027 - Gabriel Hargett of Oowee Products on the Magic of Craftsmanship, Lean Manufacturing, and Transitioning from Full-Time Employee to Full-Time Boss

In this episode, we interview Gabriel Hargett, the founder and owner of Oowee Products. Oowee is a handcrafted leather goods company based in Asheville NC. They create all sorts of custom leather products, from high-quality pint glass sleeves to leather-patched hats and more. And you know what else? They employ a hardworking team of adults that are on the Autism spectrum to help them with hand sewing and packaging up their products. If you think that's pretty rad — we agree.

In this episode, here's what you'll hear:

• How Oowee products got its start (hint hint: it's connected to the brewery industry)
• Where the name Oowee came from
• What it was like for Gabriel to transition from a full-time day job to a full-time business owner
• Why Gabriel decided to employ adults on the autism spectrum
• Oowee's marketing strategy
• How Gabriel is applying the concept of lean manufacturing to his business
• Gabriel's favorite things to do in Asheville

For show notes, including some supplementary information from this episode visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/027

To recommend an interviewee, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/podcast

Curious to learn more about what we do? Making It Creative is a boutique marketing agency in Asheville. We are dedicated to working with small business owners that are deeply passionate about what they do by helping them build and improve their sales and communication strategies. Learn more here.

Music by Commonwealth Choir

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This episode was bought to you by The Chop Shop Butchery, Asheville's whole animal butcher shop. To save 10% on a purchase before Thanksgiving of 2019, visit: MakingItInAsheville.com/chopshop

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