Today we’d like to introduce you to Erin Racioppi.
Hi Erin, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m Erin, the proud owner of the All Fired Up Paint-Your-Own-Pottery Studios in Winter Park & Waterford Lakes, and a total pottery enthusiast!
My love for painting pottery started back in college when I created my first masterpiece, and it’s been full steam ahead ever since. I believe in the value of a hands-on, creative experience that you can treasure forever, and I’m all about giving everyone the chance to create something special, no experience needed—just bring your creativity and a little curiosity, and we’ll take care of the rest!
Fast forward 23 years, and what started as a ‘little pottery shop’ has grown into 9 studio locations across the country! My husband, Steve, now works full-time with me, and together we manage our busy business while raising 4 amazing kids.
These days, you’ll mostly find me dreaming up new studio designs, brainstorming fun new ideas, and building an awesome team. But don’t worry—I still pop into the studio from time to time! So if you see me, don’t be shy, come say hi!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s been an amazing journey, but I can’t say it’s been smooth sailing the whole way. Like most small businesses, getting to where we are today took a lot of time, effort, and learning from our mistakes along the way.
When I opened my very first studio, I didn’t know what to expect, so I hadn’t hired anyone to help. That meant I was working open to close every single day, wearing all the hats and quickly hiring someone. As the studios started to take off, I tried a few new ideas too—some worked, and some didn’t. I opened a store called Cuddle Buddies in the same resort as our original pottery studio, Polka Dot Pots, and while it was a fun concept, it just didn’t work out the way I had hoped.
During the pandemic, like so many businesses, we had to get creative and adapt quickly. That led us to launch a pottery subscription business I’d been thinking about for a while, called Pottery Box. While it was a fun and hopeful pivot during a really uncertain time, it didn’t take off quite as much as we expected. Thankfully, we were able to reopen our studios safely after not much down time, and that chapter helped us refocus on what we truly do best—bringing people together for creative, hands-on, memorable moments in our studios.
Owning a business comes with so many moving pieces, and challenges are bound to pop up. What’s helped us grow is staying flexible, being ready for whatever comes our way, and doing our best to adapt when things don’t go as planned. Every challenge has taught us something—and those lessons are a big part of how we’ve grown into what we are today.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We are a paint your own pottery studio offering hands-on, creative fun for people of all ages and abilities. With no studio fees, no time limits, and no reservations required, we are proud to offer this unique experience to the Orlando community!
We have over 250 pottery items to choose from, and our team of artists can help anyone create a masterpiece – no experience needed. We have all the supplies and tools needed to paint your pottery and offer numerous super fun and great looking techniques such as marbling, bubbles, and stickers!
In addition to walk-in pottery painting, we also offer field trips, corporate events, bachelorette parties, offsite events, and pottery painting birthday parties for all ages.
Plus – our locations are BYOB friendly, so guests are always welcome to bring in beer, wine, or any snacks they might enjoy while painting!
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What truly brings me happiness is helping others and sharing joy in little, everyday ways. Sometimes that’s something simple—like dropping off snacks in the teachers’ lounge at my kids’ school—and other times it’s being in the studio, helping our guests create a masterpiece they’ll treasure for years to come.
The studios are especially fulfilling to me because they bring people of all ages together. There’s something really special about watching families, friends, and even grandparents and grandkids slow down, get creative, and spend meaningful time together.
I started the studio because I fell in love with painting pottery myself. I wasn’t the most talented artist, but that never mattered. What mattered was being able to create something with my own hands and make memories with the people I love. Being able to share that same feeling with people of all ages is incredibly rewarding.
(And sometimes, happiness also looks like a cold Diet Coke and a good puzzle at the end of the day.)
Pricing:
- No Studio Fees – Just pay for the price of the pottery item(s) you paint!
- Kids Party Packages start at $399
- Corporate Events & Adult Parties $10 per person + price of pottery
- Field Trips start at $15 per painter
- $20 Flat Rate Shipping via USPS is available
Contact Info:
- Website: https://allfireduponline.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/allfiredupfl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allfiredupwinterpark/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@allfiredupfl
