Mission
Everything in life is about Growth to me. Growth is Life. At the end of the day, my mission is to serve the world however I was designed to. Whether that’s designated for me or up to me to define - I believe it’s both - I know I’m here to help others grow and follow their curiosities. Starting my own business was a seed of strategic un-comfortability that has brought a spark of joy back to my life that I didn’t know I was missing. As an over-thinker and an over-planner, all of my comfort in life comes from predictability. This holds me back from being happy more often than I like to admit. I hope to inspire people towards taking their next step towards self discovery and growth by sharing my story and the honest reflections on my struggles.
About Me
Woodworking is where I can physically express my creativity. I love working with wood as a material, as it is a “living” material even after the tree is long gone. Woodworking combines my engineering and technical background with a passion for creation. Whether you use my product for cooking with the family, to enjoy a deep discussion near or to play a game with an intentionally designed piece, or just to admire the art for the labor of love that it is, I cherish being part of owning something that holds much sentimental value.
I challenge myself constantly. In creative ways - often causing more discomfort than me or my wife can handle at the time, but we make it work. The more we challenge ourselves, the more opportunities we have to evaluate how getting closer to what we want makes us happier or not. I like thinking about this. I like thinking about a lot of things. I prefer to move past the superficial and forge deeper connections around what we like and dislike as well as how we are the same and how we are different - knowing relationships blossom in that space with proper trust. I like to dream big, by myself or help others dream bigger. To my own detriment I typically prioritize preparedness over enjoying myself fully. However, my beginner’s mindset mixed with the patience of a rock, I always eventually get through my self-created hardships sewn by my relenting desire for change and courageous ambition.
I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had in life that have led me to starting my own business, but know I am not alone in having the following thought: it is impossible to create the life I want in today’s world. I hope to challenge that idea, and encourage others to challenge it as well. We’re all here to help one another, and I’m working to lean into that as hard as I can by living out my values. How are today’s events happening FOR me rather than TO me? How can I help? What do people need more of than I can offer? Answering those questions is what keeps me going. If these are concepts that resonate, come be a part of my journey by following me on Instagram. Tell me what you are passionate about.
Bossman’s Boutique
The business started with a table saw in a one-and-a-half car garage and a cutting board I made for my wife. I decided to post it on social media where people apparently liked what they saw because they started asking me for one of their own. One sale and another led to a new tool and another, and another, and another until I had to kindly ask if my wife to park outside. As you can see, she is very supportive and I couldn’t do any of this without her. Thank you, Paige, sincerely.
Today she’s back in the garage and my equipment lives in a shared studio with six other artists, three fellow woodworkers, in Northeast Minneapolis’ Casket Arts Carriage House Building. My goal with the practical side of my business is to blend beauty with function in ways you can’t help but wonder over. I hope the products I build convey a deep intentionality while displaying an intimidating degree of effort. A functional item should be beautiful if it encourages you to use it more often, and IS more beautiful if it adds intention to what you would do already anyway. All this to say, Bossman’s Boutique is a great place to shop if you’re looking for artful craftsmanship that comes from someone who will make your ideas heard, and grow them into something you didn’t dare dream for yourself.
Bossman’s Boutique is the vehicle towards my mission and growth, as well as a vehicle towards building community. I hope we can share what we are passionate about, share in helping one another, and point those we can’t help in the right direction.
Meet Our Team
Meet Bryan
Bryan is the artist behind Bossman’s Boutique. It all started with a middle school shop class, an entry into the Minnesota State Fair, and purple ribbon to commemorate a newfound love of all things wood. Since then Bryan has always known that someday he would retire from his engineering career and run a hobby shop to keep him busy - what he hasn’t always known is that his charming wife, Paige, and their adorable cat would expedite his plans.
Bryan has always been fascinated with designing and building things. Whether it be Lego, drawings, SIMS or shop class, young Bryan was always creating something. That energy naturally transferred to his late engineering career where he primarily worked in design and tool manufacturing, as well as a small stint managing a business unit. Now he brings that experience into his woodworking where he loves the design as well as the entrepreneurial spirit of growing a business. In his free time he loves reading fantasy novels, telling dad jokes, drinking hoppy beers, has a love-hate relationship with CrossFit, and travels with his wife as often as possible to see the world and go on spectacular hiking trips. Bossman’s Boutique combines his aptitude for design with his love for nature.
Meet Paige
Paige is the marketing brain behind, or in front of, the artist. She is a planner. When Bryan thought someday for his passion of woodworking, she thought now. When she is not auditing Bryan’s social media posts, she is planning vacations by the hour, helping young folks at her non-profit job and being voted 30 under 30 by her nation-wide company, watching her favorite tv shows, taking pictures of Bossman, playing Aussie Rules Football (National level athlete here), or going on some of those spectacular hikes with Bryan.
Meet Bossman
Bossman (aka Tyrion) is a founding member of Bossman's Boutique. He earned his nickname due to his swagger and attitude. He runs the household! When he's not modeling for the business, his favorite hobbies are sunbathing, snoozing, snacking on cheese and avoiding his annoying colleague, Denver.
Meet Denver
Denver is the newest addition to the Bossman's Boutique family. He is an outside hire rescued from Kentucky and brings a valuable perspective to the team culture - reminding us to always live for the moment. His favorite hobbies include digging, sniffing, fetching and hanging with his favorite colleague, Bossman.
