You'll say YAY to all the ceramics from this brand!

Cheetahs on coffee mugs, anyone?

Hello!

If you squeal with glee whenever you spot ceramics, today's conversation is for you.

Oh Yay Project, founded by Vaibhavi Shah, is home to handpainted terracotta planters, minimalistic soup mugs, quirky chip and dip platters, and seashell-shaped candles. With a store cum workshop in Koramangala, Bengaluru, OYP can fully bloom for love for art and ceramics.

But what makes Vaibhavi create? And why did she quit her cushy corporate job? For the love of ceramics, creation, and more, let's hear her story!

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Sunaina: Please tell me about yourself and what made you start the Oh Yay Project.

Vaibhavi: I'm the founder and creative force behind OYP. After 13 years in the corporate world, I took a leap into something exhilarating — something that truly ignites my passion. During my corporate tenure, I found solace in pottery, spending weekends immersed in its calming and therapeutic embrace. The joy I found in this craft inspired me to delve deeper, eventually launching my ceramic tableware and serve ware line. My journey began with hand-painted terracotta planters as I navigated the path towards crafting my vision for exquisite crockery. Within months, fuelled by determination, I curated my first two collections, marking the beginning of our ceramic adventure at OYP.

Sunaina: What's your brand's design philosophy?    

Vaibhavi: Our brand design philosophy is all about diversity, offering a blend of my distinct minimal and unique designs alongside a selection of popular sourced products that resonate with our audience's preferences. I thrive on crafting minimal, elegant designs that effortlessly captivate the right audience, ensuring a guaranteed choice. 

Our success stories revolve around our celebrated festive drops, such as Diwali and Christmas collections, adding a touch of enchantment to our brand's journey.

Sunaina: What goes into the production of your ceramics?     

Vaibhavi: Each ceramic piece at OYP is a labour of art, meticulously handcrafted and poured with care. Our design journey begins with choosing themes — florals, motifs, or vibrant colour palettes. From there, we delve into the design phase, crafting the aesthetic and selecting the perfect hues. Simultaneously, we define the crockery's shape and conduct test runs on samples to ensure perfection. Our artwork is applied through meticulous hand-painting or precise decal transfer before the ceramics undergo multiple firing, glazing, decal application, and another firing stage. Upon completion, the items undergo rigorous quality checks upon arrival at our warehouse. Post-inspection, we do a detailed photoshoot before gracing our website with their elegance and craftsmanship.

Sunaina: You also have a physical store in Bangalore, right? What can one experience at the store?  

Vaibhavi: Entering our vibrant store in Bangalore is like stepping into a world of charm and creativity! Nestled in the city's heart, our cute, quirky, and colourful space is a haven for home decor enthusiasts and ceramic lovers alike. This isn't just a store — it's a bustling workshop, too! On any typical day, you'll find me immersed in painting terracotta planters, adding a personal touch to each creation at the store. Our space is a visual delight, featuring a bright striped ceiling that adds a playful touch. Keep an eye out for our bear LED, our lovable mascot, and the small elements scattered throughout, all contributing to that unmistakable 'Oh yay' factor that defines our store's atmosphere.

Sunaina: Many brands today struggle to build an engaged community online, but you have managed it. What's important when you're building an audience on social media?

Vaibhavi: Navigating social media is indeed challenging, especially when aiming for organic growth in today's landscape. I consciously prioritised organic growth when I embarked on my social media journey. My goal was to cultivate a genuine community, understanding that while it may take time to build, it would foster a loyal audience in return. My approach revolves around consistent engagement — responding to queries, providing solutions, and curating valuable content while staying true to the brand's aesthetic. This dedication to meaningful interaction has been the cornerstone of our growth, fostering a community that values authenticity and connection.

Sunaina: As a small business, can you share 2-3 challenges you face?  

Vaibhavi: Bootstrapping a small business presents challenges, especially in talent acquisition and managing multiple roles. Often, as the founder, you're not just the planner but also the hands-on doer, wearing many hats to keep things moving forward.

Sunaina: If you had to pick three bestselling products, what would they be?   

Vaibhavi: Among our stellar lineup, a few shining stars have emerged as our top sellers — the graceful Minimal Bloom Collection, the whimsical Dragonfly Coasters, and our enchanting Festive Collections. These coveted pieces reflect the essence of our brand, resonating deeply with our audience's tastes and preferences.

Sunaina: What can we expect in the future?                                                                          Vaibhavi: The horizon holds a thrilling expansion of our product line, all meticulously designed in-house. Our recent introduction of table linen marks the beginning of our journey into a broader range of home decor offerings. The future promises an exciting evolution as we aim to venture further into home decor, crafting more captivating and thoughtfully designed pieces for our cherished audience.

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So, that was my conversation with Vaibhavi. Follow the Oh Yay Project on Instagram.

I’ll be back with another story soon. 👋