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Meet Nathan Martin of Go Forth Goods in Marietta

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Nathan Martin.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Nathan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Like many companies of old, our story has a similar origin in being founded because I was not able to find something that I was looking for, so I had this crazy thought… “What if I made it myself?”

My Background is in marketing and I ran my own marketing agency for over 15 years. As many things in life go, I had grown tired of the marketing industry. And in the back of my mind, I was looking for an exit strategy.

In Feb of 2014, as I was packing up for a family vacation, my bag of only a couple of years, broke on me. In my search for a new bag, I was frustrated that I couldn’t find what I was looking for. My criteria were it had to be made in the USA with quality materials, have a simplistic and rugged design, and it had to be reasonably priced.

When I couldn’t find what I was looking for, my wheels started turning, maybe there are others that are looking for the same thing as me and can’t find it. So I started out to see if this idea would work as business. Having never worked with leather before I decided to start by making a wallet first. A few weeks later, I had created my first wallet that was worth showing people. I took some pictures and sent them to my friends via text. Instantly I had orders. And then friends started telling other friends and more orders started rolling in. Over the next 6 months, I started created more and more smaller products, like new wallets styles, a belt, a key fob and a mason jar mug. People loved the products and the business just kept growing. That first Christmas I introduced the Avery Tote and the Gunnar Duffle, our first two bags. They were all hand stitched at that time as I didn’t have a sewing machine. The bags were a hit, and I spent every evening burning the midnight oil to get all the orders out for Christmas.

I took every dime of profit I made and put it into buying new equipment to streamline the process so that I could hire a full-time employee and expand the business. In May of 2015 I was able to hire my first full-time employee and by August, I went full time with the company. Since then we have grown a lot. We now have 3 full-time employees and our product line is over 50 products. We also opened up our first retail store a year ago at 795 Whitlock Ave in Marietta, a mile from the historic Marietta square. Our retail store also doubles as our workshop. So you can come in and see us making products, pick out your material, learn a little bit out our process as well as take home one of our handmade products.

We are looking forward to the future as we continue to create products that you love to use and are made to last a lifetime. Our Goal is to become a household name in American Handmade leather goods.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Running a business, I don’t think is ever really a smooth road. I like to tell people its not for the faint of heart. lol. It honestly always feels like your aiming at a target that is moving and changing. So you have to keep reevaluating your situation and adapt to succeed. We have been fortunate to have not really any major struggles compared to what we know of others stories. But we have had many things that we have tried and things that have not paid off as we expected. That’s always a struggle, being able to manage expectations and not allow the lack of meeting big goals you have set for yourself to derail you or discourage you. You just have to take all the positive out those situations, learn what you can and press on with a new plan. I feel that is what has led us to where we are now and will enable us to continue to grow.

Please tell us about Go Forth Goods.
We specialize in making handmade leather and canvas goods with a lifetime guarantee. We make over 50 products offering consists of wallets, belts, key fobs, briefcases, messenger bags, duffle bags, tote bags and other accessories and household leather goods. We are most known for our bags, that’s our bread and butter. Our top sellers are duffle bags, the Gunnar and William. The Avery Tote bag.

I think the thing I’m most proud of is that we are built on the principle of giving back. More than just making quality leather goods, I believe that what is important in life and really makes you feel alive is giving back. And no matter who you are or what your sphere of influence is you can make a difference in the world around you. That’s where is name comes from, Go Forth Goods. As a company, we give back 10% of our profits to nonprofits that are going forth and doing good. We also donate a lot of items to local schools and other organizations to raise money for those in need.

If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Honestly no, there is nothing I would do differently. Everything that has happened, has been an integral part of growing the business. Even the frustrating situations and circumstances have helped us to learn things that have made us who we are today.

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Image Credit:
Nathan Martin
Crystal Downs

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