Born from the Appalachian roots of husband-and-wife founders Evan and Chelsea Bunn, Local Yokels Trading Co. makes hand-drawn Appalachian apparel and goods alongside its locally manufactured Spitfire fire multi-tools. Founded in 2021 and launched publicly in 2022, the company keeps Spitfire development and manufacturing close to home in Ripley, Ohio, where more than 10,000 units have been sold. Chelsea’s illustrations give the brand its distinctive voice, while the founders’ mobile storefront, a converted 24-foot school bus called Critter, carries that work to customers in person.
Black Swamp Leather Company LLCFrom a Northwest Ohio garage side hustle, Mike Epling has built Black Swamp Leather Company LLC into a one-person shop making handmade holsters, belts, and everyday leather gear. His former work repairing tooling and machining in a plastic injection shop informs the shop’s emphasis on precision and durability, while every piece is made in-house rather than mass-produced. The company also supports military personnel, law enforcement officers, and firefighters through its work and community-minded mission.MONTPELIER, OH
Nelson GiftsFrom its Steubenville, Ohio, shop, Nelson Gifts is a small family-owned manufacturing company making handcrafted gifts and décor with a distinctly American and regional character. Its offerings range from patriotic outdoor pieces and classic-art designs to state ornaments, camping gifts, and its own themed popcorn. The company says it combines careful handcrafting with innovative solutions across its wide-ranging gift lines.STEUBENVILLE, OH
Smith Outfitters, LLCFounded in Steubenville in 2010, Smith Outfitters is a family-run firearms manufacturer and outfitter that builds its own S15 and S10 platforms while providing custom gunsmithing and gear for the outdoors and public-safety community. The company operates with federal firearms and Special Occupational Tax licenses in Ohio and West Virginia, and its in-house capabilities include machining, laser engraving, and Cerakote work. Owner Matt Smith, a former Ohio peace officer, runs the business with his brother Shawn, a certified gunsmith.STEUBENVILLE, OH
ByAutumnQueer woman-owned ByAutumn is a family-run, Columbus, Ohio maker business led by Autumn Eden-Goodman, whose work centers on making fiber arts more accessible and size inclusive. The company is best known for its Cordsmith® i-cord tool, made by hand in Ohio, and supports the wider maker community through the Size Inclusive Collective. More than 27,000 Cordsmith tools have reached makers in over 40 countries.