WM Craftworks
Los Angeles, California
Tell us a little bit about who you are and what you do:
Nobu and Yuko: WM Craftworks
Yuko and Nobu started this enterprise just over 6 years ago. Our mission was to create unique handcrafted originals at an affordable price point. We would like everybody to enjoy the beauty and elegance of handmade things in their homes or personal spaces. Yuko and Nobu’s work grew out of an organic, whimsical aesthetic that is very much grounded in functionality. We strive to make things that are as beautiful to look at, as they are functional in everyday life.
Let us know more about your business name - how did you come up with it?
The name WM Craftworks grows out W, the first letter of Nobu’s last name and M the first letter of Yuko’s last name. We make crafts, and we love the work . . . hence WM Craftworks.
What is your signature style / item? How did it become so?
Perhaps our signature style is best represented in the traditional Japanese aesthetic known as wabi-sabi or an acceptance of transience and imperfection. At WM Craftworks we acknowledge and celebrate the unique little idiosyncrasies of truly handcrafted items.
What makes your business unique to the industry?
What make us unique to the industry is what makes all artists unique, our aesthetic style. Heavily influenced by our Japanese heritage, without taking ourselves too seriously our mission is keep our craft fun and accessible. Appealing to a wide range of design motifs, our pieces will fit in with modern, mid- century or very traditional decor
What's been your biggest roadblock when it comes to business and how have you been able to overcome?
Our biggest roadblock has been figuring out how to get our merchandise onto our website. Each and everything we make and sell is an individual unique thing. No two coffee mugs are exactly the same. We have watched customers spend 15 or 20 minutes deciding between two mugs that are similar but not identical. So our struggle is how to accurately convey the unique aspect of each item without trying to create a separate listing for every coffee cup, bowl our cutting board.
How has your business had to adapt amidst the Covid-19 Pandemic? What are you doing to navigate the situation?
The advent of the covid-19 pandemic has been crippling to our business. With social distancing and shelter in place/stay at home orders, there have been no public craft events. We have been lucky that people have been reaching out to us to fulfill custom orders (some have been pretty big in scope). We have been doing our best to capitalize on these requests and use them to launch other such opportunities. We have also been using this time to focus on figuring out our website to make it more user friendly.
Photo Courtesy of Yuko Makuuchi
What is your favorite part of what you do?
We love meeting people when we’re at craft events. Perhaps the most satisfying part of it all is when someone wants us to make a custom piece, but they can’t quite put into words what it is they want. Working that person to actualize their vision is such a great joy.
What is your *must do* local activity?
Nobu likes to go to the Weingart Aquatic Center to swim a couple of miles 3 times a week. But the pool has been closed due to covid-19 so he's losing his mind. Other than that we like to hear music at the LA Philharmonic and the Hollywood Bowl. But that too has been close.
Where to find WM Craftworks:
Online: http://www.wmcraftworks.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wmcraftworks