Brand New Shroomyz, Now Harvesting!

Well, we’ve been busy here at the Shroomery these last couple of months creating a brand new crop of Shroomyz. We hope to be harvesting and shipping most of the great new shapes by early February just in time for the Spring rush. When we set out to create a new item or a new Shroomy we never know exactly what it will turn out like. We just hold our breath and hope for the best. We think these new Shroomyz turned out great and will be a welcome addition to the rest of the Shroomyz family!

-The JJ Potts Team

Fairy Shroomyz, the newest member of the Family.

Fairy Shroomyz are the newest and smallest creation from the Shroomery at JJ Potts. These tiny Shroomyz are making their way into terrariums, miniature gardens and fairy gardens for Spring 2012. These tiny mushrooms were a fun undertaking. After receiving many inquiries if Shroomyz were compatible with fairies, we looked into it and can now say Yes!
-The JJ Potts Team

Meet Mr Bud Ballenger.

Just last week we took a break and skipped out of the factory for a few days to head to Chicago for the IGC garden trade show. We always look forward to meeting with our customers, and this year we had the chance to spend some time with Shroomyz sales champion Bud Ballenger on his 80th birthday. It was 11 years ago this year that Bud found the first crop of Shroomyz that a family friend had displayed in his booth at the Las Vegas Hardware Show. Bud spotted those first homely Shroomyz and agreed to take them back to California and see what he could do with them. The Bud-Shroomyz combination was an instant hit. He introduced Shroomyz to some of the best garden centers in California and has kept us scrambling to try and keep up with him ever since. When I finally twisted buds arm and convinced him to tell me his real age last week, the first words out of his mouth were “do you want to have a foot race”? I politely declined knowing Buds personality and that he still runs a few miles 3 or 4 days a week. We’ve been lucky to have Bud with us ever since, he’s been there to reprimand us when our customer service or quality wasn’t up to snuff and to encourage and inspire when we needed some motivation. However those that know Bud best know that the real secret to his success and bounce in his step is his good wife Gloria. She flawlessly runs the office and finances while Bud is out on the road making his sales calls, they truly are an amazing team. Happy 80th Bud!

-The JJ Potts Team

Here’s to 10 Years!

It’s been 10 years since we opened up shop in the family garage and started making our Shroomyz ceramic garden mushrooms. I found this Christmas card from 2004 buried in a stack of papers on my desk. This was the original Shroomyz making crew. Only four of the original team survive as mushroom makers, the rest have moved onward and upward in their careers. Cousin Dan is just finishing his Phd degree in law, Dave and Clint are in medical and dental school, Scott’s a city planner, Peter’s a geologist and Erika is a full time artist just to name a handful. It wasn’t uncommon with the original team to drop by the factory at 2 am (because we had forgotten to turn on a kiln) and find that Scott or Brayden had decided to work the night shift,instead of passing up a boating opportunity earlier in the day. I guess you can survive with zero sleep when your 22. Thanks for sticking with us for 10 years!

-Jeremy