Friends of Build Magazine

Strategies For Longterm Success with Christian Nickum of Rocky Mountain Hardware

Episode Summary

Ted speaks with Christian Nickum, president of Rocky Mountain Hardware. Christian took over the family business and has continued to build momentum and innovate custom pieces for exclusive clientele around the country.

Episode Notes

Ted speaks with Christian Nickum, president of Rocky Mountain Hardware, discussing the journey of taking over the family business, navigating economic challenges, and the importance of brand identity. Christian shares insights on adapting to design trends, educating dealers and customers, and the significance of collaborations with designers in the longevity of his business. The conversation also touches on production techniques, staffing challenges, and the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, culminating in a vision for the future of the company.

TOPICS DISCUSSED

01:15 Introduction and Background
01:55 Taking Over the Family Business
04:40 Growth and Challenges in Business
06:25 Navigating Economic Downturns
11:10 Brand Identity and Market Positioning
14:15 Educating Dealers and Customers
18:40 Production Techniques and Custom Work
20:20 The Traveling Road Show
21:50 Success in High-End Markets
25:05 Timeless Design and Natural Materials
27:45 Design collaborations
31:40 Learning from Failure and innovation
36:30 Staffing Challenges in a Specialized Industry
38:30 Managing Sales and Production
40:15 Lessons from COVID-19
41:05 The future and wrapping up

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Christian Nickum

KEY QUOTES FROM EPISODE

"I wanted to do this for years."
"Rocky Mountain is a household name."
"We never attempt not to make mistakes."