Meet Benjamin Blakeley | Wood worker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Benjamin Blakeley and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Benjamin, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
After spending 10 years in the navy, Which I absolutely loved more than anything, I was pretty beaten up and got a medical discharge. The jobs I had in the navy didn’t really convert into the civilian world, (chasing pirates off the Horn of Africa and being a prison guard in Guantanamo bay) so I had to start over. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I wanted it to be something that I loved. I was a stay at home dad for the first three years, I went to school at night to be a contractor and stayed at home during the day with my son tobin. After that I started working in construction as a subcontractor and continued in school for carpentry. That’s when I found the wood working program at red rocks community college. I fell in love instantly and within 2 years I started my own business out of my apartment and then moved into chatfield mini shops and built it up a little at a time.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I started my company, Tobins Woodworking in 2017. Unnamed it after my son in the hopes that one day he would take it over if that’s the path that he follows. It definitely hasn’t been easy, but I love what I do. I didn’t make any money first two years I was open, barely enough to survive on. But I kept pushing, trying new things, going outside of my comfort zone and I’ll be honest, I fail, a lot! But there was always something to learn from those failures and it helped me grow.

As far as my brand goes, I’m just trying to create something that people love. From custom tables to simple charcuterie boards. It really took off when I made my first shark coochie board. I couldn’t say the word charcuterie, so I always called it something else.

Now I sell tons of shark shaped charcuterie boards online in my etsy shop and have even done hundreds of boards for discovery channels shark week, National Geographic’s shark fest and worked with Warner brothers to do boards for the suicide squad movie.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Rockies game One up arcade
Piles peak
Fishing
Hiking Lair o the bear
Back yard bbq
Garden of the gods
More fishing and hiking

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
For me personally, it’s been the wood working community that really pushed me. Of course there’s been friends and family on my side, they always want good things for you. But the people in this community really step up and help out. I’ve made several good friends, gained mentors and learned so much from so many people in the last 6 or so years. Most notably my friend Josh Sharf and Jon Kruger. Josh is another disabled vet that found a passion in wood working. We were both in the navy and both love Ohio state football. We became fast friends at red rocks when he was a TA there and I was learning how to turn wood. We’ve collaborated on several projects and are always there to help each other out. Then there’s Jon Kruger, this guy, he’s a character and total badass. He’s a retired world famous clay shooter, won every award there is to win in that sport and on top of that he’s one of the best wood turners I’ve overseen. Him and his wife Cynthia are some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. They have helped me out in countless ways with their generosity and support as I built my business. Jon is retired now and spends most his time wood working or traveling the country setting up clay shoots and even hosting his own tournament (the Kruger classic) he’s been a mentor to me for sure. Like i said, it’s a community that really comes together and supports everyone in it.

Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TobinsWoodWorking?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=1277978698

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