Family business in Schenectady helps mother shape her future

That's because she is firing pottery, not people. Mrs. Anderson traded in 60-hour work weeks and a handsome salary to be at home with her children. To supplement the family's income, she started Van Antwerp Pottery in her basement.

Ten years later, the parishioner of St. Helen's Church in Niskayuna has perfected her craft, and her business has grown to serve stores as far away as California and Washington State.

Staying home

"Remembering my own childhood yearnings and watching my children go down the same road I had gone down, I decided to turn things around. I was determined to give my kids what I had as a child so wished for: a full-time mom."

In the beginning, she worked during the two-hour period that her four small children took naps and after they went to sleep at night. Now her children, who range in age from 7 to 12, have jobs to help keep the business running.

Kids' view

Maggi's older brother, 12-year-old Vincent, is more practical in his support for his mother's home-based business: "If she wasn't at home, I wouldn't be able to go out and have fun. I'd have to stay around the house. I'd also have to watch my brothers and sister."

Husband Steve Anderson sees benefits as well. When his wife first proposed the pottery business, he "thought it was a great idea. Now, seeing her enthusiasm, I am totally into it. I'm really proud of her."

Family affair

Vincent is in charge of the packaging department; Sam is in charge of collating, stuffing and mailing company brochures, and compiles the United Parcel Service end-of-the-day report; Joe, 7, places the "Made in the USA" labels on the packages and removes the star templates off of the pottery once painting is complete; and Maggi is responsible for the company's invoices.

Having their mother run a business at home has taught the children important lessons. Maggi, who aspires to be a potter or a veterinarian, said, "I learned that you should always be organized or else you can lose important papers."

Vincent has learned about supply and demand. "It doesn't matter how much pottery is stacked down there; she always needs something else," he said.

Lessons

"I hope they learn self-sufficiency," she said. "I hope they learn a work ethic and that they learn where money goes. But I also want them to know that I value family."

One of her financial objectives is to make enough to send her children to Catholic schools. Maggi, Sam and Joe attend St. Helen's School, while Vincent goes to Christian Brothers Academy in Albany.

"My goal is to keep them in Catholic schools," she said. "Each year, I wonder if we'll have the money for all of the tuition, and each year we do. There's always a way."

Faith and clay

She prayed that her enterprise would take off and prays to remain ethical. She has also asked for the intervention of the saints in her work.

"I pray to St. Joseph because he was a business person," she said. "And I ask Mary to protect my hands."

Ancient art

"I enjoy knowing that the products I make are part of people's lives -- like the favorite mug they reach for in the morning," she said.

(To learn more about Van Antwerp Pottery, go to www.vapottery.com.)

(07-11-02) [[In-content Ad]]