New Year Sale, New Tool Fail?

Craftsman, the long-standing tradition of the tool world, was sold to Stanley Black & Decker for 900 million dollars. Somehow, this amount seems smaller than I would have thought, but then again, I am not up to speed on the tool brand values today.

What is in question is the lifetime warranty that was given to all Craftsman tools. Apparently, this warranty has been tested by the consumer in perhaps not-so-honest ways. Turns out people were out looking for Craftsman tools in the world, whether in the trash can or at a garage sale, and returning them for new tools. In some cases maybe even reselling those shiny new tools for cash! I have to say, having a product in the market that resembles cash is pretty impressive. Craftsman obviously upheld the reputation and warranty of its product.

Now with a change of ownership, leadership, and most likely market strategy, how will this warranty hold up? It has already been modified in 2014 to force a return to same store it was bought in, and as we know, nothing is forever, right? What will be right for the Craftsman brand will be to elevate itself from the outdated shelves of Sears, reinvent itself for the market as a stand alone brand, and build trust back with a consumer that is aging out of the market, but still tinkering. For Craftsman, a more difficult task will be reaching the newer, younger consumer that most likely doesn't know a box end from a crowfoot, nor do they work on their car as we once did or build a mini-bike from parts at the junkyard.

Craftsman can do well to stay clear of Stanley B&D on the shelf, too. Should it become diluted as those brands have, they may have a problem. Craftsman must look to differentiate itself from those competing mass market brands, which the warranty often did, but now is in question. Since you still can't find top-shelf tool brands like Snap-On or Matco on a store shelf, Craftsman should be able to find a position above big box house brand darlings Kobalt and Husky fairly easily, and split the sales channels into a hybrid somewhere between hardware store and tool truck.

Have to admit, I am a bit sad to see this news. I have always owned Craftsman tools. They are, or were, a symbol of DIY homeowner value and efficiency, and a well-stocked garage of Craftsman was admired. Today, in a our 'just go to Harbor Freight' disposable lifestyles, we do not value these items near as much, nor do we learn to use them as well as previous generations. A true 'craftsman' is almost a rarity, although the 'maker' movement is spawning thousands of newly invigorated folks looking to earn their badge.

Starting the year off, I have to be optimistic that this new deal will return Craftsman to what it once was, and restore the brand to respectability that it once held. Or, will it be another victim of shareholder value?

We Quit Maker's Row...

Today I made a painful decision. I canceled LUSB's subscription based service to Maker's Row. In the beginning of this often admired platform, I was a fan. I believed it would be a wonderful bridge between brands, makers, and manufacturers to explore each other and build strong partnerships. While I am sure this occurs through Maker's, we have decided that the platform does not meet the needs of our customers. If you are wondering why we are no longer hanging out there, the reason is simple - We can work with you directly, without a filter, and with greater clarity. We'll rebuild our site soon to allow for similar interaction.

Moving On

I didn't write since June. I just had little to say, both professionally and personally. While this is a 'company' site, it is at the core still an extension of me... sometimes...

I am motivated by political rhetoric, so this week was like a shot in the arm. While I will refrain from opinion, I will comment on the hangover and the reaction that has so far been disgraceful. Both sides are arrogant, selfish, and anything but open minded. I am saddened to watch people, children even, attacked for their beliefs in either direction. I am saddened that an amazingly clear, transparent, and relatively free of fraud election concludes, and that is a symbol of what the free world can be, is marred by violence and immature hatred. We display open elections that for the most part, almost anyone of age can participate in. We still see less than desirable numbers at the polls, but a fervent and determined statistical group of folks make their best effort to determine the outcome. Sometimes, we lose the fight we fought. Sometimes, we win that fight. Either way, I always walk away from an election feeling a sense of pride that we CAN hold such an election. Can you imagine if you lived in a country where this wasn't the case? I mean, don't you kind of take this for granted? You do. I do, too. But every four years I appreciate it once again, then that passionate feeling fades over time until the next election arises and I can revisit such a passion.

What happens next? Transition, for everyone. Anxiety. Fear. All normal and expected, however I suppose some handle all of that emotion better than others. Be patient and remember that you just experienced something that some in this world will never experience, an open election of their leaders.

Absence, again...

Well, I took a long while to collect my thoughts here.

Over the last few months, various projects have swung through the office and left an impression on us all. Of particular note, some new product launches and few missteps on our part. Here's some of the skinny on both topics:

A new series of products has arisen supporting the overland market. For those not familiar, we might describe these enthusiasts as eager outdoor folks that can blaze their own trail and do not need a campsite to spend a night in the woods. A well equipped 4x4 and provisions for an extended period of time allow these adventure-minded humans to live outside the norm of conventional woodsy exploration. We were unable to launch at the NW Overland Rally this weekend in Plain, WA, but we will launch this fall for sure.

We choked on finishing our packaging this weekend for the BluefigU Learn to Sew Kits. Best laid plans fell flat with just a bit too aggressive launch date. For now the old packaging will have to do. But we did get the UL CPSIA testing approved for sale!

Those famous Pelican and Storm cases (hard, plastic, durable) snap-lock sealed cases are awesome, but they sure are expensive. This fall we will have many popular sizes available in semi-rigid fabric cases made of 1000d Cordura Nylon. Look for those on our site.

Saw our friends at Adventure Wagon in Tualatin launch their awesome Sprinter van conversions. These vans are awesome and will be showcased at the Mercedes dealer in Seattle soon. www.adventurewagon.com

Spring Moss & Fruit Flies & Products Anew

Somehow, some way, moss grows on my driveway. Each year I pressure wash this greenish layer of slippery slideyness away and coat the concrete with some measured amount of liquid detergent that won't harm anything it touches but somehow keeps moss away? Is that in essence damaging something in the environment? Well, whatever, I do it each year with a hope of getting it to last for more than 6 months. I am let down each and every year. Tomorrow morning I will make my pilgrimage to the front stoop to survey the extent of the creeping low-lying flora that I must battle. Armed with my trusty Briggs & Stratton 4.5hp pressure washer and some slickers below the belt, I will undertake 3 hours of soggy sabotage of the green mile, working the wand in routine movement to leave a clean and fresh pattern for the coming seasonal changes...

As the moss finds it's moving truck arriving tomorrow, we will no doubt soon see those pesky tourists known as the fruit fly moving in. When I lived in California I do not remember the influx of this micro-winged flying element of extreme irritant. The fruit fly has yet to show me a redeeming quality. Not once have I seen one knock at my door politely to come in. No, they hitch hike into my world on the back of some dying fruit I recently purchased at the farmer's market in town. The master of avoiding capture and death, these little tiny vermin know just how to push my buttons and send me into a tailspin. I have prematurely begun covering the fruit in the house. I am vigilant in making sure no standing water resides outside. I citrus wash the drains. I may have even placed some vinegar traps out. It is war, I declare...

Both of these circumstances give good reason to put your thinking caps on. What device or product would make both of these issues less daunting? How could we create something to remedy such trials? Necessity is the mother of invention, indeed. This is why we create and develop and build and repeat until we get it right. It is the American dream, sort of, to be able to devise such utility that can relieve and destress our daily lives, and bring these creations to market and share with success...

Academy Awards and College Tuition

I seldom see a new movie. This year, however, I saw 3 movies as they came out in theaters - Star Wars, Mad Max, and I think Star Wars again. So ,technically, I only saw two. Since both of those movies may only win for effects or costumes, I will once again refrain from viewership and hold fast to my streak of probably 10 years of not watching. Funny thing is I love movies, I just don't get around to seeing them that often unless my kids drag me to one. Speaking of kids...

It is college tour season with my son. He graduates in a few months and will be off to his next academic adventure. This weekend we saw Gonzaga University in Spokane. Seemed like a great school and environment. He has some hard choices ahead of him... And I have to find hidden treasure under a rock somewhere. I can see why folks think Bernie's free college sounds good, and I cannot argue that access to education should not have to compromise one's future as it is intended to better secure it.

When the older boy is a senior in college the younger will be a freshman. Double the expense. Double the trips back and forth. Double it all. Double the FAFSA headaches. Oh, and can I say whoever created the FAFSA calculator was from another planet? Basically, if you have a middle class job, you better get a second middle class job to pay for your children's college, or allow them to bear the responsibility entirely. It might also help to 1. Search for hidden treasure; frequently 2. Have a ginormous bake sale; 3. Win Powerball.

A Collision of Culture

I had a wonderful chat today with a colleague that works in the product development world. We were chatting about culture and how the US can be somewhat obstinate and bullish in approach to foreign markets in many ways. How we work with, within, and with whom in a foreign country should be a lesson in learning about the foreign culture, and less about how we tend to wish to impose our will on it. While we tend to have honest & good intentions, we can sometimes overstep our welcome and come to find frustration in the process. As a result, we may walk away angry at a culture that we could not change to our liking, therefore finding fault in the culture we sought to have assist us.

Case in point - China. I have now been moderately invested in working with Chinese factories for almost 20 years. Each factory has their apparent working model, but few are aligned with the western ideals we work within daily. Our standards, impressions, and intentions are different. Not wrong for either culture, just different. We tend to see things differently and therefore perform differently, and of course have different expectations overall.

The resounding theme here is 'different.' I repeat, that does not mean one or the other is wrong! It simply means that in order to work together in some display of harmony, we must learn to recognize, and respect, our differences. Experience allows us this luxury and wisdom, however, so many of us, including myself, begin the process attempting to force our will upon others and end up disappointed with the result. Ultimately, we have to look long and hard within ourselves to ask the tough questions - Did I truly research what to expect? Was I thoughtful and deliberate in my approach and preparation? Could (or will) I do more to make the experience better for both? How will I learn and manage the relationship to work for both parties?

Working in a foreign country can be taxing and difficult. It is a wonderful opportunity for personal and professional growth that should not be underestimated. There is tremendous value in successfully navigating the global market, and for most, a rewarding experience is often the end result, if you are willing to do the hard work and be patient with the process.

Garage Sale

We just moved, again... Another grueling company relocation to a simpler, more efficient warehouse in Vancouver, WA. In the new facility we are practicing LEAN principles daily. We are working towards eliminating waste daily and have made good strides already, but barely scratching the surface overall. Time to learn patience, right?!

Something new I am reading is a book about tidying up. Every day now I look at 3 items to remove that are not immediately necessary to my daily function, or do not bring me joy. So far I am over 30 items removed. Every day something new tries to replace them, however...

In a few weeks will will hold Vancouver's largest garage sale - A 3 day event geared towards clearing out the closets of LUSB. On sale will be loads of new and good-as-new merchandise, including hunting gear, outdoor and recreational bags and accessories, sewing and quilting carry cases, and many other items for use in the field, farm, or with family. As the date is confirmed I will update it here!

Bluefig U

I was fortunate enough to take my boys snowboarding recently on Mt. Hood. As a teen and into early adulthood, I rode often and enjoyed it, however, I found the expense and accessibility became more difficult as the kids were born and a house was bought, etc, etc... Now, I have rekindled the thrill and hope my boys will do the same. As they took lessons to capture the basics of this sport, I watched from the base of the hill and saw them quickly respond, and within an hour, they were heading down the hill, albeit tentatively at first. I made a point of keeping my opinions, instruction, and advice out of the conversation to start. I figured it best if it came from a foreign voice, perhaps one that seemed to be more connected with the sport. It was the right call. Kurt the instructor was ripe for teaching the two teens.

Which brings me to Bluefig U. This new concept in our Bluefig line sets kids, and adults, or whoever, on a course to learn to sew using simple and straightforward patterns pre-cut by Bluefig. While the items are meant to be simplistic in nature and probably not considered high fashion, one can take the product through easy steps to success. The good news is that most can do these their own, not needing a lot of oversight by a meddling parent. Better yet, have an experienced sewing educator take the reigns and drive the student to success! Nothing better than finishing positive with positive reinforcement.

Check out Bluefig U here:

http://www.bluefig.net/Learn-to-Sew-Kits_c_18.html

Musings on Iowa

The Raucous Caucus, otherwise known as Iowa in February during an election year, came and went with controversy and an up-ended Trump. Who would have thought the Bernie Sanders could pull tight to FLOTUS Clinton? Crazy times in politics. Crazier is the fact that delegates were decided by coin flips. In all serious, though, should we really make these decisions on coin flips? I find that one hard to swallow.

I think this guy said it best:

Funny Stuff, and a mockery well deserved of a silly methodology for voting in my opinion. Anyway, thank you to the State of Corn for providing me some fun on a Monday night in February. 

I do, however, wish to state that the video of Bernie/Hillary campaign folks squabbling over vote tallies leaves a lot of questions at hand. Down right ridiculous.

As for Trump's trumping, he still came in 2nd (not winning) and will be immediately fired from his own road show, replaced by a new and improved coiffed Trumpadour slinging zingers at Ted Munster  and Little Red Rubio. Can't wait not to vote for any of these clowns. The circus is full, sorry...

Cleaning Up 2015

When the year began, we pressed hard at a new directive focused on eliminating wasteful projects that took us away from our core business. It was painful for us, in particular, me. I have a lot of visions in my head (some sane, some not) as to all the different things we COULD do, but perhaps maybe we should not because it becomes a distraction, and all projects suffer from a lack of attention.

When I look back on it, it was the right thing to do, but I have a parking lot stalled with ideas at some point I wish to pursue. Most likely I will not get to them, but I can say that keeping focused has been the best choice we could have made. Our company is healthier than ever, growing, and looking to keep on task for 2016. 2015 was a year of janitorial efforts, and we are happy to see it close on a good note. Bring on 2016!

Thank You Columbian!

A nice article on LUSB and the industry as a whole. So much more to discuss as the maker movement and craft skills become cool again!

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/dec/13/local-products-in-the-bag/

Special thanks to Lily Raff MacCaulou. Also, please read her book found here on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Call-Mild-Learning-Hunt-Dinner/dp/1455500747

A special journey penned in a sincere voice...

-Will

Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, we are thankful for our health and happiness at LUSB. Special thanks to our staff who make every day great for us...

Of Elephants and Donkeys

I love politics. Every four years we are treated to bloviated debates, rabid accusatory and defaming attacks, media sensationalism, and a generally growing distrust of the process for which we participate in a Presidential election. Oh the humanity! Or lack thereof...

I am no longer affiliated with either the jackass or the elephant. I will no longer subscribe to blatant attempts of alienating each other's views and opinions. I observe value in each party, with ideals that can resonate, and I believe do reside, within each person in the United States. I see value in helping others, and I see value in fiscal conservation. I see value in treating Earth responsibly, and allowing commerce to drive innovation and growth. I see balance where all I am told is there cannot be. Either party is unwilling unless it is all, or nothing. Have we, as a people, allowed divisive tactics to control us? Have we become so lazy as to not think for ourselves and accept a party's line as true and final? How did we get here? The chasm is widening, fast.

I was recently listening to Michael Smerconish, a refreshingly objective voice in talk radio. "Really? That exists?," you ask? Yes - And I wonder if he can survive. I turn the radio on each morning to listen to him. I hope he is still there - Still able to draw advertisers to sponsor his time slot on SiriusXM. (Mad thanks to Steven Singer) I am excited to hear his next guest and the remarkably kind and thoughtful presentation he puts forward. I am indeed restored of hope that we, as a people, can once again have civil discussion without discord, even in disagreement. I was hoping he would run for President, then I realized, no man with as discerning an intellect would choose such a path. But I would vote for him. Because he is real and not a fabrication of ego and celebratory pageantry. He is not a rollover accident we can't keep our eyes off of, nor a wart on the nose of the person in front of us. But apparently, that is not what is required to be a good President of the United States of America. No, what is needed is controversy, damning evidence, illogically designed statements of policy, parasitically crafted PR capitalizing on the short term memory loss of our populous. But we need a leader of reason, not treason. We need a leader to stand for all Americans, knowing not all will be satisfied 100% of the time, but for that leader to allow voices of opposition and dissent to also be heard when their agenda cannot be readily adopted in full. We require compassion and understanding, strong will and diligent study, and most of all, a leader who will truly lead rather than follow a party line. Mr. Smerconish will most likely never run for office, but he represents what I believe most of us are looking for. I go to bed tonight with hope, yet.

Whatever your affiliation, I implore you to take time away from shallow political rants on Facebook featuring the latest subjectively articulated meme persuading you to nod in agreement. I beg of you to think through the challenges we face on your own, and while we can and will elect our next leader to drive the bus forward, we individually should be responsible for crafting our own opinions into our policy agenda. We, as a people, have driven so far away from civility and reason I often wonder if we can find our way home? There appears to be a vanishing point off in the distance to the current cycle, but maybe we can right ourselves and find the common ground of understanding with each other that makes sense for all.

www.smerconish.com

Why Those Big Carrots Are Often Rotten...

Recently (last year) I engaged in a discussion with a client about their desire to sell to a large retail chain. We had a spirited debate and calculated the impact a year's worth of sales might have on their business. After some chalkboard math and rampant skewed assumptions, we determined that the company would grow revenue 300% year-over-year and carry a net operating profit forward on that line of sales of roughly 4%. The volume, no question, was impressive. The effort, and the qualifications to make it happen, were dramatically more intense than what the client envisioned. Fast forward 1 year and the client has abandoned the large retail chain. Why? It was simply too much for them to handle as a small company. The NOP they targeted at 4% was actually 1.5% and the volume they hoped for was 40% of projected. Overall, their business did grow revenue, however, it cost them plenty elsewhere. What happened?

The first thing the client admitted to was that they were not adequately staffed to support the sales. Staff were scrambling to accommodate additional work but were buried in regulatory requirements that they were unfamiliar with and had to learn, as well as left their existing duties on simmer with an occasional stir. Staff were overwhelmed, and a rapid hiring process delivered unqualified folks that did not represent the culture or values the company had built itself on.

Client saw existing business suffering a loss in sales, and inventory positions were damaged greatly. As this remarkable opportunity began to unfold, internally they began to implode. Sales teams were not meeting goals elsewhere as they had no product to ship, and the large volume retailer spawned a backlash from existing clients as they now had to compete on an even greater level of price slashes and inventory position. Overall, the company was struggling to maintain both business segments simultaneously. This also created a division, and resentment, by the sales staff working on legacy clients vs. those on the mass market side.

Cash was swallowed up by the demand for inventory by the retailer. All the investment dollars the company had squirreled away quickly evaporated into low margin sales and drove the business into an anemic cash mode. Payroll was difficult to meet, and A/P began to drag out, creating issues with vendors and damaging their otherwise stellar reputation.

So all of this sounds really crappy, right? What seemed so great turned into a gold plated turd overnight, and the company licked it's wounds for a few months before recovering enough to be able to regain the trust of their existing market. Yes, it did not turn out the way they hoped, however, it did have a silver lining. Within a few months of launching the ill-fated campaign the company received interest from a competitor in selling their market share to them. The competitor feared that this new mass market strategy would kill their business, and rather than fight it, they opened conversations on merging their business into the other for very agreeable terms. It also attracted an investment partner. This was great, but not the best part of the story. Through the process and difficulties uprising from this endeavor, they recommitted themselves to the principles that made them great in the first place. They circled back to innovation in market vs. revenue, and as a result doubled their head count and grew sales 4x. It a took a planned departure from their original strategy to solidify their focus, but they were better for it in the end.

The moral of the story is that if you want to swim in the ocean with the big fish, you better have a safe escape plan. Be prepared, know when to cut bait, and make sure to remember where you came from.

The Maker Profile by Wallace MacGregor

"The Maker. Our newest fascination with a leather clad bearded hipster wallet making craftopian. After liberal arts college dropout Micah traveled through Costa Rica on a gluten free expedition, he spent a few weeks on his cousin Brenda's couch in PDX researching airport carpets and the affects on travelers of sub-saharan African heritage. Micah said it was important work and he was being commissioned by grant monies generated from a government research fund for sons of left-handed longshoreman. Micah had a drive to craft the best wallet known to man. He sought sustainable materials and holistic sewing contractors and vegan-only designers and publicly decreed it so. He built tri-folds and bi-folds and upside down folds and a line for women, too. He branded it perfectly flawed and set out to PR the world to its knees and succeeded. Micah had built an elaborate structure of subs and contractors and held a few well-paid in quinoa and kale chip employees that were fiercely loyal and would fight Donald Trump's hair at the drop of a hat. Micah revered the sewing needle and would spew forth repugnant core-bonded thread knowledge at his later-night tapas parties with craft cocktails served in mason jars and stirred with a hatchet recently stained with sap from a doug fir. His friends were engrossed in Micah's splendor and the local magazines lust for more Micah, even so far as to censor Bernie Sanders' latest speech to a paragraph of obscurity. The beat lived on for 3 years of snowballing leather dust and a pop-up shop fell from the sky to turn into a retail phenomenon on the Alberta corridor where the line-ups for frozen dairy began to look like a crowd at a passé sporting event. All this next to Micah where his Honduran grown cotton fair trade sans child labor crew neck ($69) hung vibrantly from vintage rusted pipes repurposed from the school where his mom's cousin's uncle Jim went to school. Every turn told a story of triumph and the message became more than the product and soon a new Micah appeared with fairer trade cotton from a land where Nat Geo might have written about and it became too hip not to be bearded and so Micah sold out to his employees in what was known as the right thing to do always."

-Wallace MacGregor, 2015

The Trouble With Dogs

Dogs are so perfect in so many ways. I love them. I never did as a child. I do now, though. I love my dog and I know he loves me. He's the first to greet me and the last to leave my side. He's special and caring and loving and awesome. The trouble with him is that he is sick. He has cancer. Not anything curable, either. Best I can do is wait it out and love that little guy with all my heart. The trouble with dogs is that we grow so attached and it is hard to let go. The trouble with dogs is that they are family. The trouble with dogs is that they just don't stick around long enough. Love you Chance. Hope that rainbow bridge doesn't come too soon...

A Return to Thought

Over 2 months since I posted anything. Whoops! Got busy. School is about to begin for the kids and some of my friends are sending theirs away to college. So great to see all the new beginnings and chapters closed and others opened. If there is one thing I might do again it would be to explore a bit more when I was younger. See more of the world. I have been fortunate to see a small section of foreign lands, however small, yet I have learned so much from such a small sampling overall. Each new surrounding is a fantastic opportunity for growth. My kids haven't seen a lot yet. I am worried sometimes they will grow up myopic by default and not learn to see how different each culture, each region, and each society are. There are dark places everywhere, and from seeing those we learn to appreciate the luxuries we engage in here in the US. How easy it is to start a business here - Not easy to succeed but easy to at least originate and start. Then again, if I were in inner Detroit 5 years ago, I might suggest otherwise. We do not always appreciate these things here in the US and take them for granted. I believe it is in our nature to become complacent, comfortable, take the easy path. Go somewhere different that is stark in contrast and perhaps a lesson, one that will stay with you, is inherent in the visit. I will take my kids to that place where they can learn that lesson. It is what I need to do, at least for my sake. This hot, dry, arid summer is turning our skies into smoke filled hazes that filter the view in way that looks like aging science class movies I remember as a kid. The lack of water in the west has forced me to think different again. Seems the comfort is lessening and the urgency great. I might suggest we all reexamine our surroundings and assess what is important. Never know when uncertainty might strike. Same goes for business. What's your disaster plan? Do you have one? Do you need one? Do you care about one?

Stress Is My Normal

So for this post, it goes without saying, stress has become a normal for too many of us. We are worried about money, careers, our kids, their kids, our parents, our pets, our clients, our bosses, our employees, and any host of other people or things that seem to weave within the fabric of our lives. Stress is our new normal. We wear it like a badge of honor. We embrace it and protect it and promote it until it is a dependent child with a short leash. We become addicted to it, and it becomes us. Three things I find to deflect the stressful stress: 1. Music. Either I play it on my guitar or I listen to it. It is an almost instant release. A must to defeat the disease of stress. 2. Exercise. I have always been relieved of this demon with a good run, long walk, or other form of exercise. Simple, effective, and always a rewarding endeavor. 3. Fishing. Yes, I know, this sounds more like evading the issue, but there is always something therapeutic in the art of fishing for me. Your activity may be knitting, drawing, or something else, but if it is a passion it will prevail and return your emotional self to balance. We can all use to eliminate some stress. Find your buttons and push them, and get to living healthier, stress-less lives.

Makers & Artisans Explode, So How About We Teach Our Youth?

It's all the rage. DIY in-house tinkering and crafting and building and making. We are, at our most primitive, innovators as humans. We find ways to improve our quality of life as often as we can or need to our of necessity. So it should come as no surprise we have identified this skill set as a proposed profession as well. While, I admit, the two are not necessarily an apples-to-apples match, they are both born out of our curiosity, will, and desire to live better. The 'Maker' movement, the 'Artisan' movement, etc. are the new terms we use for an always developing group of individuals, etc. that are spawning nationwide, and worldwide for that matter, dedicated to learning, practicing, and perfecting a craft. Every day as I walk downtown, read the paper (yes, I am old school,) or see a tweet regarding a new Maker or Artisan or Crafty-person I am reminded that we are, at the essence of our being, people that love to explore new horizons. I sincerely wish our educational system were supportive of this, rather than the K-12 institutional complex of standardized testing and trail leading to nausea-inducing Scantrons filled with #2 pencil rectangular shapes. I believe we should develop each Maker from childhood, giving each of us an introduction to our own hands-on abilities and creative instincts. This does not mean we create a society of small batch artisan crafty heads - it means we allow some instinctual capabilities to resonate internally, and somewhere along the way each child develops their own identity with what they are comfortable with, and allow them to excel if that is a path they feel good about. Why do we not teach arts and crafts? Why do we focus on STEM? Ingenuity and innovation are not limited to scientific applications, rather, I would argue they are uniquely attached to each other in advancing one another, both in the equipment and the mindset. Perhaps, this newly named movement will refocus our educational efforts and realize the value in continuing arts, trades, and skilled craftsman that may or may not need an educational path through traditional 4 year institutions. Where are the apprenticeship programs that are available to all? They rarely exist today, and that is a shame. Time to shift the mentality in this country and get away from such narrowly focused attention to mandated testing criteria.