A covid hobby turned into a side hustle, turned into a business. Wilkinson Custom Woodworking has become a passion for Derek Wilkinson. Creator and maker of all the pieces sold, Derek loves spending time in the workshop putting things together and coming up with new ideas. Derek has been a gas fitter by trade for many years, and when COVID hit he stayed home with the 2 kids while Kal went to work on the front lines as a nurse. Deciding he needed to try something new, he started making gifts for family members. Once he realized that people loved his creations and that he loved making them, he started trying new things. Soon enough the tools took up most of the space in the basement.

In the spring of 2021, Derek and Kal purchased their first home, and Derek began working away at getting the fixer-upper ready for the now family of 5! Yes, another kid had entered the mix! Derek put the woodworking on hold to renovate the home in time for everyone to move in. New kitchen, flooring throughout and even an extra bathroom.

Flash forward to Spring 2022, and Derek left his job as a gas fitter and began working with a friend doing home Renos as a full-time gig. This move also allowed him to spend more time on woodworking. At this point, Kal joined forces and took over social media and all things public. In May, the business had its first sale from someone not in the family! Father’s Day BBQ scrapers were a hit!!

Over the summer and into the fall, the focus was on selling through social media such as Facebook and Instagram. November brought with it craft shows. Derek and Kal were selling to people face-to-face for the first time!!

We hope to be able to continue with online sales through social media and our website, but also be in person at craft shows and markets. We can’t wait to see what 2023 has to offer, and can’t wait to take you all with us.