In this episode, hosts Matthew and Casey sit down with Codie Aljets, owner and artist behind Sage Country Customs, to talk about the realities of building a business around custom metal art.

Codie shares how he turned his passion for high-detail metal artwork into a full-time career, the lessons he's learned about pricing creative work, and why relationships, storytelling, and value matter just as much as the craftsmanship itself. From navigating the business side of being an artist to building meaningful pieces that clients will treasure for generations, this conversation dives deep into what it really takes to succeed in the metal art world.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• The hard truth about pricing your work and valuing your time

• Why many artists and fabricators undervalue what they create

• How personal relationships drive high-end custom work

• The role of storytelling and meaning in custom metal art

• Why word-of-mouth and real-world events often outperform social media

• How philanthropy and community involvement can grow your brand

• Why the metal art community is one of the most supportive in the industry

Timestamps: 00:01:05 – Introduction to Codie Aljets and Sage Country Customs 00:02:02 – Building a business around high-detail custom metal art 00:05:23 – Why Codie focuses only on art instead of general fabrication 00:08:03 – The business side of being a welding artist 00:09:55 – Building relationships with clients through in-person events 00:12:57 – Using art and philanthropy to give back to the community 00:16:04 – The hard truth about valuing your work and pricing your art 00:20:03 – Creating custom pieces that tell a client's story 00:24:59 – Turning the delivery of art into a full experience for clients 00:31:46 – The supportive community among metal artists and creators 00:38:31 – Advice for artists building a career in custom metalwork

Resources: Sage Country Customs (Codie Aljets): https://www.sagecountrycustoms.com/ Follow Codie Aljets on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sagecountrycustoms/

Lights Out Podcast by Making Chips: https://makingchips.com/show/lights-out/ Buy the Numbers Podcast by Making Chips: https://makingchips.com/show/buy-the-numbers/

If you're a fabricator, artist, or shop owner trying to build something meaningful with your work, this episode will challenge how you think about value, pricing, and the business behind creativity.

Let's keep making sparks. 🔥