Today we’d like to introduce you to Mitchell Martishius

Hi Mitchell, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.

I started woodworking with my dad as a young kid. My dad is a master carpenter and always had a project going on that I could help out with. Helping him out in my youth sparked my interest in wood and how it behaved, so I went to college for Wood Products. I’ve had various jobs throughout my adult years but always went back to wood working in my free time. Thats when my wife asked for a nice cutting board for our kitchen. I made an end grain butcher block for her, and our friends and family really liked it and asked if I could make them one too. From there I started small and had a table with my wares at local art shows and fairs. Then I’d stop by local kitchen shops and ask if they wanted to carry my items, and after lots of no’s, I finally got a yes and have now been selling my wares with retailers all over Montana for almost 8 years.

The business started as a hobby in a little shed in my backyard. It got big enough to move into one bay of my 2-car garage, then eventually both bays. Now we are in a 2000 square foot workshop away from our house and are quickly outgrowing it. This all started with me just fiddling around in my shed, and now we employ 4 people and are actively looking for a 5th and a bigger shop!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

As in most things in life, it’s never smooth and it never takes the route you initially had planned. I think that the bumps in the road and the twists and turns life tends to take you builds character and always keeps you on your toes. There is always a machine that needs repair or replacement, a hiccup in the supply chain that makes getting materials challenging at times, rising costs of goods, you name it. It keeps the days interesting for sure, no two days are ever the same.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?

We specialize in wooden kitchen products ranging from cutting boards, to serving trays, to magnetic knife blocks. Recently we have been breaking into the countertop market and have made quite a few kitchen countertops. We also help folks with their custom woodworking needs, recently completing a rustic mantle for a home. Another unique project we have been working on is a screw display case for a local hardware store. If its dealing with wood, we can likely make it!

I think the thing I’m most proud of on this journey of small business ownership, is our customer service and quality. We let the products speak for themselves and we strive to do our best in helping people with their custom needs. We try to be as responsive as we can, as honest and straight forward as we can. We hope to eliminate any surprises and do what we feel is right every day. Wood is an extremely variable and sometimes unpredictable resource, so we go above and beyond to make sure to keep people informed as we work on their project. Checking that they like the way things are going and how its looking. Some people like the inevitable knots and natural blemishes in wood, others like a cleaner look. So, we always try to gage each project accordingly!

Right now we sell products direct to consumer via our website, we are in over 15 stores in Montana, ranging from small local retailers to Whole Foods and Dillard’s. We also offer custom laser engraving, custom wood design, and corporate gifting services.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?

Buckle up, it’s a rough ride. Nothing about growing a business is easy. You have to prepare yourself for the emotional rollercoaster that is owning your own business. Navigating growing costs, economy ups and downs, managing people, is all something you don’t really think about in the beginning, but end up being most of the day-to-day dealings. Building your product is easy, running a business is hard. From the beginning, my wife and I have constant conversations about the level of risk we are willing to take with the business. We evaluate where we are in life in all aspects of life and adjust our risk comfort level for the business accordingly. For us, making calculated business decisions is what has helped make sure we are moving in the right direction and doing what we think is best for the business, our employees and for us personally. Always be honest with yourself!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mtblock.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/montanablockco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/montanablockcompany