Today we’d like to introduce you to GARY MANN.
Hi GARY, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story in upholstery really began by accident.
In 2009, I enrolled at Wyotech to study business management and autobody. When my business management class became overbooked, the school offered students the opportunity to take the course in reverse order. While moving through the different programs, I happened to walk past the upholstery class. I didn’t even know Wyotech offered upholstery, but something about it immediately caught my attention. I was drawn to the craft, changed my program from business management to upholstery, and never looked back.
After graduating, I went to work for C.H. Schultz & Sons, which was established in 1887 and is recognized as the oldest continuously operating upholstery shop in the United States. That experience gave me a tremendous foundation and showed me the level of craftsmanship and attention to detail that goes into doing upholstery the right way.
From there, my path took me west. I traveled to Yellowstone, where I worked for several years and met my wife Angela. We eventually settled in Bozeman, Montana, where we bought a piece of property, built a tiny house, and I went to work at Rex’s Upholstery.
When we found out we were going to have a child, our plans changed. We sold our property in Montana and moved back to Pennsylvania in 2018. That’s when I decided to start doing upholstery on my own.
What started small out our spare bedroom has grown into Mann Made Upholstery. About three years ago, I built a new shop, and today I work primarily on automotive upholstery. I do a lot of convertible tops, as well as complete custom interiors, restoration work, and smaller repairs.
The funny thing is that none of this was really planned. I went to school thinking I was going into business management and autobody, and I happened to walk past an upholstery classroom that I didn’t even know existed. That one decision changed the direction of my life.
Now I’ve reached the point where I’ve quickly outgrown the space I built, and we’re preparing to expand the shop. It’s exciting to see how far that accidental discovery in 2009 has taken us.
At the end of the day, we’re still a mom-and-pop shop. We’re just a mom-and-pop shop producing high-end, custom results and treat every project like it deserves to be there.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting out is hard, getting your name and reputation out there doesn’t happen overnight. I had to work a full time hvac job to keep the bills paid while I waited for my shop to pick up. Which left me working late nights and 7 days a week to chase the dream.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I do custom interiors and convertible tops. I specialize in custom made upholstery. I’m most proud of my attention to detail, how I treat my customers. I don’t like the idea of doing something just to get it out the door. I want the finished product to be something I’m proud to put my name on. . I think what makes my shop different is that it is still a small, personal, mom-and-pop operation. I use top-quality materials, and every customer gets one-on-one attention when we’re working through design choices and deciding exactly how their project should come together. Whether it’s a complete custom interior or a simple repair, I approach every piece as if it were going into a showroom.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Aside from the business, family time, camping and traveling with the family watching my kids have new experiences.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mannmadeupholstery.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DbzEqanqx/
Image Credits
Angela Mann
