Maine Oven Craft

Really nice work on all fronts! Really good story telling! What you’ve presented today is more than what I thought was going to happen. I appreciate everything you guys put into that because it feels like now I [can really] step up.
Scott Barden
Owner of Maine Oven Craft

Maine Oven Craft was a different type of client for us because they make and sell a specific product (versus custom components and equipment for other manufacturers), and half of their business is B2C, which we never touch – especially not the luxury lifestyle kind. 

The beauty of having a specific niche is that you get to decide if you want to take on projects that fall outside of that description. In this case, it was an easy YES. The product was SO cool, and I liked Scott from the moment I met him at FABTECH.

He sat in the front row of my session, arms crossed, eyes locked in, asking all the hard questions. Scott was looking for clarity. And for someone who would help him take the company his parents had started 45 years ago into a bright new future. A company that had a stellar reputation for handcrafted ovens that customers brag about, from seaside homeowners to renowned chefs.

The only problem was that none of that magic was showing up online.

The Background

Old Maine Wood Heat Website

Maine Wood Heat’s decade-old website was clunky, confusing, and completely underselling the artistry they had spent decades perfecting. It wasn’t just outdated — it was actively getting in the way. Customers couldn’t find information. Scott was drowning in requests from unqualified leads that were never going to buy and repetitive questions that the website should’ve been answering. And trying to compete with cheap pizza ovens online was never worth the fight. They weren’t even in the same category — but the market couldn’t always tell the difference.

Meanwhile, the focus of the brand, and the company name, was on masonry wood heaters which they weren’t even building anymore. So we renamed them Maine Oven Craft. A name that better told their story while aligning nicely with Scott’s other business, Maine Metal Craft. Even when you put aside the misalignment in the name, this project was going to be a challenge because they were targeting three distinct audiences:

  • High-end homeowners

  • Luxury restaurateurs

  • Mobile restauranteurs

Three entirely different worlds. One brand trying to speak to all three, and missing the mark with all of them. But it was clear that Scott had something special. He wasn’t selling a mere oven. He was selling experiences. Gatherings. And a time-honored tradition of cooking with fire on a stone hearth.

To bring that to life, Scott needed something different from our typical shop-floor-forward brand. Yes, their manufacturing process was cool, and it’s definitely a feature of the brand, but MOC needed a brand that was elevated, atmospheric, and sensory. One that could lounge in a luxury landscape while still showing off the grit and integrity of their fabrication and craftsmanship.

What Maine Oven Craft Needed

In short, Scott needed a brand as elegant and luxurious as their handcrafted, heirloom-quality ovens and the unforgettable experience they provide to customers. The brand had to create the same effect visually and emotionally. Something that lets you feel the warmth of the fire, hear the crackle of dough hitting stone, and revel in the warm and fuzzies of gathering with family and friends. 

And underneath the branding challenges was a deeper shift. Scott was stepping into full ownership and shaping the future of a business he’d helped his parents build. He needed a strategic foundation strong enough to support that transition — a brand that could grow with him, simplify his workload, filter out the noise, and give him space to focus on the opportunities ahead instead of drowning in the questions of the past.

Maine Oven Craft needed a brand and website that was exceptional, timeless, and memorable as the deeply human moments their ovens bring to customers. Something worthy of their legacy — and bold enough to carry them into their next chapter.

What We Built

So we got to work building a premium coastal-luxury identity that would magnetize both sides of the business: the chefs and restaurateurs and the homeowners with sweeping ocean views, while still celebrating the legacy and craftsmanship behind the product. This wasn’t just a fresh coat of paint. It was a full rebuild from the inside out, shaping an identity that would give Scott the clarity and confidence he needed to move the company into its next era.

Maine Oven Craft Website and Mobile

First, we needed the raw materials: gorgeous photography and video reels of their products being enjoyed by humans. We spent two whirlwind days filming in coastal Maine with Scott and his customers, from tucked-away backyards to breweries and restaurants. It was our most ambitious shoot to date spanning 8 locations, 30 meticulously crafted meals, and 5 interviews in 48 hours. We came home with a full library of photography and video: long-form case study films, shorter social-ready clips, and rich lifestyle imagery that brought the emotion of these ovens to life on screen.

Maine Oven Craft Photography

From there, we built not one but two gorgeous new Squarespace websites. An expansive 18-page experience for Maine Oven Craft with four different galleries, custom functionalities, and bespoke whimsical graphic elements. And a similar yet subtly different landing page for Maine Wood Heat that would capture legacy traffic and tell the story of the rebrand. Clear messaging. Defined audiences. A visual and verbal tone that could flex between luxury living and rugged, mobile performance without losing its identity. 

We wanted the MOC brand to feel like stepping into a coastal evening in the glow of fire and friends with a centerpiece that sparks conversation. Every decision supported that experience: the color palette, the typography, the textures, and the layout. Clean, modern, intuitive. A place where homeowners, chefs, and mobile operators could each find exactly what they needed without friction or confusion. We brought simplicity to the product categories, clarity to the messaging, and structure to the customer journey. Showing base pricing would help filter out unqualified leads to ease Scott’s inbox and free up his time for higher-value conversations.

We also built out the sales tools he needed to show up stronger in the world. Beautiful 15-20 page product booklets showcasing oven setups for each segment: residential, commercial, and mobile. High-end lookbooks full of beautiful photography, clear specs, use cases, and stories all woven together in a way that elevates the ovens into the premium category they deserve. Additionally, we created price sheets that serve as gated digital downloads for capturing interested buyers, and a host of social media graphics to help Scott tell a consistent story.

On top of the branding and web work, we added fuel to the fire with four awesome video case studies of happy customers gushing about their ovens (Flight Deck Brewery, Maine Brewing Company, a residential couple, and another that’s soon to be released) which we cut into short-form clips ready for socials as well as press releases to support the rebrand and “passing of the torch” story. A strategic machine with a library full of assets that Scott and his team can keep using and repurposing as they grow without having to rely on an external agency. 

Most importantly, we built something that Scott felt proud to stand behind. A brand that captured both the legacy he inherited and the future he’s shaping. Something cohesive, powerful, and unmistakably “them.” Something that finally shows the world what these ovens really are: the center of a shared experience, crafted with intention and built to last for generations.

Results & Early Wins

The shift was noticeable almost immediately — not in raw volume, but in quality. Website inquiries slowed down a bit, but that was intentional. The new site was doing the filtering work it was designed to do, setting clearer expectations around pricing, positioning, and fit. Fewer people reaching out, but they’re coming in serious, informed, and much closer to a buying decision. Less noise. Better conversations. More respect for Scott’s time.

At the same time, engagement across Maine Oven Craft’s social channels took off. The new photography, video, and storytelling gave people something to connect with — not just an oven, but a feeling. Posts started sparking real interaction, conversation, and excitement, reinforcing that the brand was finally resonating with the right audience instead of shouting into the void.

The elevated brand presence has also opened new partnerships. Maine Oven Craft was invited to be featured by the Maine Tourism Department in a new series that will highlight iconic food experiences across the state. It’s the kind of exposure that aligns perfectly with the brand’s new positioning — and one that’s expected to drive meaningful awareness and sales as it rolls out.

Just as important as the external results has been the internal shift. Scott feels energized and genuinely excited about what’s next. Instead of carrying the entire weight of the business on his shoulders, he now has a clear, cohesive foundation to build from. The brand, website, and asset library are giving Scott confidence that he and a future admin hire will be able to run with it, evolve it, and keep momentum going without constant outside support.

That’s the real win. Not just a new look — but clarity, confidence, and a brand strong enough to carry Maine Oven Craft into its next chapter.

Ready to start magnetizing your people?

Schedule a quick 15-minute call with Emily HERE to figure it out. No sales pitch, no gimmicks, just a quick introduction to see how we jive.

Learn more about our Radical process HERE.

Emily Wilkins

I’m on a mission to help job shops crush their marketing by building them a Radical brand that’s authentic to who they are and magnetic to those they want to attract.

My process empowers them to market their businesses simply and effectively without spending a fortune or wasting countless hours on social media.

Sharp, Shiny & Magnetic is how I operate. I believe that whatever energy you put out into the world, it has a ripple effect that consumes you and everyone around you, so I’m committed to making it the good kind.

I use my shiny disposition and sharp wit to help you source and shape your METAL–the stuff that makes your shop magnetic to the kinds of humans you want to have around you. I ask hard questions and go deep with my customers so that I can not only build them a Radical brand but help them OWN it and recognize their own Radicalness.

https://www.marketingmetal.com
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