July 13, 2011
Vol 13 No 28
October 7, 2015
Business gone to the dogs Recipes
11
Add variety to your game day
Feature Section
4
Healthy Living Digest
Submitted photo Alexander Martin (left) and Sebastian Martin sit with their dog Cosmo. The two boys started Woof Works, a company that permanently etches your pet's image on custom products.
Two teenage brothers’ startup company etches pets’ images on custom products The entrepreneurial spirit runs deep in two teenage brothers from St. Peters. Alexander and Sebastian Martin paired two of their top interests, technology and pets, and the result is Woof Works. Woof Works is a startup company that permanently etches your pet’s image on custom products. Whether it’s wooden cell phone cases, marble plaques, leather luggage tags or a wide range of other high quality custom products, that friendly face that greets you every morning is never far away. Alexander, 17-years-old, and Sebastian, 14, got interested in 3-D printing when their father brought a printer home. Later on they stumbled upon new printing technologies that made it possible to laser etch photographic images and other designs on wood, glass, marble, leather and other surfaces. “My dad loves cool gadgets,” Sebastian said. “He was wanting to see what (3D printer) was like. We spent hours creating things and that’s how the idea started.” They took a photo of their dog, Cosmo, and put in on a wood cell phone case. They posted a picture of the case on Facebook and questions started to pour in with the most frequent one being how their friends could get their pet on a case. And a light bulb went off and Woof
Works was soon formed. “Since sixth grade, we have always looked at ways to make money,” Alex said. “We have wanted to start a business and this idea came at the right time and it just evolved.” The duo not only develop and test their own products, they also designed the company’s website (woofworks. com) and have had hands-on involvement in every phase of startup, from filing the initial registration papers, to developing product and pricing strategies, to producing and shipping products. Both boys also volunteer at the Five Acres Animal Shelter in St. Charles. A portion of the profits generated by Woof Works will be donated to local pet shelters to support this cause. A love of animals and a penchant for entrepreneurship is also in the Martin brothers’ blood. Their mother is a veterinarian and their father is an entrepreneur who has founded successful medical equipment and pet product companies. Also on Team Woof Works is a board of advisers that includes a pet industry executive, a designer and a video producer. As you can imagine, the Martins have big dreams for Woof Works that includes purchasing additional laser etching equipment, introducing additional products, hiring its first employees, developing a retail strategy and, eventually,
moving from the basement of the boys’ home. “So far, sales have been pretty good,” Sebastian said. “When we heard our friends’ input it really boosted our spirits.” And here is where they could use a little help. A Kickstarter campaign was launched on Sept. 21 with a goal of $50,000 raised in 30 days. Kickstarter campaigns operate under an “all-or-nothing” funding model. So if Woof Works doesn’t reach its goal at the end of 30 days, it could
Moore on Life
6
Selfie-Inflicted wounds
Around Town
3
Siteman expansion
See GONE TO THE DOGS on page 2
Movie: ‘The Walk’
FREE Online Subscription at mycnews.com
9