Cabell Sweeney’s flair for creativity and passion for gift giving has turned into a flourishing business. It all started in 1997, when Cabell’s mom gave her a set of bisque, and her husband gave her a kiln, so she could paint their set of wedding dishes and take pleasure in her hobby of making hand-painted ceramics for friends and family. “I would teach second grade by day, and then paint and fire pottery by night. Little did I know that it was also a time of trial and error in designing and creating what eventually turned out to be some of our first products,” says Cabell.
As demand grew for her work, so did her desire to put her designs to the test by showcasing her wares at local artist markets and festivals to gauge public interest. Recalls Cabell, “I wanted to see of anyone other than my friends and family were interested in what I created, and if so, were they willing to pay for it?” Her answer came after the Cotton Pickin’ Fair in Gay, Georgia, when she was approached by an Auburn University bookstore owner about creating a line of tailgating pottery for the school. The immediate success of the line provided the encouragement she needed to leave her beloved teaching position and pursue taking her burgeoning pottery business to the next level.
Enter Susan Peterson, who upon receiving one of Cabell’s creations, caught her vision and became her business partner. Susan says, “I knew when Cabell presented me with a whimsical, hand painted depiction of my family on a serving bowl, that I was holding something that would be loved by people all across America. I wanted to be a part of spreading to others the joy I felt upon receiving such a heartfelt and unique gift.”
In 2003, after spending weeks in brainstorming meetings, self-taught crash courses in small business management, and prayer, Cabell’s LLC was born. Initial product offerings included licensed tailgating pieces for The University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Auburn University, The University of Alabama and Florida State University. Other goods included personalized family, wedding and children’s pieces. A small rental space in Roswell, Georgia housed kilns, bisque, glaze and the dreams of two women who were ready to treat each day as a learning experience, and apply the lessons learned against their vision of making Cabell’s a household name associated with the joyful aspects of family gatherings, friendly get-togethers and home design.
Fast forward four years to 2007, to a business that realized the market Susan and Cabell knew existed, and continues to evolve into a design firm which tracks – and then sets – trends in tabletop and home accents. In 2006, the Cabell’s Too brand, designed for Magnolia Lane, surpassed $5 million in wholesale and adds to its portfolio of products everyday. Susan and Cabell testify to the many misadventures along the way which served to fortify their resolve and strengthen their faith. The most satisfying chapter in the Cabell’s story, however, is that the company’s success enables the Cabell’s team to give back to the community they love and financially support organizations whose vision they share. Says Peterson, “As a company, that’s how we measure our success – by our capacity to give back.”
