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Published June 04, 2019

"It’s funny how life can take one on a journey. I started out at college, not really sure that I wanted to be there. I always had the desire to be an artist, but let’s face it. No one really thought of it as a major career field to make money."

Those words, written by Marcia Defnet of Marinette, explain her reason for putting her "great passionate dream" to become an artist on hold for decades. But she is proof that some dreams never die, and now, as many are entering retirement, Defnet and her husband, Donald, are the proud owners of Sno Haven Pottery in Marinette.

An artist of many talents, Defnet said some of her happiest moments in life were spent in a studio. She raised four children before going back to college as an older student and graduated from Northern Michigan University with a degree in fine arts.

"I went back to do something for myself," she said. "I went to recap that part of myself that had been so suppressed by the road of life. I rediscovered my identity, a part of myself that was hidden but wasn’t truly lost."

During college, she spent long hours in the studio. One instructor was encouraging her to specialize in pottery; another thought it should be painting. The defense continued to do both but found her greatest joy in pottery. During studio time, she thought about how hard it is for non-students to have a similar experience.

People will enjoy a pottery class in college, but once they get out, it is difficult to find a place to re-create that experience.

"I saw that there was a need in the market, and wanted to start a business that was like one I had seen elsewhere. People who really liked pottery during high school or college need a place to go and continue to work on that skill set," she said.

She and her husband looked for a location for two years and found a building in Marinette that was a perfect fit.

"The space has a wonderful flow for a beautiful working environment," Definite said. "It had everything we were looking for from separate rooms to sinks to plumbing."

While the initial business plan was for a pottery studio, the plan expanded. There is a pottery room with 12 new pottery wheels, a classroom for 32 students, a spray booth, separate rooms for glazing and drying, a breakroom, a jewelry room, and a lobby with a gift shop.

In addition to pottery, Defnet teaches painting, precious metals, and jewelry (clay, porcelain, and wire). She also creates her own works in each of the categories and offers them for sale in the gift shop and on her website, www.snohavenpottery.com. She took a class in college in website design and was able to make her own site, but says that her husband is her main business person.

"He does the accounting, and most of the marketing," she said. "Colleges need to offer marketing and business classes with an arts degree because if you’re going to be a professional, you need to be able to market yourself and your product."

She also recommends getting a good computer background to help with social media avenues and the website. As she gains experience, she is seeking assistance from the Green Bay SCORE chapter that recently opened a new location in Marinette. Her husband is working on revising their business plan now that they have a better grasp of where the business is growing.

"In business, your needs are constantly changing and the business plan should reflect that," Definite said. "We have plans for expansion and other things we want to do. I share my ideas with Donald and he figures out how we can do it."

As they move forward, they have been thrilled with the growth of the art community in the Marinette and Menominee area, and the part their business has played in giving people an opportunity to have fun and develop their creative skills.

"It does something to the human spirit to have that enjoyment and be able to create something," she said.

Tina Dettman-Bielefeldt is co-owner of DB Commercial Real Estate in Green Bay and past district director for SCORE, Wisconsin.