Marilyn Champagne is the founder of Atelier Champagne, a company specializing in handcrafted tiles, installations, and original ceramic pieces. With a background in graphic design, visual arts, and photography, she has built a unique business offering high-quality, handmade pieces from her studio in the Rosemont neighbourhood of Montréal.
Marilyn Champagne | Atelier Champagne
Marilyn Champagne, Founder of Atelier Champagne: Artisan Ceramics and Entrepreneurship
Marilyn’s path to ceramics was anything but straightforward. A graphic designer by training with a major in photography from Concordia University, she had no particular plan to become a professional ceramicist. It was during her recovery from cancer surgery that she signed up for a pottery class, simply to start moving again. While the first session didn’t particularly excite her, the second changed everything.
“In that second session, I really loved the feeling of being surrounded by the material,” she recalls.
She decided to set aside her photography degree to explore ceramics, following an intuition that proved to be right.
From a First Entrepreneurial Experience to a Well-Rooted Project
Marilyn’s first entrepreneurial venture, Champagne Céramique, started with her alone at the helm, selling functional ceramic objects in shops. The pandemic unexpectedly accelerated its growth, generating demand well beyond her expectations. That formative experience familiarized her with the ins and outs of entrepreneurship and paved the way for a second venture with even stronger foundations.
Atelier Champagne was born in January 2023, driven by a clear vision and solid preparation. Marilyn stepped away from functional pieces to focus on decorative wall installations, handmade tiles, and artisan lettering. She enrolled in the Soutien au travail autonome (STA) program, which provided her with a salary allowance that allowed her to devote herself fully to her business. “Without that, I don’t think it would have been possible,” she says.
Today, she runs her studio full-time in a commercial space shared with another professional ceramicist. She also has one or two employees, a far cry from the solo operation she launched a few years earlier.
Microcredit as a Lever for Young Businesses
When looking for financing for Atelier Champagne, Marilyn found herself in a situation many entrepreneurs face, being ineligible for traditional bank loans. Referred to PME MTL, she didn’t qualify there either, as her business was too young. That’s how she discovered Microcredit Montréal.
Microcredit Montréal supported her twice with financing tailored to key needs for ensuring the sustainability of her business. At the same time, her advisor worked closely with her to help her understand her financial statements and projections. This support provided her with concrete guidelines to better manage her business and move forward with greater clarity in its development.
“They don’t just offer financing. There is genuine support, mentorship, and a sincere commitment to your success that you simply don’t find at a bank. Their approach is deeply human,” she explains.
Atelier Champagne Today: Stability, Growth, and New Creative Horizons
In 2026, the momentum is very much alive. Sales are up, the team is running smoothly, and Marilyn anticipates demand with an ease that reflects the maturity of her business. With operations well under control, she has more room than ever to create. She is currently working on a new line of handmade creations she hopes to unveil over the coming year.
For Marilyn, entrepreneurship has always been a continuous learning journey, one she embraces with the same curiosity that led her to a pottery class during a difficult moment in her life. With the support of Microcredit Montréal, she is building something lasting, a business as intentional and distinctive as the pieces she creates.
Microcredit Montréal supports entrepreneurs excluded from traditional financing through loans and personalized guidance. As in the case of Atelier Champagne, this support helps bring projects to life, structure growth, and strengthen local economic impact.
Do you have a business project and are looking for financing?
Discover our microcredit solutions and personalised support.
Atelier Champagne