Spencer Ratliff shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Spencer, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Well, I’m a dad of two young boys, so my day usually starts when someone climbs into our bed or I hear crying on the monitor. My wife, Melody, and I pour a cup of coffee and talk through the day ahead. Since we’re business partners as well as married, that time doubles as our morning meeting — we delegate tasks, plan for the week, and catch up on anything from the day before, all while the boys are climbing over us.
After that, I make breakfast and pack lunches while Melody gets the boys dressed and ready for school. We eat together, then walk our kindergartener to school and drop our youngest off at preschool a couple of days a week. The mornings can be a little chaotic, but it’s the season we’re in — and honestly, I wouldn’t trade it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Spencer Ratliff and I own Able Trade a shared wood shop and metal shop in Knoxville, TN. I am also a furniture designer and own Old North Designs. I feel really lucky to be able to pursue two passions of mine as my career and even though they are very different businesses they compliment each other well. I’ve been designing and building furniture under the name Old North Designs for over 10 years now and as much as I’ve loved it I have seen first hand how hard of a business it can be and I wanted to make it easier for other creatives in my industry to run their business. Community mindedness and shared resources has always been important to me and so I opened Able Trade in 202o to share my wood shop and metal shop tools and space with anyone who is wanting to launch their own businesses or just expand their diy capabilities.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My wife Melody, and I got married when I was 23 and she was 22, and we’ve been together for over 15 years. I owe so much to her, especially for encouraging me to pursue a career as a furniture maker. She pushed me to take the leap and supported us financially while I poured everything I earned back into my business during those first five years. Whenever I felt like giving up, she helped me see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Eventually, she left her own jobs and businesses to help run mine. She brought order, structure, and solid business systems to both Old North Designs and Able Trade, allowing me to focus on design, customer relations, and building, while she handles the books, taxes, and operations. She saw that all of this was possible, and I’m endlessly grateful for her vision, support, and partnership.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely! For the first six years of running Old North Designs, it felt like every three months I’d ask myself, “What am I doing?” and “Should I be doing something else with my life?” But with encouragement from my wife—and honestly, a lack of any better ideas—I just kept pushing through the doubt.
That same thought of giving up has crept in plenty of times since opening Able Trade. Running one business was hard enough, but running two while raising young kids has been a whole new level of complicated. Every time I make a big mistake, the money runs thin, or someone tells me I’m doing it all wrong, I think about packing up and disappearing into the woods.
But no matter how tough it gets, there’s this deep belief that what I’m building matters. Community and creativity are worth the struggle—they bring value to my city and to the people around me.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
Community-mindedness is probably the best way to sum up what really drives me. For the past nine years, my wife and I have shared a weekly dinner group with our neighbors and closest friends. We cook for each other, share meals and yard tools, take trips together, and now we’re raising our kids side by side. That sense of shared living inspired me to start Able Trade. I was already sharing tools and meals with my neighbors — it just made sense to extend that spirit into my work by opening my woodshop to others who needed it.
In our culture, we’re often told that success means owning everything and doing it all ourselves. But I’ve come to believe there are many parts of life that make more sense when we share resources, collaborate, and build community through trade.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
Being in the woods, surrounded by nature, is what brings me the most peace. I think that’s true for a lot of people — there’s something deeply grounding about stepping away from everything man-made and tuning in to what’s alive around us. After a solid few days in the woods, creativity, rest, joy, and overall wellbeing all feel a little more within reach.
My wife and I make it a goal to camp at least one weekend a month for nine months out of the year, just to give ourselves — and our kids — that time to reset. Somehow, after a few days outdoors, the problems that felt heavy before never seem quite as big.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://weareabletrade.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abletradeknox/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@abletrade7345
- Other: https://oldnorthdesigns.com
