This week, we are talking to Brad Ambridge, the entrepreneur behind Man Cave Creative, a business that has made its mark by creating a variety of handcrafted wooden items specifically for men. What makes these wood-crafted items unique is that they are made from recycled timber, a testament to Man Cave Creative’s commitment towards sustainability.
ISB: How did your interest in creating wooden handicrafts come about?
BA: We are blessed in the Northern Rivers NSW to have an abundance of beautiful timber and we already had the equipment for my wife’s business, so the two naturally merged together. Being able to create completely unique pieces, that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world, whilst also benefiting the environment, it something that inspires me every single day.
ISB: What motivated you to build a business around this passion for handcrafted products?
BA: My wife already had a laser-cutting business, Rainbow Earthlings, specialising in products for children, pregnancy announcements and families etc, but I had always been disappointed with the options available for male gifts, so was determined to create my own brand, mixing personalised designs with cost-effective products.
ISB: Why did you go with recycled timber as the material of choice for your products?
BA: In a world where plastic and disposable gifts are everywhere, it was important for me to consider the environment and the natural beauty that comes with the products. Knowing that every piece has a unique grain, shape, weight, colour and story genuinely fascinates me and gives me great pride knowing that it simply cannot be repeated.
ISB: How has giving potential customers access to your products through platforms such as mancavecreative.com.au and Etsy contributed to the growth of the business?
BA: Being accessible to customers on both our website and Etsy has allowed us to become much more than just a local business. Customers throughout the country, and even the world, are able to view what we do and make purchases, which is crazy to think that our unique pieces of timber can now be found in the US, Mexico, Canada, the UK and throughout Europe. It gives us the opportunity to compete on the same stage as some of the largest gift suppliers in the country, whilst still offering that friendly, personalised and individual service that comes with all great small businesses. Combined with social media, there are now so many ways in which small businesses can get themselves known, often with very little upfront investment required. With customers, more than ever before, happy to pay that bit extra for something unique and handmade by a small business, there really is an incredible opportunity for the industry to flourish.
ISB: How do you envision Man Cave Creative’s growth in the next couple of years?
BA: 2023 has been a huge year of growth for Man Cave Creative. We have gone from a hobby business to something that is now self-sustainable and developing a strong reputation for quality and affordability. Fast forward twelve months and we have plans to move into our own purpose-built workshop, allowing us to significantly scale the business and offer a wider range of unique products. Beyond that, who knows?
ISB: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned in your business journey that a would-be entrepreneur should take to heart?
BA: In the early days, it is hard work with plenty of long days and nights, but perseverance is key. When it starts to feel like everything is overwhelming and too much, keep pushing as you will be closer to that breakthrough than you realise. To quote the great PT Barnum “comfort is the enemy of progress”.
