July 2015

  • Published On: July 1, 2015

    Contact: Brad Schmeets Location: Colorado Springs, Colo. Year established: 2011 Number of employees: 2 Shop size: 3,200 sq. ft. How did your shop get started? This is my third shop. I learned to sew in the Air Force, and opened my first shop in 1980 in Alaska, doing furniture. Then someone asked me to do [...]

  • Published On: July 1, 2015

    Restoration of a sofa on a 1996 50-foot Bertram features reshaped arms to match the larger sofa frame. Photo by Alayna Wood. By Terri Madden The waters of San Juan, Puerto Rico, have been home to many Bertram yacht enthusiasts ever since Richard Bertram opened a 25-acre plant in 1962. I have had [...]

  • Published On: July 1, 2015

    By William J. Lynott If you’re like many busy business owners, you don’t pay much attention to income taxes until the filing deadline looms. “That can be a costly mistake,” says public accountant Jay Blumenthal of Abington, Pa. “One of the most effective ways to pare your business as well as personal income taxes to [...]

  • Published On: July 1, 2015

    Faith Roberts of Banner Canvas shares tips for keeping sewing machines in tip-top shape. Whenever one of Faith Roberts’ many machines needs fixing, who does she call? Usually herself. “Oftentimes, I can make the repairs myself,” she says. “We’ve just learned to do it over the years.” That’s not to say that occasionally she doesn’t [...]

  • Published On: July 1, 2015

    State and federal regulations—and common sense—keep shops safe. By Mason Riddle Marine shop safety entails more than the classic red and white first-aid kit filled with Band-Aids, Neosporin and ibuprofen. And what constitutes safety varies from shop to shop, depending on what is being fabricated, the number of employees and clientele. Local fire marshals and [...]