sense to copy what someone else is doing since you may not have the same liking for the area, but you need to do what works for you.

Liburd also explained that like any other business you will get what you put in.
“It is not a quick cash; it is very labour intensive. It takes a long time for you to get a product done, and it takes quite a bit of knowledge of the actual chemistry of the ceramic process. 

“We have been here for 10 years and in that time we have moved from a 40-foot container to a three-story building that is now our own. It is probably in that sense that you can live and be comfortable. But you have to be doing something very special to become a millionaire. “

Persons interested in contacting Bocane Ceramics can do so at www.bocane-ceramics.com or call them on telephone number 869-469-5437. They can also be contacted via email at bocaneceramics@sisterisles.kn.