Springfield Business Journal_2019-02-25

SPRINGFIELD BUSINESS JOURNAL · 9 FEB. 25-MARCH 3, 2019 QUEEN OF ARTS Leslie Forrester connects the community to Spring- field’s art scene, and says support is peaking. PAGE 12 MADE IN THE OZARKS If a project involves wood and steel, there isn’t much Dustin Stewart can’t make. From his studio just north of downtown, he’s developed life-size Jenga and tabletops for Andy B’s and coffee tables for home- owners. As Stewart has developed his com- pany name over the past few years, his goal is to be the go-to in custom furniture. SBJ: How is your business structured and what are the core products? Stewart: A lot of commercial infill, tables and seating and restaurant furniture, even a homeowner who wants a coun- tertop. We do 70 percent commercial work and 30 percent residential pieces. We’ve done a lot of stuff in The Wine Dive, every single piece of infill in Cul- ture Flock and work in Hook Creative and Mostly Serious. We did the recep- tion desk at Dynamic Strides Equine Therapy in Republic and infill at King- dom Coffee. That was all just last year. SBJ: What are the challenges and opportu- nities to making furniture in the Ozarks? Stewart: Having working capital. Getting up and going with a production shop can be a little more difficult when you’re talking about needing $20,000-$50,000 in tools to actually make something. You can really build it by making a good name for yourself because I feel like word spreads faster here. SBJ: What’s your driving factor to start this business? Stewart: I was working a job that I just didn’t want to do anymore. I was doing social work, and I had one week off and one week on working 90 hours. I pretty quickly made a name for myself as some- one who was making quality things. The demand for my time was so high that I realized I could make it work. SBJ: What’s your favorite piece of furni- ture you’ve made? Stewart: I’m really proud of the dining room tables in The Wine Dive. They are live edge pecan tabletops with steel bases. SBJ: Were you inspired to start your busi- ness by another business or entrepreneur? Stewart: My mom is a big inspiration. She’s very creative and a problem solver. My wife’s family owns Day’s Floor Co. in Marshfield. When we moved to Spring- field and we started to get involved, it was really outstanding to me how many people were in their late 20s who own their own business or work for a small company. SBJ: What was the first thing you ever made? Stewart: I made a dining room table for my wife when we first got married. It was the biggest piece of garbage ever. DG Stewart Hardgoods LLC by Christine Temple ctemple@sbj.net Made in the USA? These companies do one better: Made in the Ozarks. The American Independent Business Alliance finds that $48 of every $100 spent at local businesses recirculates locally, compared with $14 spent at chains. For these six companies, starting their own business and manufacturing products in the Ozarks is a point of pride and integral to their business identities. Read Profiles | Pages 9 & 17-20 Owner: Dustin Stewart Founded: 2016 Address: 616 W. Tampa St., Springfield, MO 65806 Phone:  (417) 414-7008 Web: DGStewartHardgoods.com Email: dgstewarthardgoods@gmail.com 2018 projects: 45 Product price range: $500-$1,200 (coffee tables and dining tables) Employees: 3 WES HAMILTON WES HAMILTON SBJ FILE HANDMADE From his shop near downtown, Dustin Stewart makes custom furniture. Stewart’s company was responsible for infill work at Culture Flock. Makers share product-origin stories