Reclaimed wood company Grain Designs building on success of NDSU memorabilia – Jan. 2015

Time is running out for fans hoping to buy memorabilia made from North Dakota State University’s Bison Sports Arena bleachers.

Grain Designs, a West Fargo company specializing in custom reclaimed wood furniture and decor, purchased the bleachers last spring as the university began a $41 million, two-year renovation project.

Owners Blain Mikkonen, Grant Koenig and Philip Bruckbauer designed and produced a line of Bison coffee tables, benches, bars and wall hangings with the wood.

The memorabilia is sold in EcoChic and Scheel’s stores as well as on the Grain Designs website. Sales have been good so far, and Mikkonen said the wood supply is starting to dwindle.

“We have very few of the numbered pine boards left, so the number of products we can produce other than what’s here is becoming limited,” he said.

The Bison bleacher project was the company’s first foray into mass production. Mikkonen said they intend to design and produce additional product lines.

“The goal is to maintain the custom furniture, but to also develop lines that are a little more affordable compared to the custom work,” Mikkonen said.

They hope to open a retail store soon as well click site. They currently have office and demo space in West Fargo and a shop near Davenport, N.D.

http://www.westfargopioneer.com/business/3665562-reclaimed-wood-company%E2%80%88grain-designs-building-success-ndsu-memorabilia