Today we’d like to introduce you to Tom Ramy
Hi Tom, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
After graduating college with a Computer Science degree and having an affinity for baseball (having played through college), I started working for a Major League Baseball scouting company based in Bloomington, MN – running their scouting report operations. From there, I entered the financial world of payment processing and then had a stint in the printing world. Along the way, I found myself enjoying DIY projects around our house, troubleshooting problems, and unafraid to ask questions. Up until I started these DIY projects, the only “handy” thing I did was make a pine wood derby car in Boy Scouts. The common thread throughout the enjoyable parts was that I really enjoyed working with my hands – this is what led me to start the Hewn & Forged journey.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
“If it were easy, everyone would do it.”
This is a common quote I think about while running this business for 13+ years. There have definitely been struggles along the way. What I have found is that owing a small business is more of a blend of solving problems all while keeping all of the hats you wear in order. I work hard to focus on the process/journey and not so much the day to day highs and lows that can/will occur – not an easy task.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Hewn & Forged started in 2011 as a collaboration between a friend and myself – making vertical wine racks as a side hustle. Our first sale was to a home builder in Edina for a custom home that included a wine room. Once we had established our main sizes, we started listing our wine racks on Etsy (that same year). Since then, we have added other smaller products, including steel and copper engraved signs, and home decor pieces like our candle centerpieces; shipping across the country as well as serving our local community.
Around 2015 we decided to start making fireplace mantels out of solid, kiln dried, timbers. Shortly after, I left my full time job in printing to devote my attention fully to Hewn & Forged. Around that time we started receiving requests for ceiling beams, floating shelves and have recently added a very popular piece that we call our Big Timber Wall Table as well as non-combustible steel mantels. We have made large conference room tables out of specific hardwoods, created personalized sports plaques for local ball teams, and everything in between.
We work really hard to stay in our lane while also taking on custom projects to keep our creative juices flowing.
As of 2021 I am the sole owner of Hewn & Forged – I am fortunate to have a full time guy as well as a part time gal working with me. Our shop is located in Shakopee – we have 4,500 square feet of workshop with a state of the art vacuum kiln to handle our wood drying needs and a bunch of tools that we have acquired over the years. All of which is an incredible upgrade after 9 years of working in our own home garages!!
One of our proudest moments from early on was supplying VaynerMedia (New York) our vertical wine racks for a new office build in Hudson Yards. Gary Vaynerchuck, owner of VaynerMedia, was a pioneer in the online wine world (Wine Library TV). To have our wine racks in one of their conference rooms was epic for this little shop back in 2016!
How do you think about luck?
I’ve heard that luck is defined as being prepared for the opportunity when it comes. I can agree with that statement as it has bit more do with what you are setting your gaze upon – essentially asking the question of “what are you aiming at?” Seizing the opportunity when it happens, being open to it.
There have definitely been times that I have not been able to explain how we got a certain job with a client or made a great connection, which could be luck, I guess, but I prefer to think that everything happens for a reason. The individual choices, both big and small, work together (& sometimes against) what we strive for.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hewnandforged.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hewnandforged/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hewnandforged
