Innovation & Job News

Until Derek Swanson responded to an invitation for pop-up artisans at Union Market in the fall of 2012, his plan had been to operate his new venture, DC Mobile Sharpening, as a part-time, mobile-only business.

“I came home from the weekend at the market, went to the basement, emptied my wine rack, and started filling it with knives,” he says.

And then he called for backup.

Swanson’s brother drove down from Boston the next day, and the two got to work sharpening the knives customers had dropped off. His brother is still here, the Union Market stall is still there, and the business is now full time. Swanson estimates they have sharpened 1,500 knives to date.

Swanson and his brother learned the skill of knife sharpening at their grandfather’s tool and die shop in Massachusetts.  “We’ve vastly improved our skills,” Swanson states. “You get much better at it, the more you do it.” A single knife used to take him 20 minutes to sharpen; now Swanson can knock one out in about five minutes.

Swanson has retained the mobile concept of his original business plan. He collects knives from homes and restaurants and leaves customers loaner blades while theirs are being sharpened. He also offers mail-in service for customers outside the Beltway who want their knives professionally sharpened. But the majority of his business has come from the retail location he now operates in Union Market, the recently reopened market in Northeast D.C., where he offers both sharpening services and boutique cutlery crafted by master bladesmen.

He credits Union Market as the key factor for the quick growth of his business. “This market is a brand-new destination spot in D.C. There are terrific things to eat and buy, and it’s a great place to hang out. Most of my customers have come from walk-up traffic here.”

With such brisk business, Swanson forecasts hiring additional staff soon. “There will be plenty of work for people to do. Our edges just get sharper and sharper.”