Rogers resident John Adams never planned to start a woodworking business—he just wanted to keep his 16 grandchildren entertained. But what began as a simple woodworking project quickly grew into a thriving family venture, fueled by the kids’ excitement to create and sell their own products and their grandfather’s passion for teaching them the value of entrepreneurship.
The journey began in 2008, when John started teaching his grandchildren—then between the ages of 3 and 11—the basics of woodworking. Using his garage as their shop, he showed the children how to use the tools, starting with easy hand tools and moving on to power tools, progressively advancing from simple tasks to detailed projects.
As their skills grew, so did their ambitions—and soon, the grandchildren weren’t just making projects for fun, but preparing to share and sell their creations in their local community.
While some of the kids focused on handcrafting the products, others took the lead on building a website and developing a marketing strategy—with guidance from Startup Junkies, a Northwest Arkansas organization that supports budding entrepreneurs. Together, they laid the groundwork for Popknot Wood, a true reflection of a small, family-run business.
Over the years, the family has created cutting boards, stools, exotic bowls, Bible boxes, jewelry boxes, coffee grinders, and other furniture and home decor. John uses each project as a lesson, letting his grandkids decide what they want to create, how much the materials cost, and if they have all of the equipment to make it, running through the entire process from ideation to sale.
“They have to figure out how much this would sell for. … How much money in materials did I have? How much do I want to make?” he says.
They mostly sell their goods at local farmers’ markets and craft fairs, and even have a few pieces displayed at the Rogers Historical Museum, John says. They also have online purchasing through the Popknot Wood website.
“I've sold zero stuff on (the website) for them,” John laughs. “Unbeknownst to them, there has been somebody mysterious who bought some of their stuff on there for encouragement.”
The family has also used the business as a way to give back to their community. They’ve given away a lot of their pieces to 4-H Clubs and other charities to support fundraising efforts. They also make wooden urns for Kaden’s Cause, a nonprofit organization established to support families who have lost a child.
A Legacy of Hard Work and Community Ties
With 11 generations rooted in the Rogers area, John's family history runs deep—woven into the very fabric of the community. Around 180 years ago, his family donated the land and built the church on Promenade Boulevard, long known as Oakley Chapel United Methodist. The work of his great uncles can still be seen in stamped ceiling tiles in businesses on First Street, and his family was responsible for the area’s first poultry heaters, waters, and feeders, he says.
As a great-grandson of lumber millers, John grew up watching his grandfathers work the mills in the hills of the Ozarks. He learned many lessons along the way—but none more valuable than the worth of a hard day’s work done right. He hopes he’s passed those lessons along to his grandchildren.
“I hope that they're more entrepreneurial-minded, at least they've got exposed to what it is (to run a business),” he says. “It's not all collecting a paycheck and sitting back.”
As John's grandkids have grown—some even starting families of their own—the number of projects has slowed, but the tradition continues. His youngest, now 10, still comes over every other weekend and enjoys building in the shop. The oldest, 24, joins in whenever he's home. And during the holidays, most of them still love helping out with snowmen and Christmas tree projects.
“For my grandkids, the biggest thing is, I want them to experience different things in life and have fun at it,” John says. “But more than anything, it's all these things you have to think about, not just what you're going to make, but will it sell—or is this practical? … The whole gauntlet, if you will. I've enjoyed it.”
Popknot Wood
Website: popknotwood.com
Email: shop@popknotwood.com
Phone: (479) 763-9600