STL274: Inside Highland Woodworking
Mike and Ben visit with Chris and Molly of Highland Woodworking to learn about their history, how the store operates, and of course their Woodslicer blades. Then we catch up with Vic to get the inside scoop on his move.Sponsored by Highland Woodworking
The Highland Woodworking store started out in 1978 as Highland Hardware, an ordinary hardware store in midtown Atlanta. It was founded by a young couple who met at Georgia Tech, and after graduating and getting married, went to work together for an old Atlanta company known as King Hardware (which had the distinction in 1886 of selling to the druggist next door the washtub used to mix the first batch of Coca-Cola). After a four year bootstrap education in the tool and hardware business at King, the couple took out an SBA loan, rented a storefront near their home and cast their bread upon entrepreneurial waters.
Good fortune in the form of loyal customers and bright, hardworking sales people led to a prospering business which soon identified itself as a specialist in woodworking tools, hand tools and supplies. Always committed to quality and value, Highland Hardware built a reputation as a source of reliable advice on the purchase and use of the tools it sold.
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The winds of changeYup, Vic Tesolin is moving shop again. What will he keep and what will he get rid of? |
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Comments
I live in the Atlanta area and have been visiting the store since the early 80's. But I never considered how the synergy of FW and Highland had affected me until I watched the segment. In 1981 or 82 a friend and coworker who loved woodworking took me to Highland during lunch. While we walked around the small cramped store space he pointed out a magazine on the rack and told me to buy it, and yes, it was Fine Woodworking. I bought it, loved the content, and it gave me an excuse to visit the store on a regular basis. In 1985 I started illustrating articles for the magazine and continued through 1990.
I am still an avid FW and Highland Woodworking fan and visit the website and store often.
What was the name of the company making the accessory / replacement for the Festool MFT that he wants to put in his new shop?
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