Timbercraftdesigns

Our small business spotlight gives local businesses a chance to shine and today Channel 3's Caitlin Francis is bringing us to Bristol. That's right, she is talking with the owner of Timbercraft Designs who's getting unique gift items and statement pieces for right in his garage. Steve Yop is in his garage workshop cutting the shape of a spoon. He started Timbercraft Designs about five years ago after he and his wife bought their house in Bristol. Now he's making one of a kind pieces for other people's homes. Pribbage boards was one of them that people really asked for. Soap dishes have seemed to have gained popularity. I'm not sure if it's from COVID, people washing their hands a little more. He also makes ornaments, bookmarks and bottle openers, but it all started with cutting boards. I actually started as a chef when I moved up here. I'm from Long Island originally. I came up here 12 years ago now. I was a chef in West Hartford. I've been obsessed with cutting boards my entire career. When I left that to go to my current job, I wanted to make one. I was told I couldn't do it. My father challenged me and said that I couldn't do it, so that pushed my determination. I said I'm actually going to do this. And he did. He's creating unique boards and other custom furniture pieces using trees native to Connecticut He keeps a lot of the natural colors too, the reds, purples and yellows, without using stains, creating artwork for your kitchen. Yeah, 50% of people I would say pick it up and say that they could never cut on it or that they would I always tell everybody there's two sides to every board. Cut one side, keep the other side for a showpiece or presentation piece. A lot of his business is done at shows where people can buy wedding or shower gifts, Pieces, he says, will last a lifetime. A lot of the stuff that I do right now, I have a great realtor that I do closing gifts with. She's my biggest customer. I do up to 25 cutting boards for her a month. I've been trying to reach out to local boutiques to get some wholesale orders. I tend to customize the product for their boutique. It's less about my brand at that point and more about their stuff. But he says at some point he'd love to grow his brand even more. Unfortunately, this is not my full-time job as of yet. I would love for it to get there at some point. But I come in here on nights and weekends and also try to still have some time with my family. I'm Bristol. I'm Caitlin Francis, Channel 3 Eyewitness News.