ABOUT THIS EPISODE
What does it really look like to grow a business from a home-based hobby into a scaling commercial operation? In this episode of Build Boldly, host Pat Rodgers sits down with Jake Trejo, co-owner of Oakley and Hyde, a Cincinnati-based event rental and fabrication company creating custom pieces for weddings, corporate events, brand activations, and experiences across the Midwest.
Jake shares how he and his wife built Oakley and Hyde from a creative side project into a growing business. And they did it all while balancing full-time jobs, young kids, weekend events, late-night builds, and the constant pressure of needing more space.
Pat and Jake talk about the realities of scaling a small business: knowing when your garage is holding you back, reinvesting every dollar, moving from custom-only work into more repeatable inventory, creating a better client experience, and deciding when it is time to take the next risk.
Jake also shares how RISE helped Oakley and Hyde move out of the house and into a more professional, predictable, and flexible space, which gave them room to store inventory, meet clients, load their van, work in a cleaner environment, and grow with more confidence.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How Oakley and Hyde grew from a home-based hobby into a scaling event rental and fabrication business
- Why space can become a major bottleneck for growing small businesses
- How Jake and his wife balance full-time jobs, family, and entrepreneurship
- Why reinvesting back into the business helped accelerate growth
- What they learned from moving out of the garage and into a commercial space
- How predictable costs and flexible space can reduce risk for early-stage businesses
- Why delegation may be the next big leap for growing operators
- How to know when it is time to stop making do and start building for the next stage
If you are a founder, operator, maker, contractor, creative business owner, or entrepreneur trying to grow beyond your garage, this conversation is a practical and honest look at what it takes to keep building, one smart leap at a time.
Learn more: @oakleyandhydedesigns
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn
Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn
Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.
