Today we’d like to introduce you to Missy & Matt Rutter.
Hi Missy & Matt, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
We started M&M Wood Design LLC in June 2020 during the height of the Covid 19 pandemic as a husband-and-wife duo, or partnership. Matt always had a passion for woodworking, I learn from Matt with each project we build. The business grew out of a desire to give back to our local Charleston community in a creative and purposeful way, so we created our mission of #cuttingboardsforacause. Pledging to donate a portion of the proceeds from each cutting board sold to local non-profit Pay it Forward Charleston, we have donated over $4,000.00 in two years. This cause is close to our hearts having both worked in the hospitality industry as a Chef, F&B Manager, HR Manager, etc. We have both seen the need firsthand when Food & Beverage workers are in crisis and the limited resources available until now! M&M Wood Design also donates to other important causes such as the Hollings Cancer Center’s annual Gourmet & Grapes fundraiser and Eunoia Rescue. If a customer requests a certain cause they would like to donate to, we honor that as well.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The Charleston community is very supportive of local small businesses, which has been such a blessing. However, working full-time in another position as a Chef and doing wood design has proved challenging for Matt. We dedicate every moment we can after work and on our days ‘off’ to the business. Another challenge that I faced personally was being a female in a male-led industry. At first, it was really intimidating, and I didn’t feel like people took me seriously. The looks I would get picking out wood at the lumber yards 8 months pregnant or disbelief that I too made the wooden products I was selling at Farmers Markets. However, now I regularly pick up lumber with our infant in tow and I am proud to be knocking down these barriers for women, eliminating the stereotype.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We take handpicked rough-cut hardwoods and turn them into beautiful, functional pieces for our customers to enjoy. We make smaller items for the home such as: cutting boards, charcuterie paddles, serving trays, lazy susans, spoons, coasters; as well as larger items: dining room tables, wardrobe armoires, barn doors. We also construct HVAC stands and repair decks (Matt’s really a jack of all trades). However, we have probably become known mostly for our cutting boards, which we sell at local farmers’ markets and through our website. Each piece is unique as every tree is different and Missy creates patterns taking into consideration the wood grain, color, texture, etc. We are proud to be helping our community and giving back with each sale of a cutting board and we believe that also sets us apart from others.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you, or support you?
We love custom orders! Feedback from our customers and their input is so important to ensure satisfaction. It is not uncommon for our customers to pick out their feature wood or help design patterns. We are supported by the local community who purchase our products and spread the word about the non-profit we champion, Pay it Forward Charleston (www.payitforwardcharleston.org).
Pricing:
- Chefs Standard Cutting Board $75.00
- Standard Cocktail Board $50.00
- Charcuterie Paddle $80.00
- Spoon $12.00
- Coasters $16.00
Contact Info:
- Email: mandmwooddesign@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.mandmwooddesign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuttingboardsforacause/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cuttingboardsforacause/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/m-and-m-wood-design-charleston
Image Credits
Missy Rutter
