When AJ and Kat Nobile moved to San Benito County from Arizona in February of this year, they did not just find a new home to live in, but discovered a passion for creating and selling custom-made furniture. AJ, who started working with wood at the age of three with his father, is a carpenter by profession and Kat was a Pilates instructor and at home mom to their soon to be three year old son Emmitt. Using AJ’s skill set and reclaimed wood from Kat’s parents’ home in Tres Pinos, AJ built a bench for Kat’s parents soon after arriving. From that moment forward Noble Made was born.
Originally focusing on reclaimed materials, the Nobile’s steered clear of traditional online venues to sell handmade products, such as Etsy, in a desire to have their customers “see it (the piece) with their own eyes” and to avoid the possibility of broken pieces through shipping. By being able to attend craft shows and work with people in person, Kat said that it allows customers to connect more deeply with the pieces since they, “can sit on it and see the detail in the work”. In fact, working with people and bringing things back to life is what the Nobiles like best about their business. As Kat expalined, “I really like taking something old and making it new again, making it functional, and making it be able to be enjoyed again”. In addition to loving the creative side of the business, AJ said for him the most rewarding part of the process is, “taking something personal and adding to the piece,” to give to the customer.
Though reclaimed wood was the start of the business, the Nobile’s have also recently created custom made pieces with non-reclaimed wood at the request of customers. One customer was the Community Food Bank of San Benito County where the Nobile’s created multiple pieces at a discounted price in an effort to support a local organization that gives back to the community. This project was also one that appealed to the Nobile’s due to their desire to work with local businesses and organizations in San Benito County. When asked why they thought custom-made pieces would appeal to people Kat shared that she not only thinks the pieces look better than mass produced items, but that, “you can get exactly what you want. You’re the boss”.
Since starting their business, the Nobile’s have used media outlets such Instagram, Thumbtack, and a personal webpage with their company’s name “Noble Made” to sell their products and provide bids to people interested in creating unique pieces for their homes or businesses. In the last nine months the Nobile’s have made secret doors, benches, cabinets, desks, and bed frames to name a few. As AJ explained, “It’s become a thing now. People want to use salvaged material,” for unique pieces. AJ further explained that whether using reclaimed materials or not, being able to help design “a piece that will last forever and mean something to me (the customer),” is appealing to people who choose to business with Noble Made.
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