Unique Imports Brings European Treasures to Arkansas

Unique Imports
Owner: Julie Birchfield
Address: 3737 Buckingham Terrace, Springdale 72764
Phone/Fax: (479) 872-9074
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and by appointment
Startup date: March

With a collection that she hopes will eventually span the globe, Julie Birchfield imports unique, handmade pottery from Europe and Mexico for her business, Unique Imports. Birchfield provides clients with with a wide range of products at a variety of prices and said she’s currently focusing on Polish pottery because it’s more practical and is both decorative and functional as well as dishwasher and microwave safe.

Birchfield was inspired to open Unique Imports after living in Germany and seeing that country’s native pottery.

“I saw a lot of wonderful things over there that we don’t have here and thought it would be great to have them here,” Birchfield said.

In addition to Polish pottery, Unique Imports offers Mexican Talevera, a higher-end tableware, and Birchfield will order specific items to meet a customer’s need. Birchfield said that eventually, she’d like to import ceramics from Italy and crystal from the Czech Republic.

Birchfield acquires her merchandise through buying trips to Europe and an agreement with a factory in Poland. It has taken a lot of footwork, specifically three trips to Poland, to meet people and familiarize herself with the culture while earning a certain amount of respect from her suppliers.

With a business-related Web site going online in September, Birchfield said she sees her first year as a learning experience, determining where the market lies and learning her customers’ preferences.