The Story of slate & stone co.
Humble Beginnings
In July of 2021, on a little farm in Kentucky, three partners decided to quit their jobs and start a company. Their names were Natalie, Dillon, & Bryan. With no income and a diminishing nest-egg, they went to work renovating an abandoned shop. The place had been dormant for 20 years, other than a healthy population of raccoons living in it. Twelve hours a day for three months, they worked tirelessly to wash, scrape, peal & paint every inch of the building. Thus, the shop was born.
Birth of a Company
After the shop was ready, Dillon & Bryan took mechanic work to recover the costs of renovation and product development. Meanwhile, Natalie created an Etsy and began designing the brand. Six months later, Slate & Stone Co. was large enough to sustain all three partners.
Discover The Product
It was time to expand into wood products. Bryan, an engineer, is an immovable mountain when it comes to quality. The common thinking around wood souvenirs is that they should be made from cheap wood & engraved quickly. You can't burn these products low & slow and expect to compete in the market, right? Bryan disagrees. He did the math and modified the lasers until the highest quality products were absolutely viable. Now, as a rule, Slate & Stone never compromises on quality.
Develop the Vision
They attended shows, events, & festivals every weekend for two years. The shows took them across 4 states, where they met other business owners and consumers from every walk of life. For every show, they crafted new designs in an effort to learn the beating-heart of the souvenir consumer.
Define the service
At the shows, they performed live custom engravings for customers. Natalie, owner and lead designer, used the shows to develop an uncanny precision for what customers want. When asked to think back on her time with the shows, Natalie remarks, "Any designer will tell you that designing live without a minute to spare, is a high-pressure situation."
Deliver to buyers, like you
After two years, the team was ready to move to the next level. They started attending Expos. with retail buyers as the focus. Now, they serve 200 clients across 14 states. Clients love their dedication to quality, design, short lead-times, and low minimums. Each feature is a direct result from the years spent, ear to the ground, listening to the needs of the customer.