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November 9, 2001/Cheshvan 23, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 9
For local mom, pottery pays
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
A visit to a gift shop changed Michelle Kort's life.
Seven years ago, Kort was in Los Angeles for a wedding and went with a friend to a store that sold ceramics and glass. In a corner, the shop had a table with paints and pottery, where customers could paint their own pieces.
Although Kort describes herself as "the least creative person I know," she was drawn to the idea of returning to Arizona and opening a store where patrons could select and paint their own pottery.
"If it can make someone who is not creative and doesn't particularly like to do art - if it can open a door to someone like me - then I think there's something behind this."
A practicing attorney at the time, Kort began to do research into the ceramics industry. Although she encountered some traditional artists who didn't believe her idea would work, Kort decided to quit her job and open her first store, As You Wish Pottery Painting Place, at 69th Street and Shea Boulevard in Scottsdale.
Over the past six years, Kort's business has been so successful that she is looking ahead to the opening of her fifth Valley store, at Desert Ridge Marketplace in Phoenix, later this month.
Kort's success has been mirrored throughout the industry. While her Scottsdale store was the fifth or sixth pottery painting store to open in the country, she says that now the numbers are closer to 700 or 800. This has allowed Kort to expand As You Wish's offerings, as more stores means more distributors.
Along with pottery and paints, the stores carry stencils, sponges and books with ideas for potential artists who'd like a little help. In addition to pottery painting, the stores have expanded to carry mosaics.
"We brought in wood picture frames and mirrors and we made it really, really simple, so that anyone, even six-year-old children, could (make them)," she explains. "We have the ceramic and the glass tile already precut and beads and glue. ... It's the easiest, simplest thing and you can make the most adorable things."
Kort took basic painting classes herself before opening her first store and she says she now displays a few of her pieces in her own house. Likewise, she says her customers have grown along with her.
"People who come in tend to love it and get kind of addicted and grow with it," she says. "Someone who came in originally and wanted to do a box or a picture frame is now looking to do a set of dishes."
Kort was born in Cleveland and moved to the Valley 31 years ago. She attended Central High School and University of Arizona, earning a degree in communications and political science. She then attended law school at Arizona State University.
Kort met her husband, Bryan, while growing up. The couple has now been married for nine years and they have a 2-year-old son, Benjamin, and a baby due in January.
The family are members of Temple Beth Israel and are very active in the Jewish community. Bryan Kort is involved in the Young Leadership Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, and Michelle Kort serves on the board of the Women's Department at the federation. Both Michelle and Bryan are on the campaign cabinet for the federation's 2002 campaign.
Michelle was a board member of the Women's Auxiliary of Jewish Family and Children's Service for five years, and although no longer a board member, she is planning the "Comedy Counts" fund-raising event to be held at the Improv Nov. 14.
"The Jewish community has been so incredibly supportive of me and my business and it's really been a blessing," says Kort.
As You Wish Pottery Painting Place stores are located at 6990 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale; 4905 E. Ray Road, Phoenix; 1649 S. Stapley Drive, Mesa; 3009 W. Agua Fria Freeway, Phoenix; and 21001 N. Tatum Blvd., Phoenix.
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