LOCAL: Brands, Businesses + Entrepreneurs | #13 | Character Country
Kitsap is full of incredible brands, businesses and entrepreneurs who make shopping for unique items in Kitsap a fun adventure.
About Noah
What was your first job?
“My first job was with Bremerton’s Parks and Recreation Department. I helped lead mini summer camps at local parks.”
Where do you draw inspiration/creativity in your life?
“I find opportunities for creativity in so many places. As a curious person, I enjoy learning about anything and spending time with people who are masters in their fields. As an example, I was at a wedding a couple of years ago in Port Townsend where they have a living boat museum. I had the opportunity to slip into a tour during a lull in the wedding schedule to learn about the history of the area and look at the boats in mid-production. Looking at these boats as a place where nature and humanity met to create functional art, helped move me into seeing leather work as a continuation of this idea - function and art.”
About Character Country
How did the idea of starting Character Country begin?
“Oddly enough, dealing with my mortality had a large role in starting the business. I had, for some time, wanted to commit to mastering a craft like woodworking or leatherworking. While I had these aspirations, I placed them on the shelf for later pursuits. It was not until my oldest daughter was born that I realized the brevity of life. This pushed me to start my journey to master leatherwork. I began with a makeshift table in our kitchen with YouTube as my guide. Shortly thereafter, we realized that my passion outpaced our budget. So began Character Country as an opportunity to self-fund this creative endeavor.”
The Genesis
Tell us the story of how Character Country came to fruition.
“My wife and I started Character Country in our kitchen. With a shoestring budget, we started via Etsy and word-of-mouth. As people found out that I was a leatherworker, custom orders began to come in. Two of the first projects that I remember making were a leather sheath for a Japanese kitchen knife and a sheath for a multitool. Etsy was a great place to initiate our online presence, as well as expand our business beyond the PNW. I still remember the excitement of my first “non-friend” order. As money started to come in, we had the opportunity to buy more materials, better tools, and create a better brand. To this day, we are continuing to invest in this manner to make production faster and create a better product for our customers.”
Tell us what/who drives you to keep working hard towards your goals.
“I believe there is something deep in humanity that longs to create. This is what drives me to continue my work. I find deep satisfaction in taking raw materials without form or purpose, and changing them into an object of function and design. By continuing the growth trajectory of our business, we can have more opportunities to expand our creative output.”
Love Kitsap
Tell us your fave local drink spot - coffee, tea, wine, tequila, whatever!
“My go-to is Cafe Corvo, hands down! They are only a few months old but they know what they are doing. As an observer, I have seen that they are very intentional with what they put on the menu and how they make it. The owners are community-oriented - using local businesses for their needs as well as inviting artists to adorn their walls. A group of friends and I admire this place so much that we started the unofficial ‘Corvo Club’.”
Tell us your fave local spot for a comfort meal - what do you always order?
“Noah’s Ark is my go-to. I have been eating there since I was a kid. Last year I challenged myself to eat every burger on their menu and I was not disappointed! My standing order is the Ark Burger, garlic fries, and chocolate shake.”
Live Kitsap
Out of town guests are coming for the weekend. What is the most important thing you share with them about Kitsap? Where do you absolutely have to take them?
“There are so many good spots around Kitsap. For beauty and rest - Point No Point, for skating - the Port Orchard skatepark is bomb, for drinks - that has to be the Manette Saloon. With all that said, nothing beats a backyard BBQ in the summer.”
Thrive in Kitsap
Where are your favorite place(s) to get outside. What do you do when you go?
“Wherever there is water. My family’s favorite local beach is Point-No-Point. We try to get out there at least every other month. While there, we like to walk and look at all of the interesting textures and shapes that are native to large bodies of water - shells, seaweed, etc. Though, I often end up building a driftwood fort with my daughter.”
our connections + friendships with local brands, businesses + entrepreneurs is something that makes living in kitsap truly unique. You aren’t just supporting a business, you’re growing relationships.
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