About Pinch

Pinch is a vibrant, eclectic craft gallery with a focus on art for the home and art to wear. Founded in 1980 by three potters, Pinch has a long history as a showcase for well-known and emerging ceramic artists. Jena Sujat, who purchased Pinch in 2006, brings her eye for the interesting, unique and beautiful to Pinch's tradition for showing handmade work. With new ceramics, jewelry, home decor and accessories arriving each week, Pinch is always changing and always fresh.

As a small business owner, Jena fulfills her goal of doing what she loves for a living. That same goal fits into her philosophy for Pinch. That is, supporting others - artists, craftspeople, as well as the friends who do Pinch's graphic design, web design and visual merchandising - to make a life doing what they love. Jena truly enjoys the relationships she has with the artists, staff and customers who enter Pinch, and anyone who interacts with Pinch will immediately feel her friendliness, helpfulness and enthusiasm.

In the words of Kate Mitchell who works at Pinch, "It's not often you find a store like Pinch. Its location, fun and inviting atmosphere, and its commitment to contemporary crafts make Pinch unique among its peers. Jena puts herself behind every artist with whom she works: in her display, advertising, monthly shows, and the one-on-one relationships she fosters. Buying local is very important to me personally, and I'm proud to work at Pinch, a shop with integrity and creativity. Jena searches out artists and works tirelessly to learn about their process and vision. I feel that everything at Pinch is a work of art; in an age when the consumer-artisan relationship is practically nonexistent and making a living in forward-thinking contemporary crafts is difficult, to say the least, Pinch is a shop that values the product and how it came to be."

What Our Artists Are Saying

"I began working with Pinch two years ago, when the gallery placed its first order for my Story Pictures. Since then, Pinch has become one of my dearest and best customers. Everyone there is a delight to work with -- pleasant and knowledgeable -- always kind, helpful and friendly. In addition, Pinch knows its customers well too, which is reflected in their steady sales and (for me) steady reorders. Invoices are always paid on time and their business is run so professionally and well--I believe they could teach other retailers a lot about how to create and maintain a healthy business. It is such a pleasure to acknowledge this special store.... and to say thank you to Jena and the staff at Pinch for all they have done to help me build a healthy business too as an artist and writer. They so deserve to be the Top Retailer of American Craft. All of their artists would heartily agree."
-- Diane Hanna, Stoneheart & Company, Artist/Writer, Cotuit, MA

"It is great working with Jena because she LISTENS to us, the craftspeople! Even if she is unsure about something I make, she willing to try it on my testimonial alone and I appreciate that so much. The bottom line for us, of course, is the bottom line. Jena really always pays on time. Sometimes that is all we want: order early, and often, and pay on time!"
-- Donna McGee, Ceramic artist, Hadley, MA

"I still haven't had the opportunity to meet Jena Sujat but she already feels like a friend. She is a friend to my work and that is so valuable. I know she truly enjoys selling handmade crafts and that means I can stay busy in my studio knowing I have retailers like Jena promoting me. I also very much appreciate her ever prompt monthly consignment checks! She is a joy to do business with."
-- Amber Mahler, Jeweler, Asheville, NC

"I met Jena at the Philadelphia Buyer's Market Summer 2006 Show, where she purchased my WOODEN TILES for her new store, Pinch. At the time, Jena was still learning about her customers, and she was devoted to finding the right products for them. I'm so happy she found mine! Working with Jena has been wonderful for me. She puts a premium on representing her vendors with integrity and honesty. And to top that off, she's just plain nice! I'm always happy to see her, and I look forward to working with Jena for a long time to come."
-- Karen Deans, Artist, Bethesda, MD

"It has been such a delight to work with Jena. Her enthusiasm and respect towards my work and that of the other artists she carries has certainly been evident in all my dealings with her. I see it in the care and consideration taken in the display and lay out of the store, the conversations we have had about my art and also in her prompt clear communications in regards to payments and business changes that may effect me directly. It is so reassuring to know that her interest in understanding the techniques and ideas employed in my pieces will be thoughtfully and knowledgably conveyed to her customers."
-- Sara Bressem, Ceramic artist, MA

"I love working with Jena and her staff because their enthusiasm for artwork and bringing joy, color and spirit into peoples' lives is infectious. Jena's gift is her vision and all encompassing joy. How can you not want to bring life changing art into your home after a few minutes in Pinch Gallery?"
-- Jamie Johnson, Artist, Salt Lake City, Utah

"Ever since Jena took over Pinch, my sales have doubled if not tripled. Her re-design of the selling space has made everything much more beautiful. The new paint colors add so much to everyone's work. She has taken away all the cheap clutter that was there before and turned the space into more of a gallery. The special display case for my tiles is really working. Eye level, complimentary color, and well lit."
-- Michael Cohen, Ceramic artist, Pelham, MA

"Pinch Gallery does a wonderful job of interfacing between the artists they represent and visitors to the gallery. I was pleased with how simply Pinch chose for the web site small parts of my artist's statement and biography, conveying to their customers my passion for creating in simple and succinct language. The "pinch" concept is beautifully carried through on the web site, illustrating a glimpse of the artwork, and inspiring the customer to look more closely at both the artwork and the artist's unique motivation to create."
-- Jan R. Carson, Moon-Lily Silk Mobiles, Artist, Fort Collins, Colorado

"Exceptional though it may sound, still it is all true. The entire staff at Pinch -- Brianne, Kate, Nicole, Joyce, Joyce, Nora and Jena Sujat, the proprietor -- have been supportive of the artists including myself. The staff at Pinch is welcoming to the public and frankly genuinely excited about the artists' works. I find that Jena is personable and professional and her business practices are honorable. In addition, she pays in a timely and no-excuses manner. You can count on her. Pinch is a creative, lively center in downtown Northampton. It is a place to go."
-- Alexandra Geller, Ceramic Artist, Florence, MA

"Jena Sujat is an inspiration for women in business. She has been a pleasure to work with and is enthusiastic and supportive. Whenever I create a new bag, pillow or notecard design, Jena is more than happy to provide space for my newest wares. I believe that Jena has been a major contribution in the success of the Marjidoll line."
-- Marjorie Latham, Artist, MA

"When Jena came to my booth at the buyers Market in Feb of 2006 and introduced herself as the new owner of Pinch I knew immediately she was going to have a successful business. In the year and a half since, her professional yet warm and friendly way of doing business has made it a pleasure to work with her. She has been a wonderful customer of mine and and I am sure her customers find her and her store (gallery) equally as wonderful."
-- Sue Rosengard, Jeweler, Chicago, IL

"I have been exhibiting my work at Pinch for over a year and I've been thrilled by the response and sales. The folks at Pinch have a discerning eye and a wonderful ability to pick the right mix of artists and I am proud to be among them."
-- Ian Nicholas, Artist, Atlanta, GA

"Ed and I have truly enjoyed working with Jena and the staff at Pinch for the last year. We have appreciated Jena's integrity and honesty in the artist/gallery relationship."
-- Kate Coleman of Ed & Kate Coleman, Ceramic artists, Asheville, NC