Made in VT: Vermont Metal Goods

MONTGOMERY, Vt. (WCAX) - From intricate custom work to goodies you can find at a gift shop, a Montgomery metalworker can do it all.

In the shadow of Jay Peak sits a business a cut above the rest. Custom Wood Etching

“It stands out, it’s original. All of the artwork I create is original,” said Justin Dennis. The graphic designer turned business owner turned signmaker has added metalworker to the mix, too. The work really started with his full-service design business, JD Design. He focuses on all things identity, but it was signage that got him started on his current path.

“There’s a lot of times when I designed signs and then the sign shops would get them and things would change within what I created,” Dennis said. With a degree in graphic design -- and a hands-on attitude -- he took on a new business frontier. “As I was building my business, I bought a CNC plasma machine and we started cutting different shapes... When I did that, I realized that this could be an entirely different business.”

That different business is now known as Vermont Metal Goods. It began as a wholesale venture -- think keychains and coatracks. “As that progressed, we realized we had full fabrication capabilities so we started making anything custom that people wanted. So, handrails, steel stringers,” Dennis said.

Now, his Montgomery shop is littered with projects of all sizes, from custom work for Jay Peak to custom railings designed to be the centerpiece of a home. Plus, he’s started blending both businesses, making brackets and other hardware. “Making stuff like it used to be. We really like custom, we like different depths in the materials,” Dennis said.

But you don’t need to be constructing a home or hanging a sign to enjoy Vermont Metal Goods. Dennis makes all sorts of goodies for everyday use, too -- wine racks, ornaments, and general decor. No matter what he’s making, he says having creative control and seeing it through from start to finish is the most rewarding of all. “Never do the same thing. Every day is different, every project is different,” he said.

Different and made in Vermont.