Before her kids came along, Desiree Maklin was an office manager for a venture capital business. Once her young sons started school, she was eager to return to work – but perhaps a job with more family-friendly hours and some fun! That’s when her husband noticed a business listing saying The Clay Room, a popular Riverdale ceramics studio, was up for sale. Desiree decided it was the perfect fit; she had strong business skills and had always loved DIY projects like furniture re-upholstering and re-finishing. “I was not necessarily crafty, but I could do things with my hands, and I am good with colour,” she says.
In 2005, Desiree became the new owner of The Clay Room. “Riverdale is a great neighbourhood and very family-oriented,” she observes. There’s lots of foot traffic, which draws people into the store, and Taste of the Danforth helps business too. “Millions of people walk by, and we are on the subway line. All this is very beneficial,” she explains.
