Interview with the Maker: Angry Nimbus Woodcraft

Artisan:  Rob McAllister, Angry Nimbus Woodcraft

1. What is your name and how did you decide on your business name?

  My name is Rob McAllister, and I am the owner of Angry Nimbus Woodcraft.  Picking a name for this business was tough and I struggled with it for a while. With so many woodworkers in the craft industry, its hard to stand out from the crowd with just a name or a logo.  Since most of my products feature high-voltage wood carving, I thought it was appropriate to name the business after the cloud that produces lightning storms, the cumulonimbus. 

2. What inspired you to create your product?

  Woodworking is a rather new endeavor for me.  I worked in the automotive industry my entire life and hadn't done anything with wood since middle school shop class.  A few years ago, I purchased an old school bus to build into an RV.  While the mechanical repairs and updates were nothing new for me, I had to develop a whole new set of woodworking skills to build the interior.  During the process, I found out that I really liked working with wood and creating.  I was teaching myself carpentry by watching YouTube when I stumbled across a video of fractal-burning and I was immediately hooked.  I built the machine and started burning within a week.  At the time I was commuting almost 200 miles a day to a job that left me unfulfilled and exhausted.  At some point on that long commute home, likely stuck in traffic, I realized I was doing it all wrong.  Shortly afterwards, I left my job and started Angry Nimbus Woodcraft.

3. Which of your products most inspires other people?

  I think the product that inspires people the most is actually the one that never makes it to a craft show.  Earlier this year I started making custom keyboard wrist rests for people who build mechanical keyboards.  Each one of these customers has put together a custom, one-of-a-kind computer keyboard with cool artisan key caps, LED lights and all sorts of gadgetry to make it personal and fit their space.  My work gives them a chance to design their own wrist rest to match their style, and add a special flare to their desk.  But more importantly, they order a product that they use every day.  Whether it's used for gaming, listening to music, designing, reading or just working online, they are in direct contact with that rest.  They use it to help them create, work, learn and relax.  I believe that having a beautiful workspace has a profound impact on the work produced there, and I like to think that having my wrist rest on the desk helps to inspire them.

4. How do you find time to balance your craft with other areas of your life?

  I have found that this craft has actually helped me to better balance my life.  Before I started this business, I was working or commuting over 60 hours a week.  When I got home I was exhausted, and had very little time or energy for creative outlets or social outings.  Free time on the weekends was absorbed by doing all the errands and tasks that went undone during the week.  Nowadays, I put in even more hours on any given week.  But I work from home, on my own schedule, doing (mostly) creative work that inspires me.  I have more work to do, but I also have control over when it gets done and when I need to go for a hike or visit friends.

5. Name one tool or product that is most helpful to you as a small business owner.

As any woodworker will tell you, there is a vast and endless array of shiny tools that you absolutely need to get the job done, and never enough clamps.  But I think the most important tools for a small business owner are internet marketing and local networking.  Everybody is shopping online and there are a million businesses looking to connect with them.  If you don't have a strategy to get your work seen and spread the word, you're basically invisible online.  For craft businesses, a strong network of vendor event coordinators and fellow craftspeople is also key.  Being seen online is important, but you also need to vend at lots of shows so people can see your work in-person.  You could be producing amazing work, but if nobody sees it, then it's not viable as a business.

6. Where do you see your business going in 2020?

I am really looking to step things up this year.  Last year was my first year in operation, and I learned a lot.  I want to do more shows this year and expand my reach.  But more importantly I want to grow my skills, improve quality, and build out the shop to take on larger projects.  I want to start making furniture and I have a ton of other project ideas bouncing around in my head that need to come out.  Whatever happens this year, I'm excited to see where it goes.

7. What is something you hope to get out of the Marketspace platform this year? 

This year I did several Marketspace events and they were amazing.  I hope to participate in more shows this year!

8. Anything new we can do for or offer you?

You're doing a great job.  I think we all see you going the extra mile at these events and I really appreciate it.  I'm looking forward to watching you grow!

Thanks, Rob! We love working with you and seeing your success too.