What. A. Year. Really though, what a year.
While it was a tough one to swallow and one we won't soon forget, all the free time due to the Covid-19 pandemic allowed me to dial in on Motor City Axe.
The year started with an appearance on The Weekly Warrior Podcast. I partnered with and became friends with the team there. While they love rugby, they also focus on bettering oneself. I was featured on an episode and together we designed the 'Forge On' hatchet.
In mid-May Motor City Axe was included in a small business initiative with Populace Coffee. They featured the Motor City Axe logo on a bag of coffee for sale via their site. Big thanks to Populace for coming up with a creative way to help support local businesses.
For Father's Day I had a handful of our 'Detroiter' hatchets available in a special manly edition of a Mitten Crate box. It was great to work with Cory and his team.
Hamilton & Adam, a store out of NY state also features customizable Motor City Axe hatchets on their website. Andrew has been a pleasure to work with and I hope to continue into 2021.
In July I launched a collaboration with Bespoke Post. As part of there 'Made in America' July 4th initiative, we created an exclusive design and the people loved it. A second batch was quickly created to meet demand and we pushed out another batch in time for the holidays! We are so thankful for Bespoke's continued investment in small businesses like ours.
Right as the holidays were gearing up, I took a detour and brought joy to your nose. A candle collaboration with Finnmaker, an UP-based soy wax candle maker, launched in late September. The scent - 'Woods+Hops' - smelled of assorted woods and warming spices like cinnamon and cardamon. Fresh, Motor City Axe-grown hops topped each candle.
To end the year, I partnered with Moosejaw Moutaineering on an exclusive camp hatchet design - 'Sir Chops A Lot'. That hit stores and online in mid-October just in time for the holidays. This collaboration landed us with a little press in Hour Detroit. And there is more planned for 2021...
A new store in Ferndale, MI now also carries a few of our refurbished tool. Copper Corner Store is a modern day general store offering shelf stable groceries, household items, and magical, old timey feelings.
One of my favorite part of this job is working on projects for my friends. I was able to work on axes for 7 of my closest friends this past year. I've been friends with these people and their families half my life, so being able to work on an old family axe that they'll continue to pass down to the next generation means a lot.
Gift cards were added to the website as well. If you're having a hard time deciding what style or size axe to purchase for the outdoorsman or woman if your life you can now just grab a gift card. Easy and thoughtful.
While a year full of ups and downs, I hope you were able to make the most of it. Put yourself out there and ask - the worst someone can say is no, right? That led to 434 axes, hatchet and other edge tools being sold this year! I plan to ride this momentum into an even better 2021!
Keep an eye out for an expansion to our product line - coming soon you'll see a 24 inch Boys Axe, a 28 inch Hudson Bay and a 36 inch Jersey!
Start your new year right and get your custom axe today - www.motorcityaxe.com