Cut, Craft, Connect

In this episode of Shake Hands, Take Names, AJ sits down with brothers Sam and Jim Cripps of Cripps and Sons Woodworking to talk about how passion, perseverance, and relationships turned a small rural cabinet shop into an innovation‑driven business. They share the family origins of the company, their long road to becoming Red Seal cabinet makers without a clear apprenticeship path, and how they balance the art and science of modern cabinetry—from steam‑bent oak archways to robots on the shop floor. Along the way, they dig into the realities of skilled trades for a 17‑year‑old just starting out, the power of community and networking in rural Nova Scotia, and why trust, respect, and genuine curiosity matter more than chasing dollars.