Hartstone Pottery Is Back In Biz

I've blogged many times about my love for my Hartstone Pottery shortbread molds.  Our 8" gift box shortbread is made in these molds and I own about 50 of them.  Years ago, I had heard that Hartstone was out of the shortbread mold business, then sadly, I heard they were out of business completely. 

Fast forward to my email inbox in November.  Marcy Goldman of Better Baking, an online magazine for bakers contacted me and asked if she could mention Vermont Shortbread Company on her web site.  Marcy's a food writer, baker, and shortbread lover.  Even better, Marcy lives in Montreal, just a hop, skip, and a jump from this American baker in northern Vermont.  I'm always looking for a good excuse to head up to Montreal, practice my French, and share a good gab session over coffee or wine.  I was honored to be mentioned on Marcy's site.  (Merci, Marcy!)

Anyway, in the same article in which Marcy mentioned Vermont Shortbread Company, she also mentioned that Hartstone recently reopened their doors in Zanesville, Ohio.  As I sleuth around the web for more information, I can see that many people are Hartstone followers and collectors and like me, are thrilled to pieces. 

So, now I'm wondering:  is Hartstone going to get back into the shortbread mold business? 

This specialty food biz owner is crossing her fingers.  We love American-made products and local pride (certainly no shortage of that here in Vermont), but we also love the way the internet allows small businesses like Hartstone and Vermont Shortbread Company to connect and support one another in small ways. 

Congratulations to Hartstone Pottery for reinventing themselves so beautifully.  And thanks to Marcy Goldman of Better Baking for the hot tip!

Comments

[Hartstone Pottery]

Ann,

Thanks so much for your kind words about Hartstone Pottery.

Yes, we're back in business. We're known not only for our shortbread molds, but also as the former exclusive manufacturer of mugs for Starbucks. Many will also remember our "Snowpeople" pattern at Pottery Barn--and our biggest treasure: the "Gingerbread" collection, carried by Dillard's. In time, as Starbucks, Dillards and others looked overseas for cheaper (oh...and less expensive!) goods, Hartstone was lost. It's corporate America owner, having bought the business from Pat Hart, threw in the towel. Citing an inability to compete with China, it let all 100 employees go 18 months ago.

Well, we're back--under new ownership...and we proudly have gone back to our roots-handcrafted, handpainted stoneware. Our stoneware is microwave, oven, freezer and dishwasher safe...made in Ohio. And those shortbread molds? Yes, they're coming back...we're hard at work!

Thanks for finding us online!

Chip Royer
VP/Marketing & Development

[unlikelymoose]

Chip, I don't know if you will receive an email notification from my post on this blog, but I just want to make a request for the snowpeople edition to return. My wife is in love with her snowpeople pieces. Every winter season she kicks herself for not buying the entire collection years ago.

I've kept an eye on ebay, but haven't had much luck. Our family would be overcome with joy if the snowpeople collection made a return.