Today we’d like to introduce you to Erik Youngquist
Hi Erik, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
When I was about 14, I somehow came into possession of an old book on blacksmithing. My father and I read it and planned to make a forge together, but somehow never got to it. Thirty years later, my wife talked me into taking a one day blacksmithing class……I was immediately hooked. I took a few more classes from that blacksmith, and it all grew form there…I put together a forge, with all the basics either bought or made. Over time I got better and fell deeper in love with the art and trade of blacksmithing, and soon I was selling a few things here and there. With my wife’s encouragement, I began to set up my small side hustle to be a proper business, getting an LLC, an EIN, and the tools and equipment I’d need. Folksvangr Forge was born. More time passed, until in October of 2023 I took a deep breath, quit my good job working on tugboats and became a full time blacksmith. Its been a challenge, at times a struggle, and trough it all an incredibly satisfying enterprise.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like any labor of love, things have been a mixture of difficult and smooth…..I love my work, especially doing custom orders with clients. Some hurdles to jump over, though, have included finding ways to consistently reach new customers. I’ve had a lot of difficulty getting my website to increase traffic and provide steady orders, and am still building recognition in the local community. I currently rely on an e-commerce site for the majority of my business and would like to move to a medium I can have more control over. Product line has been a challenge as well, although one I enjoy working with. Finding new, bigger ticket items and matching up what people want and what I enjoy making, as well as seasonal variations, has been interesting.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Folksvangr Forge is a small forge in Evaro, Montana. We make a wide variety of hand forged ironwork, from decorative elements to home decor and hardware, to tools and kitchenware. Our goal is to create functional. beautiful works of art, that will be a part of peoples everyday life for generations. With a vision of rustic elegance, we seek to stand out from a sea of machine made, carbon copy hardware.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Starting a small business as a maker can be incredibly stressful. There is no guarantee of success, and there is a lot to learn beyond the actual creative process. But it is an incredibly satisfying struggle, with many rewards both financial and intangible. Being able to create things that people need and want is an reward in and of itself, and obstacles are seldom as fearsome as they appear at first glance.
Contact Info:
- Website: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/folksvangr_forge/?igsh=dXNwNDZzb2V5M3dt
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084287921828
- Other: https://folksvangrforge.etsy.com
