How do you turn a shared passion into a thriving brand? Garrett and Amanda Willis of Grit Mercantile join Odin and Magnus to share their journey of building a leathercraft business rooted in authenticity and connection.

In this conversation with Garrett and Amanda Willis, we explore how they craft items meant to become part of their customers' lives, and how embracing both creativity and business realities has fueled their growth.

Guests: Garrett and Amanda Willis

Founders of Grit Mercantile, a husband-and-wife leathercraft team known for creating products that tell stories and become part of their customers' lives.

Topics discussed:

• Building a cohesive brand rooted in authenticity

• Navigating markets and overcoming perfectionism

• Balancing promotion with production

• Smart merchandising and genuine customer connection

• Lessons from building a business as a husband-and-wife team

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LISTEN TO THE PODCAST:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1boT5ABgRjIDEGyi7bEbjd

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-workbench/id1816987809

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondtheworkbenchpodcast

All Platforms: https://www.beyondtheworkbench.com/

FOLLOW BEYOND THE WORKBENCH:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondtheworkbench

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondtheworkbench

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Beyond-the-Workbench-61576775047322/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondtheworkbenchpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/beyondtheworkbench

HOSTS:

Odin Clack - https://www.instagram.com/odinleather

Michael Magnus - https://www.instagram.com/magnusopus

Beyond the Workbench casually dives into the world of leathercraft, entrepreneurship, and modern maker life. Hosted by Odin Clack (full-time leatherworker and retail owner) and Michael Magnus (leather marketing expert and founder of www.learnleathercraft.com), we explore everything from personal project updates to marketing strategies, retail challenges, and the business side of making.

New episodes are released on the first and third Thursdays of every month.

Enjoying the podcast? Please share it with someone who you think would find value in the conversations. If these conversations have helped your business and you're interested in supporting the show, visit our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondtheworkbench

Edited and produced by Instrumental Media: https://instrumental.media/

#BeyondTheWorkbench #Podcast #Leathercraft #LeatherWorking #Entrepreneurship #MakerCommunity #SmallBusiness #MakerBusiness #BusinessStrategy

How do you balance the craft you love with the business demands that keep growing? In this episode, Odin and Magnus explore the tension between making and managing.

In this episode, we dive into redesigning and scaling product production, navigating delegation, and the importance of continually evaluating your business.

Topics discussed:

• Balancing craft and business demands

• Redesigning products and scaling production

• The role of family in small businesses

• How curiosity can fuel creativity and growth (including AI)

• The hidden heroes behind great brands

• Staying creatively fulfilled while running a thriving workshop

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LISTEN TO THE PODCAST:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1boT5ABgRjIDEGyi7bEbjd

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-workbench/id1816987809

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondtheworkbenchpodcast

All Platforms: https://www.beyondtheworkbench.com/

FOLLOW BEYOND THE WORKBENCH:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondtheworkbench

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondtheworkbench

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Beyond-the-Workbench-61576775047322/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondtheworkbenchpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/beyondtheworkbench

HOSTS:

Odin Clack - https://www.instagram.com/odinleather

Michael Magnus - https://www.instagram.com/magnusopus

Beyond the Workbench casually dives into the world of leathercraft, entrepreneurship, and modern maker life. Hosted by Odin Clack (full-time leatherworker and retail owner) and Michael Magnus (leather marketing expert and founder of www.learnleathercraft.com), we explore everything from personal project updates to marketing strategies, retail challenges, and the business side of making.

New episodes are released on the first and third Thursdays of every month.

Enjoying the podcast? Please share it with someone who you think would find value in the conversations. If these conversations have helped your business and you're interested in supporting the show, visit our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondtheworkbench

Edited and produced by Instrumental Media: https://instrumental.media/

#BeyondTheWorkbench #Podcast #Leathercraft #LeatherWorking #Entrepreneurship #MakerCommunity #SmallBusiness #MakerBusiness #BusinessStrategy

What makes a brand worth fighting over? In this conversation, Odin Clack and Michael Magnus are joined by Dave Munson, Founder of Saddleback Leather Co., to talk about building a business that lasts generations.

In this conversation with Dave Munson, we explore branding, building a business with longevity in mind, and his new book "They'll Fight Over It When You're Dead."

Guest: Dave Munson

Founder of Saddleback Leather Co., author, and entrepreneur known for building one of the most recognized leather brands in the world.

Topics discussed:

• Building a brand with generational longevity

• Lessons from Dave's entrepreneurial journey

• Dave's new book and the story behind the title

• What makes a business worth fighting over

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LISTEN TO THE PODCAST:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1boT5ABgRjIDEGyi7bEbjd

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-workbench/id1816987809

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondtheworkbenchpodcast

All Platforms: https://www.beyondtheworkbench.com/

FOLLOW BEYOND THE WORKBENCH:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondtheworkbench

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondtheworkbench

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Beyond-the-Workbench-61576775047322/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondtheworkbenchpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/beyondtheworkbench

HOSTS:

Odin Clack - https://www.instagram.com/odinleather

Michael Magnus - https://www.instagram.com/magnusopus

Beyond the Workbench casually dives into the world of leathercraft, entrepreneurship, and modern maker life. Hosted by Odin Clack (full-time leatherworker and retail owner) and Michael Magnus (leather marketing expert and founder of www.learnleathercraft.com), we explore everything from personal project updates to marketing strategies, retail challenges, and the business side of making.

New episodes are released on the first and third Thursdays of every month.

Enjoying the podcast? Please share it with someone who you think would find value in the conversations. If these conversations have helped your business and you're interested in supporting the show, visit our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondtheworkbench

Edited and produced by Instrumental Media: https://instrumental.media/

#BeyondTheWorkbench #Podcast #Leathercraft #LeatherWorking #Entrepreneurship #MakerCommunity #SmallBusiness #MakerBusiness #BusinessStrategy

What does it take to finally start the podcast you've been talking about? Sometimes it just takes the right moment. In this inaugural episode, Odin Clack and Michael Magnus launch Beyond the Workbench from the 30th Anniversary Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show.

In this episode, we dive into why Odin and Magnus finally pulled the trigger on starting the podcast, and Odin shares his insights and takeaways from attending the Rocky Mountain show for the first time.

Topics discussed:

• Starting the podcast and finding the right moment

• Odin's first experience at the Rocky Mountain Leather Trade Show

• Key insights and learnings from the show

• Setting the tone for Beyond the Workbench

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LISTEN TO THE PODCAST:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1boT5ABgRjIDEGyi7bEbjd

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beyond-the-workbench/id1816987809

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondtheworkbenchpodcast

All Platforms: https://www.beyondtheworkbench.com/

FOLLOW BEYOND THE WORKBENCH:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondtheworkbench

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@beyondtheworkbench

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Beyond-the-Workbench-61576775047322/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondtheworkbenchpodcast

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/beyondtheworkbench

HOSTS:

Odin Clack - https://www.instagram.com/odinleather

Michael Magnus - https://www.instagram.com/magnusopus

Beyond the Workbench casually dives into the world of leathercraft, entrepreneurship, and modern maker life. Hosted by Odin Clack (full-time leatherworker and retail owner) and Michael Magnus (leather marketing expert and founder of www.learnleathercraft.com), we explore everything from personal project updates to marketing strategies, retail challenges, and the business side of making.

New episodes are released on the first and third Thursdays of every month.

Enjoying the podcast? Please share it with someone who you think would find value in the conversations. If these conversations have helped your business and you're interested in supporting the show, visit our Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/beyondtheworkbench

Edited and produced by Instrumental Media: https://instrumental.media/

#BeyondTheWorkbench #Podcast #Leathercraft #LeatherWorking #Entrepreneurship #MakerCommunity #SmallBusiness #MakerBusiness #BusinessStrategy