“Glass Alchemy Ltd., the premier colored borosilicate company in the world offering the worlds largest color palette of quality colored glass for the artist.” If you have ever called in and asked Didi who Glass Alchemy is or what GA does, you would get this answer almost verbatim with an enthusiasm that might make you wonder if she is alright. If you talk with Sandy, you will find that she and Luba have organized tracked and reviewed your order with care above the “call of duty.” If you discussed a technical problem with Max you would find he is deliberate and patient, taking time to understand a problem before he answers. Henry, the person responsible for developing your palette and for the innovation of technology that continues to improve quality, is devoted to the science of glass and its potential for the future. Through his vision we have established research contacts worldwide from universities to innovative wild minds. Relentless in the search for knowledge, insight and the application of solutions, Henry also works to resolve your technical problems, studio set up problems, health and safety problems, ventilation design problems, fire marshal questions, and color science wonderings. I have even heard him work out marketing and product strategy hypotheses with artists and review their business plans. Marcelle and Mike in QC review and sort all glass before it sells; they also review new colors through the experimentation process and add their comments to the mix for new color development. The Glass making team, the heart of Glass Alchemy, knows the glass. They have drawn nearly 10,000 pots of colored glass in the last 5 years and crushed and sorted thousands of pounds for your frit.
Every single day someone at Glass Alchemy gives me a “WOW” moment. And I know I miss more of these “wows” than I see. All this work is done with an unsurpassed eye for quality. Where does this commitment and dedication to you, the lampworker, come from?
Glass Alchemy, Ltd. began as a naïve dream. As a visual and performing artist I was unencumbered – deadlines for shows were the only time constraint in my life. As the deadlines approached they required a BIG exertion of energy and then it was over. I spent my time sculpting, firing, researched themes and content, then over two weeks photos, slides, titles, resume updates, the artist statement, pricing, installation, opening night, rare interviews, a few meetings with collectors or clients and in 26 days the show came down, finished over. A few weeks rest, hanging out with my kids; it was a rhythm of life that I loved. As my work grew in stature Henry got involved with the extremes of the larger installations. But, my vision was my own, my work, my time, my responsibilities, it all boiled down to me.
The demands of actually running a business are quite different from working solo in the studio. Employees, bookkeeping, CPA’s, attorneys, equipment development, research, product development, sales, marketing; competition, city, state and federal regulations and inspections, inventory levels, scheduling of manufacturing and staff, these were all pieces of a whole picture that have to be organized. It was not an easy learning process. I have fired various managers for abusive manipulation of fellow employees and struggled with employees hiding to avoid work, staging work slowdowns and stealing.
I knew there had to be a more holistic approach to business. One of my bankers suggested I read the BEN & JERRY books on their adventures in business. Ben & Jerry's The Inside Scoop: How Two Real Guys Built a Business with a Social Conscience and a Sense of Humor by Fred Lager, and Ben Jerry's Double Dip: Lead With Your Values and Make Money, Too by Ben Cohen & Jerry Greenfield. Great books and a fun read. What I hoped to achieve was a cooperative, communicative organization. I looked back on my theater experience, “the show must go on” attitude. Everyone needed to be working with focus toward a common goal while paying attention to the details. The various consultants I hired to help, offered pedestrian solutions to everything from price-point evaluation to JIT (just in time) manufacturing but not one heard my request to develop a holistic workplace. I was very fortunate there were a few employees that were doggedly sticking out the development of Glass Alchemy through the growing pains. But here was my big question – from the employees of Glass Alchemy to the artists who use Boromax™ how do I get everyone to participate and celebrate in the birth and growth of an industry? How do we, the manufacturers of the glass, the factory, become a resource for the glass community? Believe it or not this was and still is my dream. Creativity unleashed, innovation and celebration in the workings of and for art, all in a safe, satisfying work environment. Why? Forty hours a week are committed to earning an income. These are the best hours of a life; shouldn’t this commitment of time be respected? I consider it my responsibility to be the catalyst for a productive rewarding work environment. This is the vision I had and what I wanted to establish as the culture Glass Alchemy, Ltd.
Okay, so finally in September of 2001 I was heard. I hired a small consulting firm to bridge the gap. In meetings initiated by the consultants I listened as the staff of Glass Alchemy listed what was important to them in a satisfying workplace. They wanted to be valued, have job security, to make a difference, to participate and have opportunity for personal growth. We had the same hope, this was too easy! Glass Alchemy management and staff started looking at the business together; establishing open communication through problem solving, work flow evaluations to encourage staff development. We learned to listen and trust and respect the needs of the whole. Conversations now enabled change and discovery as we explored the struggles inherent in manufacturing colored borosilicate glass. We developed a gain share program to acknowledge the participation required in working toward a successful company. The greatest accomplishment toward this end was when we defined Glass Alchemy’s purpose of existence and established the values that guide our decisions as a group.
Statement of Business and mission for Glass Alchemy, Ltd.:
Our limitations fell away as we gave ourselves permission to define our commitment and participation within the glass arts movement. This was big; we were no longer “glass makers with glass to sell.” These meetings gave birth to our mission statement read: “Enhancing the world through vision and creativity." This was a liberating achievement which has given Glass Alchemy, Ltd. freedom to work with dreams. This spring when we revisited our purpose we added “innovation” to the mission statement. The Glass Alchemy, Ltd. core purpose now reads, “Enhancing the world through vision, creativity and innovation.”
Vision = defines our leadership and dedication to the dynamic opportunities the colored borosilicate industry.
Creativity = defines the commitment to the passion of ideas and the research to support the artists who use and the distributors who sell Boromax™ glass products.
Innovation = out of all this creativity bubbles up a few good things – innovation is the implementation of the cream of creative ideas.
We defined the guideline for our growth by establishing values and ethics
Core Business Values of Glass Alchemy, Ltd.:
Honesty
Work smart / Keep it Simple (KIS)
Lifelong Learning
Quality Products
Employee & Customer Satisfaction
Good Corporate Citizen
We review our purpose/mission statement and our core values every time we discuss the strategies and structure of Glass Alchemy’s future growth. These core values also help when examining day to day operations and give a simple checklist for evaluating decisions and opportunities.
Glass Alchemy’s commitment to research, education and the sharing of information is the best example I can offer of these principles in action for you, the consumer of our Boromax™ products. We have added over 80 colors to the colored borosilicate palette in less than five years. Driven by its core values GA offers seminars and certification classes to help establish a common language and an understanding of how the glass works among instructors and innovators in our industry. As a customer of Glass Alchemy, Ltd. you have access to unlimited technical support when you call in and ask. We know from experience your questions help us to grow, change and adapt to the demands of a pioneering customer base.
What these principles offer the staff of Glass Alchemy, Ltd. is involvement, security, health benefits, a future filled with memories of artists who visit, working with friends, and knowledge that they have made their corner of the world a little bit more beautiful through their work.
Thank you for your contribution to the world of the glass arts.
