Meet Brandon Ault | Leatherworker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brandon Ault and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brandon, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
We wanted to work for ourselves, to really see how the work we put in directly affects the lives we live. To get to work with our hands and minds, and share what we love to do.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
We first started working with leather as a little side hobby, a labor of love. Over the past 14 years, it has organically evolved to become our main source of income. (We are very good at being poor.) We are very proud of our work; hand made, durable, function-forward designs are all at the focus of what we do. I’m not sure that I would say it has been easy, but we have always had the support of other creatives and artisans along the way. The pandemic certainly gave us time to really consider what we wanted our lives as artists to look like, and I think we are headed in the right direction. A life where we work for ourselves. And eventually be able to help other creatives by inviting them to share our little shop.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
We live very close to Franklin park Conservatory, so that is definitely on the list. We love our local breweries, like Land Grant and Seventh Son, delicious beer, great people, awesome spaces. The Columbus museum of art (free on Sundays!) is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon, or even just to dip in a visit your favorite pieces – “Spirit” by Mel Chin, “Captain’s Paradise” by Helen Frankenthaler. We would probably end up at our favorite little bar around the corner from us, Addellas on Oak, for happy hour. And then invite some of our wonderful friends, who honestly really make Columbus special for us, for a little fire and party in our backyard.

Columbus has a vibrant food, music and art. You can find something interesting anytime you wander around!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We certainly want to shout out our community. Firstly, so much of our work is spread and recognized through word of mouth. There is no nicer feeling than running into someone on the street and they pull out a wallet or are carrying one of our bags. And secondly that of our closest neighbors, who were extremely supportive of us opening a small store in our home.

Website: https://www.oldsaltsleatherworks.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oldsaltsleatherworks/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oldsaltsleatherworks

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/old-salts-leatherworks-columbus