A Year in Review: Craftsmanship, Community, and Adapting Through Change
As we approach the close of another year at T. Weatherhead & Co., we find ourselves reflecting with gratitude, pride, and a renewed appreciation for the community that supports small-batch, handcrafted work. This past year was filled with meaningful milestones, seasonal moments, and a fair share of challenges that required adaptability, patience, and transparency.
At its heart, 2025 reinforced why we do what we do: creating thoughtfully designed, heirloom-quality wooden goods that become part of everyday life — and doing so with care, integrity, and intention.
Celebrating the Seasons Through Craft
Throughout the year, our Shop Notes focused on tying craftsmanship to the rhythms of the seasons.
We began the year with honesty and clarity, sharing updates about markets we were temporarily unable to serve and outlining our commitment to doing things properly rather than quickly. That transparency set the tone for the months ahead.
February brought a more romantic focus, highlighting our handcrafted ring boxes as meaningful keepsakes for engagements, weddings, and personal milestones. These pieces reminded us how deeply personal handcrafted objects can be — often marking some of life’s most important moments.
As spring arrived, attention turned toward renewal and everyday living. Our oak and walnut step stools were featured not simply as functional pieces, but as beautiful, durable companions for kitchens, closets, and growing families. Alongside them, our luxury eyeglass cases were showcased as refined accessories designed to travel well, age gracefully, and elevate the everyday.
Home, Lifestyle, and Thoughtful Details
Late spring and early summer saw a shift toward lifestyle and home décor. Our Art Deco–inspired clocks were highlighted as timeless accents — pieces that quietly anchor a room while celebrating thoughtful design. With warmer months came gatherings, and our handcrafted coasters stepped into the spotlight, offering small but meaningful details for entertaining and hospitality.
These moments underscored a recurring theme throughout the year: well-made objects don’t need to shout. They earn their place through quality, function, and lasting beauty.
Recognition Beyond the Workshop
One of the most rewarding moments of the year came with external recognition. Seeing our oak and walnut step stool featured in Buffalo Magazine was both humbling and affirming. It placed our work in a curated design context and introduced it to new audiences — a reminder that craftsmanship still resonates in a fast-moving world.
Navigating Shipping Disruptions
This year also brought challenges well beyond the workbench.
Shipping disruptions caused by multiple labour strikes created ongoing uncertainty for small businesses across Canada. With carrier availability changing quickly, delivery timelines fluctuating, and service interruptions happening with little notice, we were forced to continuously reassess how best to get orders safely and reliably into our customers’ hands.
We adapted by using a combination of carriers, communicating proactively, and, when needed, asking for patience — something our customers gave generously. These disruptions reinforced the importance of flexibility and honest communication, especially during peak gift-giving seasons.
Adapting to a Changing Tariff Landscape
For our US customers, 2025 introduced another layer of complexity. The evolving tariff environment and shifting interpretations of cross-border trade regulations made pricing, paperwork, and delivery less predictable than in years past.
Navigating this required ongoing research, consultation, and adjustments — sometimes on very short notice. While these changes were frustrating at times, they also reaffirmed our commitment to doing things correctly and ethically, even when it meant additional administrative work behind the scenes.
We remain deeply grateful to our US customers for their understanding and continued support as we worked through these challenges together.
What This Year Reinforced
More than anything, this year reminded us that:
Craftsmanship is a long game — built on patience, skill, and care
Transparency builds trust, especially during uncertain times
Community matters, whether it’s customers, fellow makers, or small businesses navigating similar challenges
Each Shop Notes post, product release, and update reflected not just what we make, but how we choose to operate.
Looking Ahead
As we move into the new year, we do so with optimism and intention. We’ll continue refining our collections, sharing more behind-the-scenes glimpses of the workshop, and finding ways to serve our customers — near and far — with the same level of care that goes into every piece we make.
To everyone who purchased a piece, shared our work, sent kind messages, or supported us through a year of change: thank you. You are an essential part of our story.
From our family to yours, we look forward to what the coming year will bring.
— Tom, Jen & Kay-cee
T. Weatherhead & Co.