Mr. Orange-Power
03-05-2009, 07:42 AM
http://photos.newsok.com/2/showimage/546555/w280/
For pottery company, new identity takes shape
BY KYLE ARNOLD - Tulsa World
Published: March 5, 2009
TULSA — New owners of Frankoma want the brand to mean more than just pottery after buying a Tulsa tile business.
Frankoma Pottery purchased Tulsa-based Paschal Tile Co. last week and plans to start making decorative tiles at Frankoma’s headquarters in Sapulpa.
"It makes a lot of sense,” said Joe Ragosta, who bought the Frankoma factory and showroom last August and has been working to restore the brand’s name, as well as expand the company’s offerings. "The process is the same as we use for our dinnerware. It’s just a fairly easy thing for us to add on.”
Financial details of the deal were not available.
Under Ragosta, Frankoma has expanded its showroom and added a new Made in Oklahoma shop. It has also added new lines of dishware, and the owners have been working to simply get the word out that Frankoma has not gone out of business.
Even though the recession has held back the rapid growth that new ownership had sought, sales are up significantly since late summer, Ragosta said.
Making the transition
Purchasing the Paschal tile line marks a move into a retail market without abandoning Frankoma’s core, he said. Paschal tiles use color and glazing patterns similar to Frankoma pottery, which should make the transition easy and will help the tiles fit into Frankoma’s collectible lines of dinnerware.
The most notable Paschal tiles have nature-theme reliefs of deer, rabbits, acorns and other plants and animals.
The acquisition involved buying the line from Bill Paschal, who owns a company that makes stamped concrete. Frankoma bought the company’s ceramic tiles — until now made at a southeast Tulsa facility — and the Paschal Tile name.
The new tile business probably won’t expand the work force at the Frankoma plant, but Ragosta said the combination of the two lines could mean more business.
"We have a lot of customers who would be interested in the Paschal tiles, and some of their existing customers might be interested in Frankoma pottery,” he said.
Frankoma is also releasing a line of 75th anniversary and Easter products.
For pottery company, new identity takes shape
BY KYLE ARNOLD - Tulsa World
Published: March 5, 2009
TULSA — New owners of Frankoma want the brand to mean more than just pottery after buying a Tulsa tile business.
Frankoma Pottery purchased Tulsa-based Paschal Tile Co. last week and plans to start making decorative tiles at Frankoma’s headquarters in Sapulpa.
"It makes a lot of sense,” said Joe Ragosta, who bought the Frankoma factory and showroom last August and has been working to restore the brand’s name, as well as expand the company’s offerings. "The process is the same as we use for our dinnerware. It’s just a fairly easy thing for us to add on.”
Financial details of the deal were not available.
Under Ragosta, Frankoma has expanded its showroom and added a new Made in Oklahoma shop. It has also added new lines of dishware, and the owners have been working to simply get the word out that Frankoma has not gone out of business.
Even though the recession has held back the rapid growth that new ownership had sought, sales are up significantly since late summer, Ragosta said.
Making the transition
Purchasing the Paschal tile line marks a move into a retail market without abandoning Frankoma’s core, he said. Paschal tiles use color and glazing patterns similar to Frankoma pottery, which should make the transition easy and will help the tiles fit into Frankoma’s collectible lines of dinnerware.
The most notable Paschal tiles have nature-theme reliefs of deer, rabbits, acorns and other plants and animals.
The acquisition involved buying the line from Bill Paschal, who owns a company that makes stamped concrete. Frankoma bought the company’s ceramic tiles — until now made at a southeast Tulsa facility — and the Paschal Tile name.
The new tile business probably won’t expand the work force at the Frankoma plant, but Ragosta said the combination of the two lines could mean more business.
"We have a lot of customers who would be interested in the Paschal tiles, and some of their existing customers might be interested in Frankoma pottery,” he said.
Frankoma is also releasing a line of 75th anniversary and Easter products.