A S COV ID -19 M A RCH E D across the country last spring, John Pryor made a plan to adapt his hand-crafted furniture business, Madison Flitch, into something that could withstand a pandemic.
two people ready to sew.” His work was cut out for him, but Pryor used his education, experience and entrepreneurial mindset to expand Madison Flitch into Madison Stitch almost overnight. DISCOVERING AN INNER ARTIST
“Need your help,” Pryor posted on
30
Pryor describes himself as “a former academic turned
Facebook on March 21, “Madison Flitch
technology professional turned furniture designer.” He
wants to convert part of its workshop space
has master’s degrees in history and theology and an
to making and selling around 100 medical
MBA from Boston University. In 2016, while manag-
masks per week.” He wanted to provide
ing a team of software specialists at a Boston-area tech
medical professionals with P PE through a
firm, he realized he was burning out. Pryor and his wife
buy one-donate one program, create jobs
returned to his Kansas City roots, he took up wood-
and keep his company going. “We’re figur-
working — and tapped into a talent for art and design.
ing out the details this week and hope to launch soon.”
“It was a revelation to me how much I loved work-
Pryor projected selling about 50 masks during the
ing with my hands,” he said. “I had always worked in
first week of production. Instead, he sold 50 in the
the realm of ideas. With woodworking, I was making
first hour. “Over that weekend, we sold thousands
something tangible and ending up with something
and thousands more. I was freaking out! I only had
different and unique and real.”
Photos by Nicole Bissey Photography
JOHN PRYOR ’98 & THE ART OF ADAPTATION
