What starts as a fun creative experiment can turn into something much bigger — sometimes before you even realize you’re building a real business.

In this episode of Zero Days Since, Jason Robinson and Chelsea Adler reflect on the unexpected evolution of Timber Tote: from a playful idea born during a slow season to a growing brand with real customers, artist collaborations, legal questions, licensing decisions, and a business model that keeps expanding.

The conversation begins with one of the biggest questions creative founders face: should you patent your idea, protect your process as a trade secret, or focus your energy on building the brand faster than anyone else can copy it? Jason and Chelsea talk through the practical realities of patent protection, why some ideas are harder to protect than people assume, and how they weighed the cost of legal protection against the need to invest in growth.

They also dig into the business side of partnership: setting up accounts, separating money, formalizing responsibilities, and thinking through what happens when a fun project becomes something that needs structure. As Timber Tote grows, so does the need for clearer systems.

One of the biggest turning points comes through their artist collaborations. By working with Tucson creatives through licensing, wholesale, and commission-based models, Jason and Chelsea begin to see Timber Tote not just as a product, but as a platform — one that can connect artists, makers, boutiques, customers, and local commerce in a more meaningful way.

Along the way, they discuss intellectual property, creative ethics, AI, copyright, Disney, public domain, Shark Tank dreams, Fashion Week goals, and the reality of building something original in a world where imitation is always possible.

This episode is about the beautiful, chaotic, eye-opening process of turning a “what if?” into a working business.

Topics include:

Turning a creative experiment into a business Building the Timber Tote brand Patents, trade secrets, and intellectual property Business partnerships and founder decisions Artist collaborations and licensing models Tucson creatives and local commerce AI, creative ownership, and ethical questions Fashion Week, Shark Tank, and bigger brand dreams

Zero Days Since follows two founders as they build a wooden handbag brand from the inside out — with honesty, humor, tequila, and plenty of lessons learned along the way.