Love and Lobster Coastal New England Weddings

Always on the lookout for unique gift ideas, we stopped dead in our tracks when we learned about Charlotte Leavitt and John Guptil, co-owners of Portland’s CHART metalworks, hand-crafted jewelry from nautical charts! Can you imagine gifting your beloved a pair of stud earrings or cuff links featuring the very beach where you two were engaged or plan to marry? When speaking with Charlotte she described how much people love to tell their story. This jewelry allows people to wear their story. We’re so completely smitten. Take a peek at their process, read more about these two local gems, and be sure to note the exclusive savings offer for Love & Lobster readers below!

L&L: Tell us a bit about you and your company including how and when you got started?

CHART: I started making jewelry in 2002 mostly as a hobby and doing a few home shows etc., to support what my friends described as my “bead addiction.” I was doing more of an antique or vintage look using oxidized sterling silver, pearls and other gems and beads. By 2006 I began thinking about developing a business around my creative outlet and I became concerned that my jewelry was not creative enough for the market. I closed up my studio and sought inspiration. A long time sailor, I was surrounded by nautical charts in my home and one day the idea of embedding nautical charts in resin surfaced. By 2008 I launched CHART metalworks full time and John soon joined to assist with growing the business. Today we have over 70 wholesale accounts nationally and handle about 30 custom orders a week through our website and calls.

L&L: Is the name CHART metalworks intentional or a fortunate coincidence that your first name is Charlotte and your product is charts?

CHART: I never really intended it to to stand for my name, a lot of people call me “Char” so I’m constantly asked if the name stands for “Char” and then the “art” aspect, CHAR making ART, etc…  but I was just thinking CHART as in nautical charts. It’s really just a fortunate coincidence.

L&L: You and your partner John live and work in Portland, just a short walk from your home to your shop, and speak openly about being inspired by the busy wharf that surrounds you. Have you always lived in Maine? What do you love most about this area?

CHART: I have lived here most of my life. I moved to Hampden when I was four and was raised there. I’ve been in Portland now for over twenty years. John still teases me that doesn’t make me a true “Mainer.” He was born in Portland and raised in the Damariscotta area. His grandfather still lives on Guptill Lane after their last name in Owls Head in the home he converted from a chicken coup after World War II, that may make him a more extreme “Mainer,” but if you factor for age difference, I’ve actually been here longer.

We love the quality of life here in Portland, the booming creative economy and all the support the community provides to small business development and growth.

L&L: Where do you get your charts?

CHART: I used to get my charts from Chase Leavitt down on the wharf; they would let me take discontinued charts that could no longer be used for safety reasons. Now we find our charts all over. For our recycled chart collection we’ll buy from private sellers we find on Craigslist or eBay or acquire from friends, family and other resources who need help cleaning out storage or a basement. For our updated custom chart pieces we use the charting agencies NOAA for most of the United States, IMRAY for the Caribbean and NIMA for the Mediterranean to name a few.

L&L: What is your hottest seller? Do most of your sales come from wholesale or custom orders? Can you explain the difference?

CHART: Our hottest sellers would be the sterling silver necklaces on ball chain for the women, both the extra small (dime size) and small (quarter size) do really well. They would be closely followed by the sterling silver small drop earrings. For the men, the key ring and belt buckle, both in bronze, has been very popular and the cuff links are taking off this year. Our small bronze pendant on leather Greek cord has been doing really well too and is a great unisex piece.

It’s hard to say where the majority of our sales come from, last year we did more wholesale until of course the holidays. This year we’re a bit ahead with custom orders right now, but the bulk of our wholesale accounts are just getting started on their selling season.

Essentially for our wholesale accounts, retail stores, gift shops, galleries, etc., we develop a custom line featuring 3-5 points of interest or locations unique the retailer’s area. For example, for a Portland retailer we would feature Portland Head Light, The Portland Peninsula, Casco Bay, Peaks Island and Great Diamond in the line. We work with the retailer to establish the points of interest.

Custom orders are direct orders from customers either through our website or calls to the studio. With these orders our customers actually customize their own pieces, picking the location to be displayed and approving the artwork before we make the piece. We work with them zooming in and out and centering on specific points to get the exact location they want displayed on the chart. Given the customization aspect, the price point for a custom order is slightly higher than what one would pay for our pieces in store.

L&L: Your product is perfect for brides and grooms shopping for unique wedding gifts for each other or their bridal party that reflect quality local art and a personal touch. Can you share a few examples of your best selling wedding-related products?

CHART: Definitely the top selling item for groom and groomsmen right now are the cuff links available in sterling silver or bronze. We also sell tie tacks, lapel pins and soon our tux studs will be available to make for a really special set. The bride and bridesmaids will typically go with a necklace selection, but really the earrings and bracelets would look great, too.

Soon we’ll be launching some other home gifts items like wine charms and wine stoppers that we think will be great wedding gifts as well.

L&L: Speaking of weddings, I heard that you two are engaged! Congratulations! How are your wedding plans coming along, and will you marry in Maine?

CHART: Well, we’re sort of perpetually engaged at the moment; we have not set a date. But when it does arrive it will most likely be in Maine, most likely on the coast and it will definitely include our pieces!

L&L: Have you attended many weddings in Maine? Where is the most memorable and why?

CHART: Yes. The most memorable actually took place above the general store in Frankfort, Maine. I was a kid, but I think there might have been some intoxication involved on the part of the groom and I definitely remember all the attendees standing in their seats and screaming at some point! Now beautiful, romantic memorable: John’s sister wed at a beautifully renovated farm on the coast in South Bristol, Maine, along the banks of the Pemaquid River. They we’re married in a barn and the reception was outside, the setting and scenery was beautiful and quintessential Maine.

L&L: When you have company visit from out of town, what is the first thing you tell them about the state or must-see place to check out?

CHART: Well we’re here in Portland so we try to snag a ride on the Casco Bay Ferry’s mail boat run to get a great look at the bay and the islands in it. We follow that up with a meal at Portland Lobster Company.

We’re fortunate enough to be able to travel up and down the coast all summer long hosting trunk shows with our retailers during different events and festivals. I would recommend checking out the following when possible: in Boothbay, Windjammer Days in June and Boat Builders Weekend in July; a trip to Vinalhaven anytime, but for swimming in the quarries, the summer is probably best; Mount Desert Island, again anytime, but we’re fond of a little Maine Made Show hosted by an account of ours in Northeast Harbor at the end of July and the Friends of Acadia Auction and Gala in August; Rockland for the Lobster Festival and Maine, Boat, Homes and Harbor show in August; Camden for Windjammer Festival and Damariscotta for the Oyster Festival in September and the PumpkinFest and Regatta in October.

L&L: Thank you for sharing a bit of insight with us about CHART metalworks. If folks want to get in touch with you to place an order or see your product, what is the easiest way for them to do so? How long does a typical order take?

CHART: We handle the bulk of our customer orders through the website, www.chartmetalworks.com. We have wonderful pictures online and an easy to follow ordering process: pick your piece, describe your location, approve your proof and then we’ll complete and it ships in about two weeks. If you want to stop by and see us on the wharf, we have a large collection available at Sea Bags, 25 Custom House Wharf Portland, ME, open Mon-Sat 9-5. To inquire about other locations, please call the studio at #207.221.6807.

Check out this fantastic offer for Love & Lobster readers: FREE SHIPPING if you call the studio to place an order prior to July 31st, 2010!! Thank you, Charlotte and John!