For many DIYers and craftsmen who have made a name for themselves, what are now successful businesses for them often began as just a hobby. And that's exactly how it all took off for Martin Sammet and Jogi Maerz, the founders of the Etsy shop POGOboards.
Martin and Jogi's passion for snowboarding led them to making snowboards, longboards and surfboards in 1983 and they haven't stopped since. Now, more than 25 years later, the duo continues to make boards out of their studio, a farmhouse located in the city of Stuttgart, Germany, and they remain just as devoted to the craft as when they first started. In fact, not much in the sense of their lives has changed. For many craftspeople and makers, increased profit and demands often come with added stress, but that's not the case for Martin and Jogi. They're pretty adamant about keeping stress from affecting their work. "Quality of life is important to us," says Martin. "That means the work atmosphere has to be relaxed. Work has to be fun and there has to be enough spare time to spend with the family, on holidays, or enjoying leisure time," he adds.
Without a doubt seeing the way Martin and Jogi interact with each other and their workers, we get a strong sense of the DIY spirit inside them. They are makers who value their friendship with each other and their relationships with people as much as they value their love of snowboarding and making boards. And for them, those are the things that matter most.
Do you think DIY has a similar calming effect for other artisans? Let us know in comments below.