One Year of DWSL

It has been one year of since the opening of DWSL Woodworks. This business started as an idea and we made it a reality. It has been a year of exploring, learning, readjusting, and growth. As we look back on the past year, we reflect on the challenges, successes, and our vision forward.

Our very first show took place in the charming town of Rome, WI. We were filled with excitement as we prepared to showcase and sell our products. The first item we sold was a whiskey smoker. David missed the moment because he happened to be in the restroom at that time. Overall, the first show went well, and we left feeling enthusiastic and eager to participate in upcoming events. Our second show was the Wausau Night Market at White Water Music Hall. David had to miss this show due to work but our “volunmom” (KerrI) was there to help. Before the show even opened we had sold 4 products to other vendors. This show was a hit. We counted 20 transactions in 15 minutes, selling out of the Wisconsin Epoxy Cribbage Boards in the first hour. We were truly happy to meet so many great people in our community and hear valuable feedback on the products we offer. Engaging with local residents not only allowed us to share our passion for woodworking but also gave us insights that will help us improve and refine our creations.

One night I joined a Facebook group called the “Crafty Fun Group”. I had responded to a post about a devilled egg tray and many were posting about how they wish they could find one with handles. I posted our devilled egg XL with handles as an example and the next morning I woke up with 200 likes on the photo and 10 messages about inquiring to purchase one. That day the numbers kept going up, I received a total of 635 likes on the photo and over 20 messages about purchasing, the only issue we had was that our website was not up and running yet and we didn’t have a way to take online orders. We rushed that day to create a website, set up a square account, and share the link the next day. We ended up getting over 10 orders in one weekend for the devilled egg tray.

In the Spring we attended a few other shows, including one in Menasha, and another in Rome. These were smaller shows but we still positive for us. We began producing new items including the Wisconsin Charcuterie Boards, Bread Knives, and Cracker Trays. We also started to have many people reach out for unique special custom orders, including one that is particularly sentimental and meaningful, which we will blog about in the next month! Additionally, we took the step of creating an Etsy account and began selling on the Etsy platform, which has opened us up to selling our handcrafted items in many different states, reaching customers far and wide, even as far away as Hawaii!

In the Summer, we attended a few shows. We had our first rained out show experience which was a bummer but a good experience to learn that when booking an outside show, the weather most definitely is a factor. We participated in two vibrant Wausau Night Markets held in Downtown Wausau, where we made valuable connections within the community, and this was also the first time that I sold my earrings. As the season came to a close, we marked a significant milestone with our biggest event yet, the Art World show in Wausau. This event was unique for us as it was our first two-day show, and it turned out well despite the fact that the night before we were scrambling to finalize our products and ended up only getting a mere three hours of much-needed sleep. Let’s just say that night one of our products had a nickname “the marriage breaker” (only jokingly because we both were lacking sleep). Through this experience, we have learned that the week leading up to a show, as well as the night before, becomes a crucial cramming time, and no matter how much you try to plan ahead, there always seems to be last-minute items that need to be created, finished, and organized.

In the fall, we attended a craft show in Merrill, which saw a lower turnout than we had hoped for, but to me, it was nonetheless another opportunity to make connections. During this event, we ended up meeting an enthusiastic customer who later contacted us to create custom charcuterie boards for their upcoming 2025 wedding celebration. Craft shows like this are a time to engage and connect with other talented vendors. You can learn so much from one another, such as the best shows to attend, innovative display ideas, and much more! We have truly appreciated the valuable suggestions and creative ideas shared by fellow artists in the woodworking and crafting community!

We're ending the year with a new adventure by adding our products to Wisconsin consignment boutiques. This is a new experience for us, and we look forward to the opportunities it may bring. Our products are currently available at Flippin’ Fabulous in Burlington and Down Home on Main in Clintonville. We'll keep you updated on our progress in future blog posts!

As we gear up for 4 more shows this Holiday Season, we want to take a moment to see how far we have come and thank all of the individuals who have supported us this first year by purchasing products, liking and sharing our page and social media, and spreading the word!

Quotes from Sam and David about the last year!

David: “It’s really nice to see our products go from our home to their homes. I look at the our products and think, Damn…I’d buy that! and that is a really good feeling.”

Sam: “This past year has been a lot of work but I have grown such an appreciation of supporting small businesses and artists now that we are on the inside. I admire David’s motivation and knowledge about the craft. Starting this business as a newly married couple has been a fun adventure. I can’t wait to see where DWSL can go in 2025!”

Various locations of products sold online!