The Creative Inheritance
In the colourful district, Vesterbro, close to Enghave Plads in Copenhagen, Stinne and Nis Tyrrestrup has established the new boutique and workshop of TYBO. Among pottery in clean Nordic design and natural colours inspired by ocean, earth, and forest, Stinne and Nis have their shared creative office, where they have coffee together almost every morning.
When they first met, Stinne was a student at the Royal Danish Design Academy, and Nis was a musician touring most of the world with his bass.
Me being a musician and touring a lot in periods challenged our time to be together as a family, and Stinne and I often spoke about having a shared project or a business for us to work on together, Nis recalls.
We are both from very creative families, so it is in our blood to create things. But we were in doubt about what our right thing would be, Stinne adds
We are both from very creative families, so it is in our blood to create things. But we were in doubt, what our right thing would be - Stinne
Coincidence was the perfect timing
On a weekend trip to the father of Stinne, Hans’ place in Djursland, they played with their two girls and some Raku clay.
It is such a cosy thing for us to do as a family when we are at my dad’s place. He has been a potter his entire life and was crafted by his mum, who got divorced to start her own business as a potter many years ago, so to unite the three generations with our hands in clay is unique quality time to us, Stinne explains.
Stinne and Nis’ friends suddenly started to ask where they had bought the pottery. And at the same time, her dad turned 65 and was about to retire. But he was really not ready for it.
My dad has, as a self-employed potter, tried it all. Through the 80’ies, where clay was hot, through the 90’ies where all became glass and steel and went from 24 workshops to 3 in a very short time. And I honestly believe he had run out of ideas to reinvent his business. Because no one can question it, he is one of the best at it when he sits on the lathe.
But Nis and Stinne had some ideas, which turned out to extend Hans’ working life.
Stinne created an Instagram account, and she put some photos of the pottery on it, and out of nowhere, dealers approached us and asked if they could have our pottery in their businesses, Nis explains.
Both their carriers were going great. However not much time spent together as a family - that was the reality of their family life. But they both missed this time together. How do you find the courage to change your life dramatically.
As the business started to grow, Stinne had to have a hard talk with her dad. The company had come to a point where it was not a nice family project anymore but a cause of conflict instead, as they wanted different things with the design and glaze of the pottery.
– I had to have a difficult adult conversation with my dad, as it was important for me to ensure that we were on the same page and most importantly, that it had to be fun to run the business together, and we needed to speak nicely to each other. My relation to my father was the most important, and I was not willing to gamble with that, Stinne says.
The call ended without closure, but Stinne and Nis believe it was a new beginning and the start of the success for TYBO.
– The next time we called your father, we were aligned in a way. I cannot really explain it, but it changed for the better. We have the deepest respect for his unique skills of pottery handcraft, and as we started to sell lots of pottery, he found out that we have good design skills, Nis smiles.
– He surrendered to the success of all our joint creative skills, Stinne smiles and adds:
– Now we can do a drawing and send it to him, and then two hours later, he sends a picture back with guidelines on, what is possible with clay as a material, that is just fantastic, Stinne adds with an even bigger smile.
Priorities changed right there - at that moment
At the end of a tour, Nis suddenly got a cerebral haemorrhage, and his life and career were changed in a finger flick.
– It is now four years ago, and I was lucky. My cerebral haemorrhage was located at one of the best possible places, but it was rough, Nis recalls.
From that one second, his life was no longer the same. He was torn out of his career as a touring musician, and instead, he spent a lot of time in rehab recovering.
– It took a couple of years to feel like me again. As soon as I could, I went to the rehearsal studio and had my bass back in my hands, and that felt good. I am very fortunate, Nis says and adds:
– Getting better, I realized that I had Suddenly lost my identity, and I was sort of thrown off my career train while it was still rumbling. But I was ready for it.
For Stinne and Nis, it was a difficult time but also a time in their life where they, for the first time, had time to be a family. And the father of Stinne came to help.
– Having the shop was amazing because I could put my energy into it. I used the lathe to rehabilitate, and Stinnes dad was amazing, Nis recalls, and Stinne adds:
– Since I do not have a driving license, my dad took us everywhere. He moved in and helped us so much. He was truly there for us and spent a lot of time teaching Nis to use the lathe.
The family business has made the family even closer, and their reflection tells that if you focus on the sun that follows rain.
– When something serious like this happens, it always brings something good with it, if you focus on it, and I am in a better place now in my life, even if it was a harsh way to get here, Nis says.
– It certainly sets some priorities straight, Stinne adds.
Next level for TYBO without compromising
Stinne and Nis have no ambitions to become a Gazelle nominated company or create a growth company. They want it differently and a showdown with how we run businesses today.
– Our dream is to create a platform where things can happen flexibly with a sustainable economy, where we can join new partnerships because it makes sense or simply because it seems fun, Stinne says.
– We want to create minimalistic Nordic products that last. We care to produce quality because it actually means something to us, Nis says.
The TYBO family had a dream to unite all their creativities under the same roof, and that dream came true in the spring of 2022, as the new boutique was a reality.
– We have found the right location to create a workshop and boutique under the same roof with different handcrafts and exhibitors, Stinne adds, and Nis sums up:
– We love our new place. The location, the neighbours, and the light that comes through our windows. It’s amazing, Nis says.
The new place has become the desired framing, where the knowledge and great tradition of strong hands in clay will be passed on from Hans Bo to the next generation, as Stinne lately has spent a lot of hours at the lathe.
– It’s so hard, but it gives me so much good energy. My first cups are already glazed and sold, and I am so proud; she smiles and adds:
– I think my dad is too.
At the boutique, you can also be inspired and discover Stinne’s handmade textile and paper art, gathering all the creative veins in the heart of the family business at Sankelmarksgade 2.