Founded in 2014, Based in Salt Lake City, Utah
1. Whats the story behind your brand?
I started Winding Wheel Supply Co. in May of 2014. I have been a touring drummer and drum tech for the past decade. I have always wanted to do something else with my hands besides just drums. Something else where I could also create something but in a different way. In may of 2014 I was finishing up a tour and had a 3 day bus ride home. In those 3 days I was dedicated to think of something different I could do when I got home besides just sit around the house while my wife is at work. On the last day of that bus ride, I came up with the idea of working with leather. I could make so many things out of leather and that was exciting to me. So when I got home from that tour, I went to a local leather supply store and got a few things I needed to get started. I got home that day and just went for it. I made my first wallet.
I was excited about what I had made and posted it on my personal instagram page. My long time friend, Aaron Gillespie, saw the picture of the wallet I made and was also excited about it. He asked me to make him one. So I made him one. When he got it, he posted it on his Instagram page that has about 45,000 plus followers. I immediately had tons of people emailing me asking where they could place an order. So just for fun I came up with the name Winding Wheel Supply Co., started a company instagram and made a web store via Big Cartel. Since Fathers day was 3 weeks away from this time, I went from making my first wallet to having about 100 orders for wallets in just about 3 weeks. I quickly realized I had something special and I decided to put touring on hold and make something happen with this. It has turned out to be a good choice.
2. What are some of your core principals within your brand?
When I first started Winding Wheel Supply Co., I did it for fun before it became a business. I made what I liked and stayed true to myself. I have put that exact thought process in every step we have made and it has continued to grow, so I will continue to do this. I don’t want to sell a product or our brand as something we are not just to move product.
3. What was your biggest challenge starting your brand from scratch?
The biggest challenge wasn’t making the brand. I knew the direction I wanted to go based on who I was, what I liked, and what I enjoyed. The biggest challenge I had was the business side of things. I had never been to business school or done anything like this so every aspect of the business side of things was a challenge for me. Luckily I am very blessed to have some very intelligent and talented friends who have helped me figure out the business side of things along the way. One of them has become one of 4 partners in the business since then and is continuing to help as the company grows.
“Its very difficult to do things on your own if you want to grow a business at all. A team is important. That is something I also learned very quickly.”
4. Has starting your own brand changed your outlook as a consumer buying into another brand?
Absolutely 100%. To be completely honest I didn’t understand the importance behind quality American made goods until I started Winding Wheel Supply Co. I learned the importance very quickly. Since starting my business I make it a point to buy american made, from the clothes I wear, the truck I drive, and the tires that are on that truck. Yes it is typically more coin, but man it will last much longer, it will help the american economy tremendously, and it will keep the American dream alive. This country was built by pioneers and on the principal that we can turn our dreams into truth. I aim to support and keep that tradition alive as long as possible.
5. What does being successful mean to you and your brand?
Being successful to me is doing the very best with what the good Lord gave me. Being successful is providing for my family. Being successful is being apart of transforming someones way of thinking the next time they go to purchase an item (i.e. where is this made?). Being successful is making something that hopefully one day I get to see get passed down a generation or two.
