I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Natalie, the creative mind behind The Little Ghost Company, for an exclusive Q&A session. I’m thrilled to bring you this insightful interview. Natalie shared the enchanting story of how her love for Halloween and the occult, combined with her artistic background, led to the creation of her unique ceramic ghost figurines. This is a fascinating glimpse into the world of The Little Ghost Company, where traditional craftsmanship meets spooky creativity.
A huge thank you to Natalie for taking the time to answer our questions. Be sure to stay tuned for her exciting Halloween releases, which are sure to delight fans of all things eerie and mystical! Here we go…
Can you tell us the story behind the founding of The Little Ghost Company? What inspired its creation?
I’ve always been a lover of Halloween and anything a little bit different. I come from quite an eclectic family with parents who were creatives and into the occult. I originally did a degree in Special Effects where I focused on sculpture, which is what I specialised in for my Master’s Degree, and it allowed me to explore ceramics. I’m from Stoke on Trent, the pottery capital of the world, so I grew up around ceramics and always had an interest in it.
I went on to become a junior sculptor for Madame Tussauds in London, sculpting large bodies, and I also started making ceramic jewellery as a hobby, which progressed into small figurines. One day, I created a little ghost, and my life changed from there. I had only made a few for Halloween one year, and they all sold really quickly. I started to receive numerous messages asking me when I was going to make more. And so it began.
What are the core values and mission of The Little Ghost Company?
I’m a big supporter of the arts and really love connecting with other people and businesses in the alternative and spooky community. Keeping the tradition of ceramic art made in Staffordshire going is something I’m proud of, especially as traditional crafts can often be forgotten. But I think making people happy with my creations is the best and most important part of what I do, as every ghost has a different meaning to each individual, and I love that my creations can bring joy to others.
Could you describe some of the unique products or services that you offer?
The ghosts that I create are available in different designs, colours, and sizes, from the original white sheet ghosts to black floral patterns and iridescent glazes. Some have extra little sculptural details like hats and props. I also create ghost bats, zombears, pumpkins, and shroomfolk for a full variety of spooky beings.
How do you ensure the quality and authenticity of your products?
All of my little ghosts are handcrafted using Porcelain, known for its quality, and they are hand-finished by me from the beginning during the sculptural process, through to the casting and glazing. Each ghost is inspected to ensure there are no defects, as ceramics can be temperamental and not every ghost ‘survives’ the kiln firing.
What sets The Little Ghost Company apart from other companies in the same industry?
There are quite a few different ghost makers. It’s a lovely little community. All of the ghosts are different. They’re made from different materials, shapes, and designs. They all have their own personalities, and I think you can tell each creator’s style. My ghosts are handmade and only sold in small batches each week. I think what makes my ghosts different is that they’re ceramic, made in Stoke on Trent, so there’s a lot of history and traditional techniques to how they’re made, and that they’re made from porcelain, which is not only aesthetically pleasing but feels smooth and cool, almost how I imagine a ghost would feel (if you could touch one).
Could you share some memorable experiences or feedback from your customers?
A memorable experience for me has been collaborating with CJ Cooke, author of the Lighthouse Witches, the Ghost Woods, and a Haunting in the Arctic. She asked me on two occasions to create some ghosts to accompany the release of her new books. I really enjoyed being a part of someone else’s creative experience and loved the little ghost creations we came up with. I’ve also received lots of lovely feedback from my collectors and a recurring thing mentioned is that my collectors look forward to my shop updates on Tuesdays to see what different little ghost friends are looking for homes to haunt.
How do you stay connected with your customer base and the broader community?
I connect with my collectors through social media, mainly using Instagram. I have the friendliest and nicest bunch of followers, and it’s always nice to get feedback on my creations, and I love seeing what they do with them. I also follow quite a few alternative businesses on social media and occasionally collaborate.
What are some challenges you’ve faced and overcome since starting the company?
I have faced a few challenges since starting The Little Ghost Company, including having my ghosts copied by a Chinese company, which was pretty distressing for me. They directly copied my Black Floral Ghosts, making mass-produced cheap resin copies, and they even used my own images to try and sell theirs. They were being sold on online marketplaces, wholesale websites, and also a large wholesaler in the US, which I contacted and they thankfully removed them.
Are there any product releases or initiatives that you’re excited about and would like to share with our readers?
I release new ghost designs all the time, but I’m really excited for Spooky Season, as that’s when I create my favourite Halloween-themed ghosts. I think the Frankenghosts, Pumpkins, and Zombears are some of my favourite creations, and I only release them from late summer up until Halloween.
How can interested customers get in touch with you or learn more about your offerings?
Little Ghosts can be adopted through my Etsy store www.TheLittleGhostCo.Etsy.Com, and customers can keep up to date by following the Instagram page www.Instagram.com/TheLittleGhostCompany or joining the mailing list on our website www.TheLittleGhostCompany.com.
Once again a Really BIG thank you to Natalie for sharing the enchanting story behind The Little Ghost Company. Be sure to stay tuned for her exciting releases and to follow her on social media for the latest updates. For more details, check out her Etsy store and website!
Stay spooky! ??
