Meet Syd Marguleas

We recently connected with Syd Marguleas and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Syd with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I attribute a large part of my work ethic to living and working in New York City. I lived in Manhattan for seven years right out of college and learning how to navigate the city as a twenty-something year old played a major role in my personal and professional development. It was all about the grind and very much a work hard, play hard environment, which I’m grateful to have experienced so early on in my career. I spent the first five years working at top creative agencies in dynamic, fast-paced environments with a lot of personalities and it made me extremely adaptable and resourceful. Many people say if you can live in New York City, you can live anywhere, and I’m a big believer in that.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Last summer I launched a pottery business called Terroir Ceramics that creates functional, one-of-a-kind pieces made in Los Angeles out of recycled clay. We focus on three lifestyle-driven products: Pet Bowls, Ashtrays and Matcha Sets, all of which are customizable and designed to enhance your everyday rituals.

The beauty of recycled clay, aside from being more sustainable, is that it’s a combination of different colors and textures which creates varied reactions to the glaze and a more unique finished product. The use of recycled clay also inspired the name of the business, Terroir, a French word that refers to the soil and type of environment where something is produced. Having grown up in the desert – quite literally in the dirt – there is a natural connection to clay and my roots.

Terroir Ceramics has participated in a handful of incredible events in the Los Angeles area with organizations like Wags and Walks, Artists and Fleas and the Melrose Trading Post to spread awareness and reach our core customer. In 2025, we’ll continue to build awareness with high-visibility partnerships and retailers that align well with the pet category and an audience that appreciates unique, handcrafted goods for the home.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Dream big but start small. I had so many ideas and aspirational goals which made it difficult to figure out where to start and how to be okay with accomplishing baby steps vs achieving my vision right off the bat. The best advice I could give to myself and to entrepreneurs early on is to start small with a very clear focus and go all-in.

Put yourself out there. Talk about your business with anyone willing to listen because ideas can come from anywhere and the more connections and perspectives you develop, the more opportunities you’ll have to learn and grow your business in ways you might never have expected.

Know your customer. It’s easy to get consumed by the day to day nuances of the business and decision-making but if you don’t understand your customers needs, what they care about and how to reach them, your job becomes a lot harder.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes! I am a big fan of partnerships and would love the opportunity to connect with other brands who align from an audience and values perspective. While Terroir offers three lifestyle-driven products – Pet Bowls, Matcha Sets and Ashtrays – I’ve been mostly focused on pet-related partnerships due to greater demand but also the specific audience it attracts.

A dream collaboration for me is with DOG PPL, a local, canine social club that focuses on creating community and high-quality experiences for humans and their pets. I’d love to be able to offer members custom dog bowls at sign up or at various times throughout the year for gifting, special occasions, holidays, etc. A partnership with animal rescue organizations like La Belle or Wags and Walks would also be a great opportunity to offer adoption families a custom dog bowl for their newest family member.

Outside of the pet category, Erewhon would be an incredible retailer partner to reach an affluent audience who values high-quality, sustainable products designed to enhance their everyday rituals.

If you’re interested in connecting please reach out via my website or directly at [email protected].

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Jes Workman

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