From hanging clothes to Stoke-on-Trent ceramics designer

When Esme Talbot gave up her job at Mothercare to start her own ceramics design company, it felt like a real step into the unknown.

But after 11 years of hard work, the risk paid off, in the form of a deal with Next to produce a homewares range, created in his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent.

Ms Talbot recalled that during a shift hanging clothes, she thought: “I would like something more quirky for my kids”, so decided to leave.

Now his company, Scruffy Little Herbert, is about to get international exposure for its home-inspired products.

Work began in 2013, when Talbot taught herself screen printing and tested designs inspired by the Potteries landscape and Staffordshire humor.

“Essentially, it’s about the feeling of home and nostalgia,” she said.

The company’s name was inspired by a children’s story about the Staffordshire Treasurya topic she still wants to explore.

Her own children “love” the business – which started with clothing before focusing on ceramics – and have been inspired to create their own designs.

“They’re always drawing their own bottle ovens on things,” she laughed.

Mrs Talbot is delighted that the Next range is being manufactured in Stoke, given the city’s industrial heritage.

She said building the business to a high street standard took a lot of work, especially given the cost of living crisis.

“The last few years have been a little more difficult to be a small business,” she explained. “But it’s always continued because it’s my passion.”

Her increasingly popular designs caught the attention of global retailer Next, and it was the retailer that approached her to request the first meeting.

Ms Talbot said the retail giant is interested in working with “emerging designers, illustrators and small businesses because they want to support independents”.

“When I actually had to announce it, I was so excited to tell everyone,” she smiled. “It took a lot of work to get them there, but we’re there!”