The First Edition – Founders Day & Our Barebones Beginnings

The First Edition – Founders Day & Our Barebones Beginnings

Hi and welcome to the first edition of To Fellow Makers, a new monthly chat about what’s happening in the world of woodworking, making, and Rockler.

For this kickoff, and in honor of Founders Day, I want to take a step back and talk about where it all began—my grandpa Nordy Rockler and our barebones beginnings.

A Different Time, A New Idea

Some of you may have heard parts of this story before, but it’s not every day that a company gets to reflect on 71 years of history. We’re lucky to have that, and it’s worth telling.

A lot was different in the early 1950s. For one, there were no big-box home centers. Sure, neighborhood hardware stores existed, but they mostly carried the basics—hammers, nails, paint. Specialty woodworking tools and hardware? Unless you were a professional cabinetmaker, good luck finding them.

At the same time, materials developed during WWII were starting to shape new industries—including improved plywood that made furniture-making more accessible to more people.

And that’s where my grandpa comes in.

From Mink Farming to Woodworking

Nordy was always handy. He grew up in a family where you built what you needed—whether it was electrical, woodworking, or even sewing. But before woodworking, he actually had a mink farm (yes, really).

That is, until a friend made an offhand comment: "Why don't you sell plywood by mail?" It wasn’t the most practical business idea—turns out plywood is cumbersome to ship, and there wasn’t exactly a booming market for it in 1954.

But the idea planted a seed.

Nordy left his family business to follow his passion. He started attending trade shows, hunting for unique woodworking tools and hardware, and curating them into a mail-order catalog; Minnesota Woodworkers Supply Company.

That was the foundation of what would eventually become Rockler Woodworking and Hardware.

The Early Days—Innovation and Bologna Sandwiches

Nordy always cared about the customer experience — he was among the first to include screws and instructions with hardware, a simple innovation that made a difference. We also became the first in the industry to carry lamp parts and porcelain casters.

And while the company was slowly growing, it was still very much a family business. When my mom was little, she was paid in bologna sandwiches to open and address envelopes—eventually, she got a raise to $1.50 a day.

A few decades later, she carried on the tradition with me — as a little girl I also helped around, filing those same bags of screws until I graduated to sealing them with the hot press. Ann fell in love with the business and came back full-time, seeing its possibilities. A few years later, my uncle Gary joined and together they installed our first computer system (a very 1970s version)

Then came one of our biggest moves — actual storefronts. That’s when we changed our name to The Woodworker’s Store

Always Innovating

Nordy invented our first product in 1955; Plyedge® banding for covering exposed plywood edges, and we have been pioneering woodworking innovation ever since;

Three generations

I was lucky to grow up in woodworking, learning from my grandpa and other people at the company. My crib was in the office, so I truly grew up in the company!

When I was older, I took the night classes at the local trade school's cabinetry department, attended workshops across the country as a field reporter for Woodworker’s Journal, and completed the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship furniture program.

In my early adulthood, I moved to different cities and professions, but just like my grandpa, the woodworking seed was planted. I’d like to think that together we grew into a big tree.

Rockler is a Family—In More Ways Than One

Ann and I aren’t the only ones who grew up in Rockler.

Rick (pictured below) started as a teenager, met his wife here, and a lot of their family members worked at Rockler until retirement.

And still, we have multi-generational employees. Our director of store development has been here for decades, and our design manager, who happens to be his son, works alongside him.

Over our 71 years, we’ve expanded from our catalog days, but coincidentally we’re still on the same street where it all started (just down about 30 miles)...

And even though I really miss my grandpa, we are lucky to still be here today, and lucky to share it with you—my fellow makers.

Let’s keep building together,

Your Fellow Maker,

LiLi Rockler Jackson