Here we are, December, the month that ends the year and ushers in the next. As the year comes to a close, we invite you to take a look back with us on our journey through 2014 before we dive into 2015.

Beginning

As the calendar turned over to 2014, the new year welcomed big changes to all things Grovemade. We started with a complete overhaul of our brand and identity by introducing a sparkling new website. With the website launch, we – deep breath – said hello to Walnut and Maple, manufactured the world’s first all wood iPhone bumper, launched a brass iPhone dock, and introduced our wood sleeve for iPad and Macbook.

Sadly, with all of the new developments came the difficult but necessary decision to discontinue our beloved Artist Series. We also enjoyed a brief respite due to our frosty foe, Snowmageddon.

Middle

Spring brought the return of the rains and heralded the birth of a yearlong dream-in-the-making, the Desk Collection.  Motivated by our collective experience of drab desktops, we envisioned sleekly designed products that would give an aesthetic and ergonomic boost to any workspace. (Check out our very own desk lamp to see our take on wooden desk accessories.) And while we were at it, we went ahead and unveiled our plans for a collaborative project that we’d dreamt of for more than a year, the Wood Watch.

During the Summer months, we tackled the backend of our business. We incorporated Kanban, FIFO, and new fulfillment systems to streamline our production capabilities as well as to improve our customers’ experience. With the Summer heat, we dreamt of conditioned air and frequently hailed the ice cream truck that jingled past our doors on more occasions than we could count. Creamsicles, anyone?

End

Autumn came in a rush, and with it the rumblings and then the confirmation of a new iPhone from Apple. Being proponents of the “fail to plan, plan to fail” axiom, our design team had already been hard at work conceptualizing a new line of iPhone cases for the next generation. When the curtain finally opened to unveil the new phone, we were able to debut our new product line. Composed of a bumper, a full case, and a leather and wood folio for the 6 and 6 Plus, it was our most ambitious case launch to date.

The new products mandated new design concepts that opted for strength and utility, which led to the retirement of the slider case design and the discontinuation of bamboo for hardier domestic American hardwoods.

As the weather cooled, we saw steady progress on the development of all our new cases, each, of course, with its own set of unique challenges and obstacles. To recharge our batteries, we participated in a number of fun local events like Design Week Portland, Show PDX, and the Portland Bazaar to showcase our goods and connect with our local fans and customers! In the process of preparing for these meet-and-greets, it prompted us to “clean house.” We declared a war on clutter, both in our workshop and in our database. A happy shop is a clean shop! Or is it the other way around?

Looking Ahead

All in all, 2014 has been a bumper year for all of us at Grovemade. We’ve expanded our vision and taken ahold of our dreams by tackling new designs and products.  With 2015 to look forward to, we also begin our sixth year as a business. We’ve gotten here because of you, our customers, who have proven to be so much more than that. Without you, none of this is possible. We get to go to work each day because you’ve had our backs from the start when we had one product and stored our finished goods in our living rooms. You spur us on to be the best and we hope only to get better by providing you with awesomely designed products for your devices, your desktops, and your homes.

[photography by Grovemade and William Anthony]