Check Out Daniel & Sarah Cox’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel & Sarah Cox. 

Hi Daniel & Sarah, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
In 2016, we purchased a new home and wanted to completely change our style and decor along with furniture. We didn’t have the funds to be able to purchase many new things, so Daniel started building the things that we needed. After a few builds, we realized he was really good and loved working in the shop. After a few family and friend get-togethers at our new home, we received so many compliments on the items Daniel had built along with some of them even being bought straight out of our house. 

So, we decided to list a Facebook Marketplace add showcasing some of the items that we had built for ourselves. We received so many inquiries and spent weeks contacting potential customers and providing bids to them on their projects. We quickly grew and starting taking custom builds, attending local markets and shows, and just making items to sell on the side. We also started offering DIY classes at local boutiques as well as in-home stylings helping you style your space. 

Rustic Grains grew very quickly in the first year, quicker than we ever expected. We were both still working full-time jobs, raising a family, and trying to turn this fun hobby into an actual business. By the end of 2017, we felt that it something had to give, we couldn’t keep up this pace much long. So, Daniel decided to quit his 9-5 job to pursue Rustic Grains full time. 

At the time, we were attending upwards of 20 markets each year. We just couldn’t keep up in the shop with handmade items. So, we made the decision to expand our brand by bringing more unique items we could offer and sell. This was a game-changer for us…having more products for customers to look at and choose from helped up grow even more. 

By the end of 2019, we felt God was leading us to have myself quit my full-time job. So, I did! Little did we know, 2 days later, our home and RG shop would catch fire. We lost everything in fire…all our personal items, our inventory, our builds, our tools, our home, vehicles, trailers, everything! We felt like everything was out of control. We honestly, didn’t even know what to do or how to handle any of it. We were right in the middle of the holiday show season with 2 shows within a month of the fire. We had just lost the majority of our inventory that we needed to take to these shows, however, we felt like we were supposed to still attend. 

During those last 2 shows of the season, God placed so many people in our path that blessed us, helped us, prayed with us, loved us. The way God moved for us in those 2 shows, was beyond amazing and just what we needed to remind us that Rustic Grains is our purpose, regardless of the circumstances we were encountering. 

In early 2020, we started construction on our new house with us acting as General Contractors all while still trying to keep Rustic Grains running out of a mobile trailer on our property. We would host weekly live sales on Facebook out of the trailer where customers could purchase from us. This was the beginning of what is now known as Tuesday Trailer Sales. Trailer Sales have evolved over the last 3 years and support our family in between markets and shows. 

While building our home, we renovated a camper and lived on our property. We knew that we would be in the camper for a while, and wanted to make it feel like a home for our family. This was definitely a rough time for our family but knew we it’s what we need to do to survive and help us and our kiddos feel normal again. 

We were able to get our shop back up and going in April of 2021. Daniel was able to start building custom projects again and we had a place to store our inventory and Rustic Grains items. We got occupancy of our new house in September 2021, almost 2 years after the fire. 

So that brings us to 2022. This year, we decided to launch our very own market. We hosted our first Mustard Seed Market in April at the Clermont County Fairgrounds. 80 of Cincinnati’s best vendors and small businesses came and set up shop as we welcomed customers to the market. Our vision behind this market is to provide a place that families can come and enjoy time spent together while walking away with full tummies, full cars, and full hearts. We want an experience that leaves you and your family feeling different…feeling inspired and loved. 

We honestly don’t know how this market will evolve or what it might look like in 5 years. Like everything put before us, we are going into it with an open mind and open hearts. We don’t have a 5-year plan except know that it truly is whatever God calls us to do. His calling will make us more successful than us making a plan. We are walking through open doors and taking one step at a time! 

We’ve gotten asked what inspired the Mustard Seed Market…and this is our WHY. 

If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, move. This verse (Matthew 17:20) is so important to us because in our five years of business, we have had many trials and tribulations that God has truly seen us through. He constantly reminds us that it just takes a mustard seed-like faith; and to trust in him in all things, big or small. He teaches us to put our faith entirely in God’s power rather than in our abilities. Even the smallest amount of faith, as long as it is genuine faith, can make the impossible happen.” 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
How you can find out more about Rustic Grains, Mustard Seed Market (vendor or customer), Shop Rustic Grains, Schedule a Custom Build, or just follow along with our daily lives and what we are up to. 

Website- 

RusticGrains.com 

Facebook- 

https://www.facebook.com/rusticgrainswoodcompany 

Instagram- 

https://www.instagram.com/rusticgrainsco/?hl=en 

Download our Mobile App- 

https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1563284812 

Email us at- 

rgcrew@rusticgrains.com 

Apply to be a vendor at the Mustard Seed Market- 

https://rusticgrains.com/vendor-application/ 

Purchase tickets for our next Market (November)- tickets will be going on sale soon 

https://rusticgrains.com/mustard-seed-market/ 

Contact Info:

• Website: rusticgrains.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rusticgrainsco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rusticgrainswoodcompany