Today we’d like to introduce you to Zach Fritz.
Hi Zach, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2013 I found myself looking for ways to make a bit of extra money in high school, so during my woodshop class, I would make wood and antler pens and sell them to neighbors and family friends. Later that year, we took a family vacation to Colorado. I took a few with me to try and sell at the airport and resort, which landed me a consignment deal with an art gallery focused on hunters and outdoor enthusiasts. I kept this up as I graduated school and decided to do what my father did and go into the automotive field. I kept a small wood lathe in and would use my free time on weekends or after work to keep a steady supply going out to my galleries as they had expanded. It was a fantastic side stream of income. I enjoyed working for automotive brands like Audi and Mercedes. I was recruited into the technology side of the automotive industry performing remote diagnostics and programming on vehicle modules. Life was great and got even better when I got promoted, but at the same time, I received an inspiring call from my first gallery in Colorado telling me that a pen of mine sold as a birthday present to Clint Eastwood! Of course, this news started to make me think about turning my hobby into a full-time business, but I had invested a ton of time and money into my automotive career and had just gotten married and bought our first home.
Now was not the best time to take a risk like that. After accepting that I needed to maintain the stability, my career provided, Covid-19 and the inability to travel put my job on hold. Out of work until I could come back, I found myself in my garage, realizing now was the time. I could sit around, collect unemployment, and do a lot more fishing with my free time or bootstrap a new business. Thus Oak & Iron was born. I sold off automotive tools and bought woodworking tools to start creating. I started off taking old furniture and restoring it as this was the cost of paint, some brushes, and a bit of my time, and most of the furniture was free since everyone was spending their stimulus on upgrading their work from home spaces. Selling used furniture provided enough money to keep turning my space into a capable workshop and order the inventory needed to approach my first big client. I contacted a local distillery with the idea of using their used whiskey barrels and making pens for sale in their gift shop, and the idea took off! Today we are shipping across the US, working with distilleries and wineries, and reclaiming their barrels into pens and bottle stoppers with even more items in development. Building a business in the heart of covid was no easy task, but with the unwavering support of my wife, Emily, I was finally able to make this dream a reality.
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?
Covid had many breweries and distilleries shut down, local markets were closed, and lumber prices went through the roof. After being laid-off, my situation was “sink or swim,” and this business is my only fallback. It had to work. I focused my efforts online with Facebook campaigns and posting in online whiskey groups to draw attention to my products. Using used barrels meant I didn’t have to pay the crazy cost of lumber and allowed me to repurpose them in a way that gives fans of whiskey or wine, or the brand it comes from, a chance to own something that will outlive the bottle.
We’ve been impressed with Oak & Iron, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The first thing you receive in this world is a name. Throughout our lives, it is one of the few things we write down with pen and paper. Those few and far between moments are the most important. Signing your job application, marriage license, closing on your dream house, all these moments are life-changing.
For centuries, people took pride in their writing utensils. From the first metal pens of the Romans to the quill and ink of the English, nowadays, all you see is boring, plastic pens stamped out in a factory, made for a few cents, and sold in packs of ten for $5. Oak and Iron want to change that for you. We want you to experience the feeling of having a pen that carries memories, starts conversations, and has a true story. Your story.
That is why we are committed to handmaking our pens using the highest quality materials at an affordable price. Since 2013 we have built a business from the ground up with the mission of making our customers feel a true sense of pride in not only their pen but the name that they use it to write. Our mechanical components will easily match or surpass pens being sold by mainstream luxury brands for hundreds of dollars more. We source our wood, antler, and acrylic locally and hand-turned, so only the best gets into our customer’s hands.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
Over the past few months, there has been a considerable shift away from import products, and people are willing to spend more to support businesses in the USA. The support of my customers and this attitude are what drives me. American industry is far from being in decline. I believe we are on the cusp of a renaissance. Over the past few years, large corporations and online selling spaces have crushed small businesses like mine. Those companies exploit the ideas and creations of businesses like mine and use their resources to undercut us with a cheaper product. I have seen friends land deals on new ideas with big brands only to have their ideas stolen. The good news is that I am finding more and more consumers choosing to purchase from independent businesses like Oak & Iron. The more we can put a face towards our products and share our story without selling out to try and be the most exposed brand out there. The more people we find that are willing to support local, buy American and pay a little more for made in the USA because if they purchase import, that is all we will have left one day.
Pricing:
- We sell custom pens starting at $35 on our website
- We sell custom bottle stoppers starting at $19.95 on our website
- OakandIrontx.com
Contact Info:
- Email: oakandirontx@gmail.com
- Website: oakandirontx.com
- Instagram: @oakandirontx
- Facebook: @oakandirontx
