Rising Stars: Meet Sandra Augustine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Augustine. 

Hi Sandra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Rebel Metalworks was created in 2012 after we sold a large-scale metal stamping and fabrication business. After ten years of growing the stamping business, my husband Mark was ready to slow down and enjoy more family time, and I was looking forward to see him more. Mark wanted to continue working in the metal industry, so we rented a small building a few miles from our home and created the beginning phases of Rebel Metalworks. Instead of delegating tasks to employees like he did at our other business as owner, Mark put on his welding helmet and got to work. Fabrication jobs and requests for custom metal signs and artwork quickly started coming in. We were growing fast. I quit my part-time job and started answering the phone and creating a website. I taught myself how to list our products on Etsy and Ebay and how to create a Facebook page. Social media and selling platforms didn’t exist when we had our first business. We received requests from store owners who had seen our work and who were looking for unique metal products. Needless to say, we outgrew our rented facility and eventually purchased a 40-acre farm. We turned the barns into our metal shop and bought an Amish cabin which became our showroom and gift shop. Are kids are involved in the business too. Our eldest daughter helps with social media posts, our son is a welder, and our youngest daughter helps package items and sweeps the shop when needed. We greatly appreciate our customers and enjoy what we do every day. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I think we have an advantage with this business because this isn’t our first. We learned a lot during our first go-around and so we try not to make the same mistake twice. Not to say that this is a piece of cake. We work long hours, especially during the holiday season and in northern Michigan, weather can play a huge part in if a day goes smoothly or not. Our winters are brutal. Staying trendy and being innovative is a challenge. We are constantly discussing new product ideas. Trying to continually give our customers something new and interesting to sell in their stores or to add to their homes. 

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We feel our business consists of three categories. One category is the fabrication side which consists of mostly industrial projects. We have been commissioned to build metal shelving units, metal containers for scrap yards, metal kiosks to be used in airports, and even bracketry to be used in Casino bathrooms. We also manufacture flooring display racks and carts to be used in flooring stores and warehouses. 

Our second category would be large metal products for the general public. We make golf cart bumpers and brush guards, custom butterfly benches…a bench in the shape of a butterfly, fire pits of all shapes and sizes, and one- and two-dimensional silhouettes of animals, and even the World War II icon Rosie the Riveter. Our most popular is our 6 ft. Bigfoot. We have shipped these items all across the United States. 

Our small-scale items consist of home décor items and would be our third category. We offer many different signs and decretive pieces. Our most popular piece is our Tree of Life which is available in four sizes ranging from 20 inches to 36 inches. 

Our goal is to provide our customers with a quality product and exceptional customer service. 

Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Owning a business is risky, but Mark and I don’t think of it in that sense. We both feel even though there are risks in owning our own business, we are living our best life. There are days that aren’t as profitable as others, and the unpredictable highs and lows of the economy can be nerve-wracking but we both feel blessed to be our own boss. We have the freedom to make our own hours which allows us to attend school functions and sporting events for your youngest, who is still living at home. We understand that our success is in our own hands, and to us that is what motivates us. We are both very competitive in nature and personally challenge ourselves every day to do a better job or accomplish more than we did the day before. We set goals and consistently aim to hit those goals. Failure is not an option. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rebelmetalworks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebelmetalworks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rebelmetalworks1