Today we’d like to introduce you to C.C. Boyce.
Thanks for sharing your story with us C.C. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Boyce Studio began very organically. My dad was a woodworker, we had a wood shop in the basement while I was growing up. So I was very comfortable around tools and machinery from a very early age. I always liked building and fixing things, but it was always just a hobby as I worked as a commercial and voice over actor here in Los Angeles.
A few years ago, I wanted to start building again, so I attended the El Camino College Woodworking Program and started making things for myself and for friends. Demand got too high to keep manufacturing at school, and that led me to getting my own shop. As I spent more and more time in the shop, acting seemed less and less appealing, and I found myself just wanting to design and build. So I finally took the leap and started my own business.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
As with any small business, there have been obstacles. It is not easy to find an affordable work space in Los Angeles. My first space was not the best environment. The roof leaked, it was not secure, and there were some dodgy people living in the building. I eventually found the place in which I work now, which is not only affordable, but up to code with a great landlord to boot! I love working in the Fashion District of DTLA, the area is busting with energy every day.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Boyce Studio – what should we know?
Most of the things that I make start by being things that I need or that my friends need. I make something, and then if it works well and I like it, I add it to my line of goods. Since all the goods are market tested, I can make adjustments if need be, and be confident that the piece will stand the test of time. My planters started as a way to utilize off cuts of wood. Lots of times I would have perfectly good pieces of wood left over from a project and I didn’t want to throw it away. I also did not want to become a wood hoarder, so I started gluing stuff together and making functional goods out of the leftovers. The smaller pieces are still made with off cuts, leftover from furniture pieces.
Sustainability is a priority for Boyce Studio as well. We only use FSC Certified wood, we source all components of our goods from local sources, and use more natural finishes than are traditionally used in furniture. Our packaging is recycled and recyclable.
I first moved to DTLA in 2002 and have witnessed all the changes to the area since. I have been always been moved by the art, the food, and architecture that surrounded me every day as I walked or rode my bike around the area. Boyce Studio is currently finalizing a furniture collection that is modeled after the old scaffolding billboards located on the tops of so many of the old buildings in Downtown. I’m lucky to be located in an area so rich in resources. All our fabricators and suppliers are either right in Downtown or just outside. I am also involved in improving DTLA, volunteering to build furniture for the Downtown Women’s Center in Skid Row and as a member of the Livability Committee of Downtown Los Angeles Neighborhood Council. I am deeply invested in my community both as a resident and as a business owner.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.boycestudio.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @boycestudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boycestudio/
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