School Shop Class Inspires BBA Student’s Woodworking Business

In 2016, Ryan Daly, BBA ’25, turned his passion for woodworking into an e-commerce business whose product lines now include handcrafted cutting boards, bottle openers, poker chip sets, and the bestselling, officially licensed Texas Longhorns Boot Jack, which is exclusive to the University Co-op in Austin.

“I started doing woodworking in seventh grade when I took middle school shop class. I fell in love with it, I did it every single day, and eventually I got a shop of my own in my house,” he said.

Daly used discarded lumber from contractors and neighbors and created monograms, Nativity scenes, and sports signs, which he sold on Facebook and through local community groups. Then he branched out with a website and on social media.

As CEO of Houston-based Ryan’s Woodworking, Daly leads a team of three full-time employees and oversees the distribution of hundreds of products, featuring engraved glassware, leather goods, and metal fabrications. The business has customers in all 50 states and over 30 countries and has generated over $1 million in revenue. Corporate clients include Twitter, now known as X, Shell, Omni Hotels & Resorts, JJ Watt, and Tucker Carlson. 

Daly has expanded the business with other collegiate licensing partnerships, including Texas A&M, and with Southern Greek, which is focused on fraternity and sorority accessories.