Students can always appreciate a little extra money. For some, that money could be earned through starting a small business.
The heart of the project is the pair’s conviction that people want products that are, as Putrich puts it, “as much aesthetic as they are functional.”
“People are into things that are green, things that are recycled, things that are refined but at the same time rugged,” Benzing said. “This is a good opportunity to be green and to recycle wood that doesn’t have any other purpose, and also an opportunity for us to make some money and get some real business experience.”
At present, the fledgling company’s inventory is a bit nebulous — in addition to cutting boards, Benzing and Putrich also make custom coasters, desktops, and other custom items, with hopes of expanding further in the future. But the boards, which are cut to display the beauty of the raw wood, are undoubtedly Baum’s specialty.
“I noticed from the start of what Cole was doing that he was onto something special, because it’s a very niche market,” Putrich said. “It’s certainly not a necessity, but it’s a luxury that really does add a lot to the environment of a room or a kitchen.”
So far, their customers seem to agree: when Putrich set up a table in the union over Parents Weekend, he sold out their entire inventory — more than $700 worth — in less than six hours.
“All of that money went towards a fundraiser to support my German study abroad trip,” Putrich said.
Junior Sarah Reinsel said she counts herself among those satisfied customers.
“I bought some beautiful coasters with the outline of Michigan carved on them,” she said. “They were made out of smoked cherry wood, and they smelled like Christmas Time.”
Hillsdale residents Jared and Stephanie Maxwell also praised the craftsmanship of their cutting board, which they received as a gift from Putrich.
“He gave it to us kind of as a late Christmas gift,” Jared said. “It’s a beautiful board — my wife refuses to use it to cut anything on because she doesn’t want to mark or damage it. It has a laser-embossed little logo that they created for their company, and he even made a burlap packaging sack for it. I think they could sell a fair number of wood products like that.”
While Baum itself is only a few months old, it has its roots in Cole’s Blocks, a previous project that Benzing started two years ago. Benzing’s grandfather owns a company, American Specialty Hardwoods, that supplies templates to guitar companies. This gave Benzing the opportunity to start a business of his own.
“I was working with my grandfather in his woodshop, and the standards of the wood that is required is very high,” Benzing said. “What typically happens is that a lot of the wood doesn’t get used; it either gets burned or recycled or thrown in the corner. So I figured there’s got to be a better way to use this wood. I did some research, and stumbled on cutting boards.”
Although Cole’s Blocks enjoyed some success, appearing in multiple retail stores in and near Adrian, Michigan, Benzing started to feel like he had lost his autonomy with the business.
“It kind of got sucked into my grandfather’s business, so basically I didn’t feel like I was able to do some of the things that I wanted to do,” Benzing said.
So this year, Benzing started from scratch, partnering with Putrich, who shared his love for both woodworking and entrepreneurship.
“We buy the wood wholesale from my grandpa, pay hourly to use all his equipment, and pocket the profits,” Benzing said. “After taxes, of course.”
While job descriptions are flexible in a two-man operation, Putrich gravitates towards sales tasks while Benzing leads up production.
“It’s not like he or I are exclusive to the other; we both chip in,” Putrich said.
For now, Benzing and Putrich are indefinite about how far they want to take their budding company.
“It’s really more of an experiment for both of us: trying to have some fun, get some experience, learn a little about sales and business management and working with a friend, a business partner, and just trying to see what we can do,” Benzing said.
Of course, woodworking figures to play a role in both lives going forward regardless.If they do move on to other projects, however, it won’t be for lack of a solid product.
“We told them that when we showed the board to some of our friends that they would be really interested in buying one,” Maxwell said. “I definitely think he’s got something with potential here.”
