The Owner Operator Report: Trade Secrets

Eric here, owner and operator of Jarvis Boards—coming at you from the workshop floor here in Chicago, where the shop dust never really settles.

This is the Owner Operator Report—my once-a-month check-in where I share a peek behind the curtain. I’ll talk a bit about what we’re building, what’s breaking, what’s keeping me up at night (besides epoxy cure times), and what I’ve been learning along the way.

No marketing fluff, no AI bots—just a handcrafted email, typos and all.

Shop Talk

A quick rundown of what’s happening behind the scenes.

Big news: We released The Statesider, our flagship All-Around Paddle Board we're making custom made-to-order, and it’s a beauty. We’ve taken a solid handful of orders that will keep us busy for the next 6 weeks.
We just launched our new apparel line—a major upgrade in quality and design. All small-batch, locally screen printed and embroidered right here in Chicago.
On the bench this week: Fiberglassing an 11’4” Olive Ash + Charcoal Slate Statesider shipping to a customer in Milwaukee next month, and shaping two Koa + Ivory Cream boards headed to New Jersey.

This Month’s Reflection

On trade secrets, transparency, and trust.

Lately I’ve been thinking about how much of our production process I should share publicly. Where’s the line between educational content and a trade secret we’ve worked hard to develop?

In the sporting goods industry, rip-offs and copycats aren’t uncommon—so keeping the doors closed makes sense, especially if you’ve been burned before. But on the other hand, The folks I admire most are the ones who share what they’ve learned—the ones who open up, teach, and tell their story. Honestly, those are the people & businesses I like to buy from myself.

People often call me “self-taught,” but I’ve never liked that term. I’ve learned from so many makers along the way—online, in person, and through trial and error. So this next month, I’m leaning into that open-book mindset.

What do you want to know about? What part of the process are you curious about? Hit reply and let me know.

Stuff Worth Sharing

A few things I think you’ll dig.

On the Water: The Chicago River dyed green (video) for St. Patrick’s Day from our friends at Kayak Chicago. Next year we'll be doing this on a fleet of Jarvis demo boards...
Off the Clock: I just finished season 1 of Landman while rocking my newborn son to sleep. It gave me a new appreciation for oil-rig workers and the great Billy Bob Thornton... so good.
Maker’s Pick: My Makita cordless plunge trim router—perfect for routing accessory pockets, trimming traction pads, and cutting wood veneer skins with template bearings. (NOT a paid ad or affiliate link)

Until Next Time

Thanks for being here. Seriously.

You can always reply to this email—it comes straight to me. Whether you’ve got questions, ideas, or just want to say hey, I read every message.

Here’s to the next build, the next paddle, and doing work that matters.

— Eric

Owner & Operator

Jarvis Boards

P.S. We're posting a lot more content on Instagram nowadays. Follow us for more behind-the-scenes videos of custom builds and business growth updates.