Things Worth Keeping

Most of what we buy is made to be replaced. Phones, chairs, kitchen tools, the plastic thing that held the other plastic thing. We've gotten used to a cycle where objects arrive, wear out fast, and get thrown away, often before we've really noticed them.

We'd rather make the other kind of thing. The one you reach for every day without thinking about it. The one that's still on the counter in twenty years, a little darker, a little worn at the edges, and better for it.

That's the whole idea behind what we do at Biglow. Here's how we think about it.

Start with the material

We build in solid wood and it's not a style choice. Hardwood is dense, strong and stable. It handles daily use and knocks that would chip, crack or warp lesser materials. When it does show wear, it can be sanded, oiled and brought back. You can't refinish plastic!

Wood also ages in a way most materials don't. It deepens in colour. It picks up the marks of the kitchen it lives in. A cutting board that's been used for a decade doesn't look broken, it looks like it belongs to someone.

Design without expiration dates

Trends move fast. A product designed to look current or stylih this year usually looks dated in five. So we try to design things that are timeless.

Clean lines, honest joinery and nothing added just for the sake of it. Every piece we make starts with a question: what does this actually need to do? The Gravity Bar holds your letters, mail, artwork, photographs and appointment reminders. The Book Stop holds your books. Chopping Blocks give you a solid, stable cutting surface in the kitchen. Form and function, how 'bout that!

Made to last, not be replaced

The most sustainable product is one you don't have to buy again. That's the simplest way we know to make less waste: make things well enough that they don't need replacing.

So we build slowly, in small batches, by hand. Our team checks each piece as it moves through the shop and we'd rather take an extra day than send out something we wouldn't keep ourselves.

We've been doing this in Winnipeg for over 10 years. We've stayed independent on purpose, no outside investors pushing us to grow faster or cut corners. We take pride in making the right decisions for our team and for our customers: the better material, the stronger joint, the finish that holds up.

Taking care of it

Things worth keeping do ask a little of you. Wood prefers a wipe with a damp cloth (let's avoid a soak), a nice dry spot to rest and a coat of oil now and again. That's about it! If you're ever unsure how to take care of your Biglow products, check out our FAQ with all the info you need.

Buy less, keep more

We're not asking anyone to give up nice things. We're asking for fewer, better ones. Things made by real people, from real materials, meant to stick around.

If that sounds like your kind of thing, take a look around the shop! And if you already own a piece of ours, we hope it's earning its place.