Young upholsterer stitching his way to success

As a student at Charlie Smith High School in St Andrew, Travis Gordon always had a special love for woodwork.

He spent most of his free time in his yard crafting benches, and even made a chicken coop and stall for his mother. So, at age 19, he jumped at the opportunity to work for an upholsterer in Spanish Town, St Catherine. He quickly grasped the trade. However, he desired to be more than a just an apprentice.

"Mi really grateful fi everything weh him teach mi, but mi did want mi own shop and mi did wah fi duh mi own designs and just build something fi mi self," Gordon said. He then sought guidance from his former boss on how to launch his own business. So, armed with the knowledge and skills he gained through conversation and teaching, he started Travis Upholstery in Rose Town, St Catherine. Now at 27, he has successfully transformed his skill and experience into a thriving business.

"Mi love dis, because it come natural to mi and a it gi mi everything weh mi want," said Gordon. He also told THE STAR that he had a difficult childhood with many challenges, and learning the trade of upholstery changed his life.

"We did have it rough because, most time, mi mother never did a work, and a did mi grandfather alone bring in things sometimes. Sometimes a all one meal fi day we a eat, to how things did hard," Gordon explained, adding that, with his trade, he is now able to fully care and provide for his family.

"Me is a family person, enuh. Me cah happy and dem nuh happy. Me cah alright and dem nuh alright, Mi nuh know how some other people duh it ... but, to me, family a everything," Gordon said.

On his sister's birthday, Gordon built a unique bed set and, on her headboard, he designed an 'M', the first letter of her name. He then posted it on social media and the video went viral on TikTok, flooding his inbox with orders.

"Mi frighten when mi see how much people want the design. People a tell mi seh dem want mi fi mek one fi dem daughter and all fi dem," Gordon said.

"Mi love fi see mi ideas dem come to life and mi love how people react to mi talent. A whole heap a people see mi and encourage mi because dem see mi skill and that mek mi feel good," Gordon said, adding that he gets customers from as far away as Montego Bay. He also told THE STAR that it is not just the uniqueness of his designs that draws customer, but also his top-quality products and fast delivery time.

"Me is a man weh nuh like police, suh mi anuh like them other man weh will hold on to yuh money and tek all six months fi gi yuh goods," he said. "If mi nuh have much fi duh, yuh can get yuh goods all the next day, and, when a busy time, mi still try fi mek yuh get yuh goods in a week or two di most." Gordon said that, on average, he makes up to four ottomans a day and about four headboards. He believes his prices are affordable, as a pair of hassocks goes for $8,000 and a sectional couch for up to $110,000.

The young upholsterer also encouraged those who are interested in the trade to believe in themselves and not be discouraged from pursuing a trade.

"Trade is all right now, enuh. If yuh nuh have skill, yuh nah seh nothing right now. Whether yuh wah duh nails, hair, whatever skill it be, get it, because yuh can open yuh own hair salon, yuh can open yuh own nail shop, yuh can duh plumbing, yuh can duh steel work. Once yuh have a skill, yuh can better yourself. Yuh a guh always have work" Gordon said.