How do you turn a shared passion into a thriving brand? Garrett and Amanda Willis of Grit Mercantile join Odin and Magnus to share their journey of building a leathercraft business rooted in authenticity and connection.

In this conversation with Garrett and Amanda Willis, we explore how they craft items meant to become part of their customers' lives, and how embracing both creativity and business realities has fueled their growth.

Guests: Garrett and Amanda Willis

Founders of Grit Mercantile, a husband-and-wife leathercraft team known for creating products that tell stories and become part of their customers' lives.

Topics discussed:

• Building a cohesive brand rooted in authenticity

• Navigating markets and overcoming perfectionism

• Balancing promotion with production

• Smart merchandising and genuine customer connection

• Lessons from building a business as a husband-and-wife team

---

Beyond the Workbench casually dives into the world of leathercraft, entrepreneurship, and modern maker life.

Hosted by Odin Clack (full-time leatherworker and retail owner) and Michael Magnus (leather historian and marketing expert), we explore everything from personal project updates to marketing strategies, retail challenges, and the business side of making. Whether you're running a maker business or just love hearing how small businesses adapt and grow---this is your spot.

New episodes every other Thursday.

Watch video episodes on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beyondtheworkbenchpodcast

Connect with us on Instagram @beyondtheworkbench

Enjoy the episode!