the beginning

It all started with a leash.

That’s the easiest way to begin how Snake & Wheel started, though that wasn’t the name it started under, and it wasn’t the business it was originally made for.

I ran a pet store in place of the owner, which was fulfilling and frustrating at the same time. I was able to make a lot of decisions, but no authority to make real change happen. The one consistent thing I could pick and chose the inventory the store carried.

Leashes were one product in particular I disliked stocking. Not because they weren’t necessary, not because they didn’t sell, but because they were poorly made. Leashes were usually a miss. The reasonably priced ones were minimally constructed, and a complaint I often heard was they snapped if their dog pulled too hard or too suddenly. I took a closer look and there was minimal stitching, if any, holding the snap to the leash. It was just adhesive more often than not. The “good” ones were expensive and ridiculously overengineered, marketed as “tactical” and using overly complicated snaps simply because they looked stronger.

Eyeing the sewing machine I hadn’t touched in about a year, an idea began to form. I wondered how far down I could push the price point for a decently constructed leash. Turns out, pretty darn far.

With a zinc alloy snap, some leather scraps, fabric remnants, and a few other things, my first heavy duty leash was made, tested, and refined. Once the design was settled on, I made a few 4ft leashes, and a few 6ft leashes. I made little adjustments on the way, further refining the design as I made each batch. In the few months I made leashes, I was consistently running out. I started wondering what else I could make.

I began to remember that I’m a man of many talents. The reason for that being that when I get bored, I decide to do something with my hands. Often times, it means I end up learning something new. Aromatherapy course during a break from college. Spinning wool because maybe that will curb my yarn spending. Figuring out how soap is made because I don’t like the overly chemical smell of commercial soap bars.

These talents, and others, I plan to bring to Snake & Wheel. There are a lot of ideas I’m hoping to cultivate, and I hope you’ll join me on this journey.