Women’s History Month Spotlight: Rebecca Gengler of More Polish Pottery

Women’s History Month gives us an opportunity to recognize the trailblazers whose determination shaped the communities we know and love today. This year, we’re sharing the stories of women right here in the Aurora Area who are shining their light for the next generation.

Our next feature celebrates Rebecca Gengler, founder and owner of More Polish Pottery in Big Rock—a destination where world-class Polish stoneware, family, and community come together just minutes west of Aurora.

From Army Life Abroad to a Dream in Big Rock

The idea for More Polish Pottery began overseas, when Rebecca was living in Germany with her family while stationed with the Army and joining women’s shopping trips to Poland in the late 1990s. Those trips sparked a lifelong love for Polish stoneware.

After returning to Illinois, Rebecca moved back to Aurora to pursue a master’s degree in Recreation and Tourism Administration at Aurora University, then worked in the field for several years before starting a family. With three kids in just 22 months (including twins), she knew her career path needed to look different—but she still wanted to work.

“I realized I wanted to continue working,” she says, so she joined a direct sales company selling food mixes and quickly rose to become the #1 sales consultant. Through hundreds of home parties, she noticed something important about the tools people used in their kitchens.

Discovering the Power of Great Bakeware

While making breads and meals at those home parties, Rebecca saw just how essential quality bakeware is to how food turns out. “I realized the importance that bakeware is in how the food turns out,” she explains. “I knew everyone needed Polish pottery as the bakeware does not stick, stain and bakes evenly every time!”

At the time, Polish pottery was difficult to find, and shopping online could be hit-or-miss. “You just never knew what you were going to get,” Rebecca says of the varying quality and overwhelming options. That gap between what customers needed and what they could easily access became the spark for More Polish Pottery.

Building More Polish Pottery, One Step at a Time

Rebecca launched More Polish Pottery in 2011 by testing the idea at the Oswego Farmers Market, starting from an 8x8 room in her garage and reinvesting every dollar back into the business. “We started in a 8x8 room in our garage in summer of 2011 and kept expanding when we had money to support it,” she recalls.

As word spread, customers began traveling from across the Midwest and beyond to the tiny farming community of Big Rock (then a town of about 800 people) just to shop her carefully curated selection. “We recognized our customers thought the same thing of owning beautiful but functional Polish pottery when we started having customers traveling multiple states away to our small town of 800 to shop Polish pottery in Big Rock,” Rebecca says.

Rebecca has also become a familiar face at seasonal events in the Aurora Area, including serving as a vendor at Aurora’s Christkindlmarket since it began four years ago—another way she brings Polish pottery and tradition directly to local families and visitors.

A Destination Shopping Experience Near Aurora

Today, a visit to More Polish Pottery feels like a rare experience from the moment you turn off the main roads and into the farm fields and forest preserve surrounding Big Rock. “I would describe my business to those visiting the Aurora Area as a unique experience,” Rebecca says.

Guests step into a boutique storefront and distribution center filled with tens of thousands of exclusive Polish pottery pieces, plus something you don’t often see elsewhere: an open warehouse where shoppers can browse upcoming seasonal items and pieces that haven’t debuted yet. “We were the first in the USA to open our warehouse to the public where you can also shop behind the scenes for items that have not yet debuted, or products for upcoming seasons.”

Visitors can also explore a historical Polish pottery display of pieces dating back to the late 1700s. “Polish pottery has a rich history, and we love to share with guests the uniqueness and longevity of it,” she says. “We feel we are educators and love to share the history of the product.”

Women Supporting Women, Here and Abroad

As a woman-owned business, Rebecca is proud of the way More Polish Pottery uplifts other women. Many of the artists she collaborates with in Poland are women, and she loves sharing their stories with customers. “We realized that women supporting woman is special,” she says.

Over the years, More Polish Pottery has hosted four world debuts for artist collections—from pottery to numbered watercolor prints and woodcarvings—giving these makers a global platform for their art. “We can help share and educate others more about the artists that make this handmade product,” Rebecca explains.

Growing a Family Business

When Rebecca launched her business, she was a mom of four children under age five; today, three are in college, and the business has grown right along with them. In 2018, while going through cancer treatment, More Polish Pottery reached its first million-dollar year—a milestone she doesn’t take for granted.

The family’s story is literally woven into pottery. On a trip to Poland when she was nine-and-a-half, one of Rebecca’s daughters shared a drawing with a well-known artist, who turned it into a pottery pattern. “We give a percent of our sales towards our daughter college education. We feel she should earn a little royalty for the inspiration and joy she shares with others!” Rebecca says. Guests can look for Johanna’s pattern when they shop.

Connected to the Aurora Area

Rebecca credits the Aurora Area Convention & Visitors Bureau with helping connect her to fellow business owners, museums, and attractions she can recommend to guests. “I love doing business in the Aurora area because of the Aurora CVB and the opportunities they give small businesses like me to work with others!” she says. “The Aurora CVB is a great organization that brings people together.”

She also loves sending visitors to other locally owned spots in nearby communities, including destinations like Happy Hen House in Hinckley and Esther’s Place, a fiber store in Big Rock. “We also like to partner with other unique destinations in our nearby communities so we can make the experience to More Polish Pottery – complete!”

Plan Your Visit to This Hidden-Gem Destination

Just a short drive west of Aurora, More Polish Pottery in Big Rock is the perfect reason to plan a day trip in the Aurora Area—whether you’re a serious collector, a home cook, or simply love discovering one-of-a-kind destinations. Step into Rebecca’s world of vibrant, handcrafted Polish stoneware, explore the open warehouse and historic displays, and see why guests travel from across the Midwest to shop here.

Make your next Aurora Area adventure unforgettable: plan a visit to More Polish Pottery in Big Rock, Illinois, and bring home a piece of this inspiring woman-owned business.

If you’re a woman business owner in the Aurora Area, we’d love to spotlight your story next! Reach out and join us in celebrating the local voices that make our region one-of-a-kind.
Email us at Marketing@EnjoyAurora.com to share your story.