This is 3Bits & Change, an email about building a service and retail business. This one was written to the silence of my airpods.
We recently had the chance to host Mareko Maumasi at the shop for a Meet the Maker event after a day of forging at Patterson Forge. Mareko was in town for a fundraiser for a non-profit Help The House. In reflection, here are three takeaways.
//no.1 - Craftspersons Craft
When you watch a craftsperson of well developed skill at work, each movement speaks. There is flow and intention and connection to the work. Check the video above!
These movements are comfortable, well paced and absolutely not present with those under practiced in the craft.
//no.2 - Transform Mistakes into Meaningful Lessons
You’re going to make them. When they happen, transform them. Make them work for you.
You can go as far as to intend to make the mistakes. This would be to push the process too far - to break things. You’ll find the limits of the materials… and the process… and you can dial back from those limits and operate with more confidence.
And then share the lessons. In the photo above Mareko is sharing a forging process with local makers.
//no.3 - Reduce Friction
Reducing friction for customers is about anticipating potential barriers and removing them before the customer experiences them. It’s real good for business.
Mareko is aiming to reduce cut friction. This is a whole series of decisions that make knives easier to use. He’s doing that with grind patterns, materials, shapes and more. And he’s winning. Customers love it.
We’re aiming to reduce sharpening friction for customers by shipping kits ordered online, starting a store, putting the store in a densely populated high-end retail area area, educating via approachable classes, stocking knives from around the world, bringing a sharpening truck online and inventing Sharpow kits - shipping kits for sharpening purchased at retailers like grocery stores and more.
It’s all in the pursuit of easier, for the customer… reduce friction.
Sum
Hosting Mareko was a reminder that mastery isn’t an accident. Rather, it’s built through years of refinement, a willingness to learn from mistakes, and a relentless focus on removing what gets in the way of work. Whether it’s a knife that glides effortlessly through food or a sharpening service that meets customers where they are, the principle is the same: make it better, make it easier, make it matter.
Here’s to craft, curiosity, and cutting down friction in all the right places.
Event Transcript
We hosted Mareko for a Meet The Maker event/interview at the shop. Read along if you’d like.
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