Meet Dan Scrima | Furniture Maker and Makerspace Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dan Scrima and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dan, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always wanted to own a business and work for myself. Since 2019 I’ve had a custom woodworking business doing mostly commission projects and furniture and it’s been an amazing part of my life. I’ve always had it in the back of my mind that it would become a full-time thing, but that always seems like more of a pipe dream and not reality. I’m really good at what I do in my day job but it really doesn’t give me the satisfaction that I think I could have with full control over my daily life, especially with three kids. One of the first questions I was asked when I started talking to a mentor at score weis why I was doing this and what my end goal was. It took me a little while to figure it out but this is really what I landed on.. I get so much enjoyment from woodworking and making things in general that I want to be able to give others that same feeling. This makerspace is going to be more than just cutting boards and dining tables, it’s going to be a place where people really find a passion and are part of a community of like-minded people.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
MontCo Makers is not just going to be a dusty old shop where there are a couple regulars working in silence. This makerspace is going to have a very different vibe when you walk through the door. There is going to be an energy and liveliness in the air and is going to inspire people to keep learning, keep going.

It has been extremely difficult for me to get to this point and we’re still a ways from opening. I’ve had ADHD my whole life and something simple as paperwork is the bane of my existence. The problem is, starting a business like this is so much paperwork, planning, researching pricing, having many calls with vendors, CPAs, lawyers, insurance brokers, and it’s rough for me to keep that momentum. My drive is that it’s really all I want to do, so there’s really no other way than to keep going, and do the hard work.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Some of the best places to eat outside of Philly would be in New Hope. There are some amazing restaurants of all sorts of cuisines.
Some of the small towns in the area are just adorable to walk around in. Ambler, Doylestown, Chestnut Hill, Newtown are all incredible, day or night.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My wife deserves a lot of credit for putting up with my stacks of wood around the yard for years and logs being dropped off in our driveway. She keeps me grounded when I have lofty ideas and is a great person to bounce my business ideas off of, and get a realistic perspective. Once she was on board with this makerspace, it’s been my primary focus.
Another group that has pushed me is the online maker community. Seeing makers building big shops from nothing, gaining thousands of followers by sharing their passion, and seeing how the whole group encourages each other and lifts each other up has been a huge influence. I want to build that community in a local setting.

Instagram: MontCoMakers