About Us

WHY WE STARTED THIS COMPANY...  KilnFrog.com was born from the idea that kiln shopping is a big pain in the neck, and confusion runs rampant! We noticed that all the information in the vast web wasteland was from the manufacturers’ point of view and not the user’s perspective. So, being the rebels that we are, we decided to put an end to that! Launched from our craft supply store in San Antonio, Texas, in 2010, where we had sold kilns to artists and crafters since 2002, we struck out online and began selling with one line of kilns, some glass, a grinder, and a saw. The rest, so they say, is history. Today, our team is comprised of artists and makers at heart! We’ve taken apart kilns and put them back together again, and we fire kilns on a regular basis, so we’re speaking from a users' point of view.

OUR MISSION… is to provide honest, unbiased observations from brand to brand as well as real-world solutions that make sense for how you plan on using your kiln. We work hard every day to provide a stellar resource that makes a real difference in your decision-making process. We've helped thousands of customers purchase their kiln, and we're happy to help you too!

OUR PROMISE TO OUR CUSTOMERS...

• You can talk to a real person on the phone, via email, or via text—you choose! (We promise we will respond during regular business hours.)
• We sell American-made products. We support US manufacturers! We don't import foreign-made products
  
• We won’t sell fake warrantees! All our warranties are backed by the manufacturer with original factory parts.
• We're American-owned and based in the USA! Our customer service is in Texas, and we don't outsource.
• We'll tell you the truth. We won't try to sell you things you don't need. Wasting your hard-earned money isn't what we're about, and it's unethical. We'll tell you the truth about what add-on items are really worth the money and what you just don't need for your application.

PAUL HUGHES – DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT  WHY I WORK AT KILN FROG... “When the opportunity came to join the team at Kiln Frog, I jumped on it. It is extremely satisfying to work for a company that puts customer service at the top of the list. I truly enjoy helping our customers find the right kiln for their needs.”

Paul's journey in clay started at a very young age.  His 7^th grade art classroom had a kiln in it, and he cleaned slip-cast greenware, loaded the kiln for bisque firings, unloaded bisqueware, applied glazes, loaded the glazed bisqueware for glaze firings, and unloaded the finished pieces.  In college and after, he honed those same creative skills by learning how to throw pots on a wheel, taking classes and having a great time.  Paul is a creative soul and loves to teach those same creative skills to others! He spent 20 years teaching high school choir in Texas, (which if you’re not from Texas, Competitive Choir is considered a sport here!)  Paul says the time he spent in the public schools taught him a lot about how to be patient and also how to communicate with others. Almost 30 years after taking that first pottery class he bought a wheel, then a kiln, and you know the rest of the story.  HE KEPT ON BUYING STUFF!  After mastering crystalline glazes and wheel throwing, he decided he wanted to learn how to make glass vessel sinks. So, he took a class and then… HE BOUGHT MORE STUFF!  Paul now spends more time fusing glass than throwing pots but has a wealth of knowledge about both media.  If there is a unique glaze, he wants to learn how to make it and get the desired results.  If he sees a new glass fusing technique, he wants to learn how it is done and get the process down just right. There’s just no stopping him! When he’s not throwing a pot or assembling a glass panel, he’s working on music.  In addition to everything else, Paul is the director of music at a local church.  It’s challenging, but Paul also finds it very rewarding to share in the creative process with others.

GAIL STOUFFER - CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER     WHY I WORK AT KILN FROG… “The customer’s needs come before what’s good for the kiln manufacturer or what’s easy for us. We stay focused on taking care of our customer’s interests first, and being honest and fair. That way I can sleep well at night. It’s really gratifying that customers trust us to keep coming back over and over and referring their friends and colleagues, too! I want every customer to feel welcome here regardless of their experience or knowledge base.  No question is dumb, and there aren’t too many questions either.  You don’t know what you don’t know if you are new or if you are a purchasing agent, so we're here to help you through all the muck, it’s all new!  So, we’re here for you, just ask!

Gail started her journey 20-years ago, after a long and successful corporate communications career. Her BFA and MFA degrees in Art Education fuel a joy for creating, teaching and a passion to help others find their artistic voice. She has done it all; from metal clay, glass fusing, pottery, furnace work, metalsmithing, torch work, printmaking and crayons. Over the last twenty years, Gail has been teaching technique to artists all over the world. She is kiln crazy, in fact she's obsessed!  For 10-years she operated a retail store and gift gallery in San Antonio (Wired Designs Studios,) that sold glass and metalsmithing supplies and taught workshops in both disciplines. For years it was her devotion and obsession. Knowing that brick and mortar stores would be challenged by online retailers, since her own store was beginning to feel the pressure and pinch of the internet, she knew it was time to evolve her business. So, in 2010 she launched KilnFrog.com, which is the premier online destination for kilns, ovens, furnaces and related items in the US.

GLORIA CORDOVA - DIRECTOR OF MARKETING    WHY I WORK AT KILN FROG… "When I saw the opportunity to join the team at Kiln Frog, I was very intrigued to enter a new industry. I love that Kiln Frog prioritizes the needs of customers and helps educate them along the way. It is fulfilling to work for a company that really cares and listens to their customers.

In high school and in her college days, Gloria’s art classes included pottery instruction. She loved hand building with clay, and seeing the results of her work as it was taken out of the kiln. It was always exciting to her to learn more about it. Now that she joined Kiln Frog, she is even more motivated to learn new techniques for ceramics, glass, and metals. She hopes to become a better artist, creating pieces she loves while also sharing it with others. Gloria graduated from Our Lady of the Lake University with a BBA in Marketing; with experience working in varied industries. She’s worked in retail foods, education, and the fast fashion industries. She’s managed social media and email marketing, message tailoring, and other web-based communications programs in these different industries. Each has helped her get to know her customer base even more. This led her to her ultimate love for marketing, the ability to communicate deeper with potential customers. To think deeper, beyond just surface conversation. Her experience working in these different industries has enabled her integrate messages that align with her customer’s wants and needs. Her love for understanding people and getting to know them, translates to her love of industry research. Gloria is always striving to better serve and communicate to the needs of our professional client base.

INDUSTRY FACTS ABOUT KILNFROG, LLC.

• SMWBE (State of Texas/Bexar County) Woman-Owned Business
• DUNS: 024981360
• NAISC Code: 333994 / 332811
• SIC Code: 35590600

A FEW QUESTIONS WE'VE BEEN ASKED OVER THE YEARS....

• Why do you carry multiple brands of kilns? CUSTOMER FOCUS! Just like all people don't have the same size feet, all customers don't have the same kiln needs. Potters don't need the same kilns as knife makers, jewelers, scientists, and glass makers. Each kiln company configures their kilns differently and offers different models, etc. It's all about choices! We want to match the right customer with the right kiln regardless of the manufacturer. This means being loyal to our customers needs, not to our product lines.

• Why do you carry the brands that you do? SERVICE FOCUS! The brands we carry have all committed to servicing the customer in partnership with KilnFrog. We have established a long-term relationship of trust with them to honor our commitment to service and customer satisfaction. That means if you're not happy, then neither are we. We all work together to make sure the customer is happy in the end. We're proud to represent them as brand partners.