A Schleswig custom woodworker has been chosen to receive the Iowa Small Business Development Center’s (SBDC) Business of the Month award. The organization made an announcement Wednesday that Crossgrain Woodworking will be honored. Owner, Devon Evers, says his business got its start while he was working full-time and doing carpentry on the side. When he began receiving more and more special requests for custom wood pieces, he realized he could quit his job and do it full-time. He did just that in January of 2014, and now designs and builds custom furniture, making many modern designs with rustic elements while also preserving wooden pieces and their history. He supports Schleswig and the surrounding communities by donating finished pieces to area groups for fundraisers. Evers uses social media and his website as his main marketing tools and receives a great deal of his business from word-of-mouth referrals. He says he could not have done any of this without the help of the SBDC. He adds that he has loved working with the SBDC’s Todd Rausch, who was an invaluable resource and source of encouragement. “He even came to where I was working out of a barn on my family’s farm. He appreciated my talent and kept pushing me to grow my business,” Evers says.
