Tell us about the history of your company.

We started in 2017 at a local farmers market selling fresh produce, jams, jellies and a small selection of handmade knives and tools we made on our farm, as well as the first of our survival cards and dog tags. Soon, we saw that Grim’s tools were even more popular than the farm’s products to the point where we realized we were going to have to start scaling things up and turning Grim Workshop into something bigger. We started by having our products made in China, which lasted for exactly two orders, and quickly made the decision as a family to move our manufacturing to the U.S. so we had more control over the finished product and could have a better relationship with our manufacturer.

We had plans for a lot more tools and it was not a simple process communicating with manufacturers overseas. We ended up paying quite a bit more for the final product. We felt that the finished product’s quality was undeniable, and we wanted to help support American manufacturing and other small businesses by working with them, getting a higher quality product and happily paying more for it.

We have grown both in expertise and in sales throughout the years. Our designs at present are truly something unique, starting from our humble beginnings at a local farmers market with just one card and three dog tags to now having over a hundred unique designs that we’ve constructed – each one in its own way better than the one before it, and each one, like its predecessor, is reusable, constructed from fully hardened stainless steel and designed from conception to completion right here in the beautiful USA.

What products do you offer, and what are your top sellers?

Our top sellers are the key card, which is a complete lock picking and escape kit in a credit card sized package, our cordage micro tool, which can convert two liter bottles into over 75 feet of high strength plastic cordage, our hook and lure dog Tag, which is a complete fishing kit the size of a dog tag, the Bob Hansler Signature Card and the Zachary Fowler Signature Card, both created alongside two extremely well respected persons in the survival industry to their specifications. Our Signature Card line has become quite popular as we work with some of the most respected bushcrafters and survival instructors in the world. Looking at the names in our signature card line is like looking at the past, present and future of survival and bushcraft all gathered in one location. We also work in collaboration with other companies like Exotac, developing a new tool for their xReel hand fishing reels, Bear Minimum, creating tools for their folding cook pots and Wazoo Survival, with a yet to be announced project under way, just to name a few.

Are there any new or unique products coming up?

We have new products hitting the market at least every 30 days, sometimes sooner. We thrive on innovation and creation, so we’re always pushing the envelope of what we can do. We currently have over 300 working prototypes in various stages of completion; many are finished, and we’re just waiting to find the right time to release them. Jordan does the main designs and artwork, and we all collaborate with him for the final products’ finished designs before we start prototyping. We also discuss each prototype as a team and continue to hone and perfect them.

Our newest tool is the Hot Shot. We recently did a Kickstarter campaign of the preliminary design for the tool. The Hot Shot features a custom made ferrocerium rod that’s the first of its kind and designed to lay flat in a card, as well as a custom designed magnesium rod, that is also designed to lay flat into the card; all are made on cards constructed completely of 1095 high carbon spring steel and include a knife, saw and striker, essentially putting a complete fire kit in a credit card-sized space.

Why do dealers choose your products over your competitors’?

Our tools are the only tools like this. There are some that may look similar, but that’s all they do is look like ours, and unfortunately give people the wrong idea about what our cards are. Our tools are designed to be used and reuse, and then put securely back into the card base when you’re finished with them. You don’t have to wait for an emergency to see if your card works or to get familiar with how to use it. We want our customers to be familiar with the tools on their cards and in their kits.

We toyed around with things like magnets and adhesives before we designed the custom tool retention system we use now. Unfortunately, magnets weren’t secure, things slide side to side and would get dislodged (not to mention the issue of demagnetized credit cards), and adhesives left sticky gunk on the tools. Our tool retention system is not only reusable, but it’s also non-magnetic and non-adhesive (but it sticks like glue!). Also, unlike our competitors, we create our cards in the USA.

We use thicker steel stock than our competitors (something people always comment on the second they touch them), and we go the extra mile to fully harden our material, which is why although our tools are thin, they don’t perform like they are due to our added thickness and the hardening steps we take. We also take great pride in our customer service and quick turnaround for shipping times. If a customer has a problem, we solve it, however we can, as fast as we can, and the way we would want it solved for ourselves or our family members. In the days of social media, customer service is one of the most important aspects of a business that often gets overlooked, forgotten or never attended to at all. When someone calls Grim Workshop, they don’t get a call service; they are talking to the business owners, the people who designed these tools, and thus, the people who care the most about them.

What types of stores carry your products, and who is the end consumer?

Because of the broad range of items we make (from beard combs to lock pick sets and everything in between), we’ve seen an amazing range of customers and stores interested in our gear. Our items perform extremely well among survival and emergency kits as well as with camping and hiking stores, but we perform incredibly in places like hardware stores and bait shops, as well. The nice thing about our tools is that they can appeal to anyone because anyone can carry them without someone else ever knowing unless you let them into your wallet (literally). We’ve found the core base of our customers include survival, bushcraft, lockpicking and everyday carry enthusiasts. Being able to put a Altoid tin into your pocket that contains literally hundreds of pieces of gear really appeals to the prepper and EDC (everyday carry) communities.

What challenges have you seen recently in your industry, and what are you doing to overcome them?

We are always trying to overcome the reputation created by poor quality “card tools” made overseas from poor quality materials and that aren’t reusable. Early on, we decided to let our products speak for themselves, and they very quickly did, by getting our products into the hands of important influencers in our industry as well as into the hands of customers. We have gained in popularity by leaps and bounds both for the quality of the products we produce vs. our competitors’ and for the fact that we’re ALWAYS making something new, innovative and interesting.

What advice do you have for independent retailers facing the same challenges?

Focus on quality and function. For us, the reusability of our tools is a very helpful factor with tools so compact. The quality will speak for itself once they feel the strength and durability of a good product, and the price won’t even matter. When it comes to tools that might end up being used to save some time, save the day or save a life, you don’t want to get a lesser tool to save a couple of dollars when it could potentially cost you so much more.

What is your order process and turnaround time for dealers?

If we have everything they order in stock, less than a week (usually even less). If we have to do a custom order, turnaround is three weeks to us from our manufacturers and a week for us to package and ship them out. I will say, as metal shortages and shipping issues even in the U.S. continue, we have seen slightly longer turnaround even through USPS.

Do you have any minimum order requirements or requirements when choosing a dealer?

We love to help small business owners grow their businesses. We have allowed mixing and matching tools within their type so they can meet the minimums, and we have a wide variety. Our tools come shelf-ready in display boxes. We do find a clear understanding of all of the uses of the tools will escalate sales tremendously. You can get that by calling and asking us or by watching some of the amazing videos we include on our product pages on our website.

Anything else you would like to add?

If you like what you’re seeing from us now, just wait until you see what we make next. Sometimes, people think we’re joking when we say we have hundreds of finished prototypes for new tools, but that’s the honest truth, and we’re not stopping anytime soon.