Today we’d like to introduce you to Rebecca Barrett.
Rebecca, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m Rebecca, owner and creator of The Wilder Woodshop. A decade ago, I became interested in woodworking and started shadowing my carpenter husband on wood-related projects. I ended up loving the creative process and wanted to continue constructing more. I began creating basic cutting boards and selling them to friends and family, which generated the money to purchase the proper tools so I could keep growing. As I learned more techniques, I added more skews and grew my business, partnering with local stores through wholesaling, which was a huge step for The Wilder Woodshop’s growth.
This spring I took my business full time. My husband is still an intricate part of The Wilder Woodshop, but in the years I’ve obtained the needed skills to lead the business to what it is today.
We were formerly named “Barrett’s Boards” but after our son, Wilder, was born we rebranded in honor of him. We look forward to teaching him these fine skills as he grows and watching his own creativity expand!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve now been woodworking for about eight years. In those eight years we moved around a lot, so having a functional shop space to produce my product in was a huge challenge. Until recently, I operated The Wilder Woodshop part time. For many years, I worked my full-time 40-hour-a-week job, I would get home from that, make dinner for my family, then head back out to the shop to create cutting boards until near midnight. On weekends, I would work in the shop while my toddler napped, then head back out into the shop after he fell asleep at night. It was exhausting, but I knew if I pursued it, I would eventually build this business, to support my family.
Fast forward, today we have a fabulous shop, located on 5 inspiring acres of wooded land near Lake Superior. This spring I took the leap and began running The Wilder Woodshop full time as well. I feel grateful each day to be able to craft these products, surrounded by such natural beauty and am so proud of what I have built.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
The Wilder Woodshop’s products include quality wood art uniquely designed for cooking and entertaining, in a variety of end-grain, edge-grain, and chevron patterns. I rarely ever make two items with the same design, which is where my “functional art that is 1 of 1” tagline comes from.
My best seller is the Cheese-Slicer Cutting Board. It incorporates a uniquely designed cutting board with built-in cheese slicer hardware. I commonly receive feedback that my boards are “too beautiful to cut on”, so this concept was created… Although all boards can withstand extensive use, this eliminates the need to scuff up the board with any knife marks, because you use the hardware to slice the cheese, and the board for serving your charcuterie on after.
Any big plans?
I’m sure my future holds a lot of changes. With me taking my business full time recently, I look forward to having the time to collaborate with other local shops on the North Shore to expand my product’s reach. I also quadrupled the number of local art festivals I’ll be participating in this summer, which include the Grand Marais Art Festival (July 9 & 10) and Art Around the Lake (Sept. 24 – Oct. 3).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thewilderwoodshop.com
- Instagram: @thewilderwoodshop
- Facebook: @thewilderwoodshop
Image Credits:
Laura Muus Photography
