Handcrafted Iron Snail Tealight Holder in Copper Hue 'Happy Snail' Item ID: 2671797584

“Hi! I’m Dan (Narakorn Wongnitkorn). I was born and raised in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and have never left to work elsewhere. I’ve been passionate about steel arts since I was young, but I chose to study agriculture. After finishing a vocational certificate, I tried to work in the industry for five years, but then I realized I needed to do something I love and make money.

“I am self-taught about curved steel. I bought second-hand products, tried to build easy welding machines, and made friends with some welders from many shops to be educated by them. I began to sell my steel products at night, walking the streets in Chiang Mai, and it went very well. I learned a lot about what customers wanted. If they ordered something I’ve never done before, I would research and try to make it, with many trials and errors, and eventually complete it.

“After I joined some fair trade organizations in Bangkok, I got more orders and began to export for a couple of years. Then I organized my own workshop at Baan Tawai Village, and now I have around 30 staff and craftsman (mostly from Chiang Mai and Tai Yai), with help in accounting from my wife and support from our two little boys (5 and 10 years old).

“I have 2-3 designers to help create new products, and a marketing researcher to keep an eye on trends in the decor markets, both Thai and international. At the time of the pandemic of COVID-19 (2020), our biggest struggle was that our foreign customers stopped orders entirely. Then I tried to find another sales channel, and fortunately found an online channel to make it through that year. And I got many new ideas about what I should design if people work at home. For example, I created lamps, and it went well because customers had time to decorate their houses.

“With my base in Baan Tawai Village, I’ve met many foreign customers and got ideas and trends from everywhere globally, and I adapt from what they want to learn new skills. The most important thing about my job is you have to create a unique design with no limits. Now I am trying to work with other materials besides steel, such as wood and fabric.

“My dream is to have ample land to build a small academy for those who want to study and be a craftsman simultaneously at my place, so they don’t have to find a job elsewhere. And I hope my customers will appreciate my products.”