When it comes to building a business, steak is more satisfying than ramen noodles.

“Push yourself; both mentally and physically. The harder you work in the early years, the sooner your company will grow, and the less time you’ll spend on the Ramen Noodle Diet,” said Joel Baker, one of the founders of Scam Skate.

Baker, along with Gavin Barrett, started Scam Skate out of a garage. For the past two years, the company has manufactured custom longboards and the Scam Skate branded apparel line from their headquarters at 414 Graham Avenue in Winnipeg’s downtown. Before that, they relied on North Forge Technology Exchange’s Fabrication Lab.

“The equipment at the Fabrication Lab allowed us to increase our production speeds and quality to an industrial level… When we outgrew the garage, we just couldn’t keep up to the demand with our conventional tools,” Joel explained, adding that the Fabrication Lab is an excellent resource for stepping up your game as a business.

“Whether you want to do production runs of your products, or prototype something from scratch, the Fabrication Lab has you covered. The way North Forge is structured is ideal – 24/7 access lets me pull those crucial all-nighters in the early stages of business, and the knowledgeable community of makers is always happy to share their ideas.”

The pair pride themselves on craftsmanship and customer service, with all of their products designed and produced in-house. They were also recently sponsored by RONA to build a half-pipe in their shop, providing local skateboarders with a place to go during the winter, free of charge.

So why did they choose to set up shop in Winnipeg? “Programs and facilities like North Forge simply weren’t available in the small town we came from [Portage la Prairie]. We appreciate the help Winnipeg has given us, and we want to return the favor by creating local design and manufacturing jobs for this awesome city.”