Amanda McDonald of Goose Alley Glass
Meet Amanda McDonald, founder of
Goose Alley Glass, a public glassblowing studio and gallery in Cincinnati.
How did you start your business?
One step at a time and with lots of help from friends, family and local businesses. Goose Alley Glass is starting small with artists renting time in other studios to produce our work that will begin selling this summer at local galleries and shows.
How did you come up with the idea for your business?
I have been blowing glass for 10 years and always wanted to open a public glassblowing studio and gallery where customers would see the glass being made. The concept is very similar to the studio where I first fell in love with blown glass.
When I moved back to Cincinnati three years ago, the time and place felt right, so I dove in headfirst and am excited to bring what I love and learned back to Cincinnati.
What resources here did you take advantage of and how did they help?
One resource is the amazing community we have in Over the Rhine. There are so many entrepreneurs and business owners willing to talk and provide advice for startups. Second, but also included in the OTR community, is Bad Girl Ventures, an amazing organization that has provided my business more help, information and opportunities than I could’ve ever acquired on my own. I am a finalist in the current class, which is helping out tremendously with my business plan.
What would you do differently if you started your business again?
I wish I had started with a larger inventory. Since we are renting time in other studios we are having a hard time keeping up with the interest in our products.
What’s next for you and your company?
I am working on acquiring our own equipment and space at Findlay Market so we can stop renting time in other shops and start selling our products directly from our own gallery.
Interview by Robin Donovan