I have been going to Creatively Yours for years, since it first opened in the 1990's. It is a wonderful place, the owners and staff are like family. Geary literally knows every customer's name, and he knows all the kids from having done so many birthday parties. Creatively Yours is gem, a true asset to our Village; it is a fine example of a family-style business.

I find this very alarming and interesting

I want to say that I don't go out to eat, shop for clothes or a "pottery studio" because of the name on the building. I have in fact painted there many times and never knew it was a franchise. I go there because the staff has always been helpful. I hope the people at Create yours does well. I will support them. Cheers!!!

Thank you Laura for revealing the truth about the Color Me Mine franchise. As we both know there are many frustraded CMM franchisees in the "chain". Please contact me through Geary so we can help other new entrepreneurs make the right choices.
As a former CMM franchisee we served the Ridgewood community and beyond for 12 years and people came to us rather than the other studios because of our service and friendly staff , rather than the name. We took the Ridgewood studio from a "going out of business" Color Me Mine to a successful studio. And all because of our hard work, our advertising money and the loyal customer base that we built over the years. We thank you all ! Thank you Anne and Fran for your comments.
We decided to part ways with the franchise exactly because their weak support, corporate greed and arrogant and vindictive behavior.
We also want to thank the independent business owners all over Ridgewood who came to Geary expressing their outrage and support.
I am sure that with the support of the families from Ridgewood and surrounding communities Creatively Yours will continue to be a successful studio.

I want to congradulate Geary and the gang at Creatively Yours.I have been coming once a week from Manhattan to spend a day at the studio. They are nice enough to let me sit at a table to paint my tiles. I am an illustrator,and I find ceramics so much fun. But the great joy of the place has been how Geary and all have a dialogue with the customers....especially the kids. I also enjoy talking to them about their pieces and art. Geary and the crew help them CREATE a piece of art. That is why it never came off as a franchise operation,and why it is great that they are now independent. There is no limit on what will go on there now! So go to Creatively Yours to CREATE something,not just to make something. From the artist point of view....Creatively Yours is the only choice on the block. Steve Henry

I am so glad to see Creatively Yours emerge as an independent studio .Congratulations to Geary and crew for keeping this a comfortable and fun place to be.As a frequent visitor for many years I have found the staff helpful,the materials of high quality and the finished products very satisfying.It's worth coming to Ridgewood for even all the way from Hawaii,which i do when I can!

I can't believe that they still want to open. I hear that so many people are outraged by this action of them moving in a block away from the other pottery place. They are money hungry and not looking out for our communitee's best interest. The same with the frozen yogurt and salad places. enough is enough!!!

Creatively Yours will be having a grand re-opening and ribbon cutting at 5:30 on Tuesday August 7th. Come and show your support for this wonderful local business. There will be refreshments and "free studio" cards for all who come.

To down another company shows bad taste to you all!!! Color Me Mine is a friendly place with ann out going friendly staff .... they are humans who are trying to enjoy their commnity, It is going to do amazing and amazing things for the commintiy!!! The Color Me Mine Team has said nothing but nice things about Creatively Yours and Gearyand how they just went into another direction.........they offer to differet kinds of art .....a community is suppose to support and make others feel welcome!!! The Color Me Mine Team is excited and ready to be a part of a great community!!! Best Wishes to Creatively Yours - where glass is your specialty!!!!

"Jennifer", if you are associated with the new CMM, welcome to the community ! As I see it, the comments are all about the business practices of Color Me Mine Corp. and how they "value" their former associates and partners. Nobody seems to think that Ridgewood needs another ceramic painting studio but the Town Manager and Color Me Mine Corporate. If you go down the block you'll see that Creatively Yours' specialty is ceramic painting and, more recently, glass fusion - so they can diversify their customers choices. They are definitely good at what they are doing and a lot of families and business owners in town welcomed their decision and the new look of their studio. Good luck to both of you !

It saddens me to read all of these comments! I don't see any reason why 2 business like this can not both thrive in such a popular town as Ridgwood, where people come from all over. The new named creatively yours is not a huge establishment and is often full and busy. Therefore there are enough customers who will go to both. I personally have been to Creatively Yours, when it was Color me Mine several times and my experience, although fun for the children, always felt rushed, disorganized and crowded. This is not to say I wouldn't go back as the children enjoy the art experience. Ridgewood has many restaurants, stores with the same themes, coffee houses etc. So I think it is only fair that people leave both pottery places alone to do their thing. If you have a gripe with Color Me Mine, because you have had first hand experience, don't take it out on another franchisee. I am sure that they too could get all their friends etc to write things on the patch! Ridgewood is a place of opportunity for all and I do believe that both stores can run in peace and harmony. If you have concerns for the franchisee that is another story but this is not the place to blacken the franchise and put a damper on the excitement of a persons ventures. Oh and before anyone says anything, I have NOTHING to do with color me mine or any such business. I just get upset when I see people not seeing the big picture! I wish both business all the best and am sure they will both do well!

color me mine has been open in ridgewood for 10 yrs or so! Interesting. I am sorry you have such a beef with color me mine sounds like a nightmare for you. Maybe you should take it up with them. What about franchise laws of not opening up similar business's once you don't renew your contract? Do they have that clause? Just asking. As a Ridgewood resident, and one who knows how busy Ridgewood can be I do believe that both can work. The now creatively yours is not a huge shop and is always busy. Laura I hope you can move on from your own experience. I wonder if the new owners have read your posts. Must be disheartening for a new business owner who is trying to make their way too. Your posts unfortunately make you sound more bitter with your own experience and the director of Color me Mine. Have you contacted the new owner as you have their name?
@ JAFO Crappy Color me Mine experiences are not because of the franchise itself, but the owners and their running of their store.-
I hope to visit both stores and hope that both willb e a unique and wonderful experience. By the way Laura, you have no idea if I own or have owned a small business or what my vocation is so please don't make assumptions. If you came to Ridgewood and were aware of its demographics and where people come from to visit you would understand my comment about room for both.......