ENFIELD, CT – Born in Elle Los in Boleslawiec, Poland, Elle Englander, owner of Janelle Imports in Enfield, has a unique story of trials and tribulations that brought her to the United States, and one that inspired her to own her own business.

Just as she was about to turn 16, a time when most teenagers are looking forward to getting their driver’s license and gaining their first taste of independence, Englander was forced to leave everything she’d ever known in Poland and thrust across the world to her new home in the United States.

Following World War II, Poland was directly influenced by the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union began to control the country’s official ideology, and as Solidarity, a Polish trade union, was founded in September of 1980, which called for non-violent resistance to the communist influence, Poland’s communist government presented martial law on Dec. 13, 1981. This law closed all of the nations borders, cut off all outside communication, and imprisoned thousands of members of Solidarity, which included Englander’s father, Ryszard Los.

While Englander was quite aware of Poland’s political qualms growing up, she didn’t realize how quickly her life would change. With the sweep of German Shepherds and law enforcement through her family’s home, her father was swiftly taken. Englander wasn’t aware of her father’s location for nine months.

Poland came to an agreement with several western countries including Australia, Canada, West Germany, Great Britain, France, New Zealand and the United States. This agreement suggested that the imprisoned members of Solidarity could leave Poland on a one–way passport to one of the countries offering asylum alone or with any remaining family members they had. According to Englander, coming to America was her father’s only option. He had explained to his family that he wanted to move to the country that stood for freedom.

After settling in Lowell, Englander and her family were presented with their next challenge: finding work and a path for school. In Poland, Englanders father was an accountant. Due to his lack of English–speaking skills, however, he and his wife were only able to work minimum wage jobs, which created financial problems for the family. When it came time for Englander to apply to school, she decided to attend American International College (AIC) in Springfield due to the financial package she received.

In 1991, Englander graduated from AIC. In the same year, her father decided to return to Poland, which had been newly liberated. He hoped to return to his political activism, and Englander’s brother followed suit. Englander decided to stay in the United States, began to work for MassMutual underwriting insurance, met her husband Mark, and began to have children.

Though Englander had enjoyed her job at MassMutual, the long hours became a challenge for her to balance with her growing family. She made the decision to step away from her position at MassMutual, thinking after a few years of taking care of her little ones she would return, however an opportunity was born that Englander simply couldn’t pass up.

She received a phone call from her father in Poland who informed her that two of his friends had left their government–owned pottery plant. He had helped his friends begin their own pottery–making business, and the two were looking to break into the market in the States. He asked Englander if she would be willing to speak with them since she has an international business degree. Englander obliged, but what she didn’t realize, was this was only the beginning for her new venture as the owner of Janelle Imports.

Englander opened her company in 2003 with the help of her mom, Janina. This year marks 15 years since the company’s inception, and Englander has seen significant growth over the years.

“I started small, renting a 2,000 square foot warehouse with 5,000 pieces of Polish pottery, and just finished my third expansion to current size of 6,000 square foot warehouse with close to 45,000 pieces of pottery in our current inventory with 9,000 different SKU’s,” Englander said, explaining that this meant she has 9,000 different combinations of shapes and patterns, which represents the world’s largest inventory of Polish pottery in one location.

“I am crazy proud of this accomplishment and super excited to be able to take this expansion to Amazon and beyond this fall,” she said.

What makes her business unique, Englander said, is her commitment to keeping her prices competitive for her customers, selling her pottery only to retail consumers and refusing wholesale businesses.

“[This] allows me to eliminate a substantial retail mark–up resulting in 40 to 60 percent savings for my customers,” she explained. “This year alone we will receive from Poland 70,000 pieces of pottery making it to be the largest inventory arriving to our location in Enfield thus far.”

While Englander is proud of running a successful business, she’s also thrilled that she’s able to stay connected to her home country in a way she never would’ve expected.

“Polish pottery allows me to keep both worlds I love connected in a very profound way. In a more practical way, Janelle Imports provides jobs for Polish people employed by the Polish pottery factories preserving this beautiful old world hand craft for new generations to come.” She continued, “I am extremely proud of this fact and am very committed to it.”

Janelle Imports is located at 7 Moody Rd. in Enfield. The warehouse hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information about Janelle Imports, call 860-749-7906 or go to their website at https://polishpotterybarn.com/.