Here Comes The Boom

You can never anticipate where you'll be when the right idea hits you. For Andrew Nelson, it was while standing in an antique shop in Stillwater, Minnesota. 

Despite the success he achieved professionally as an insurance agent, he felt stuck in a slog of monotony and desired something more than existing under the persistent thumb of corporate pressure. It was not the future he imagined as an inventive teenager growing up in Northern Minnesota.

In his youth, Andrew spent countless hours stretching his imagination and working with his hands in his grandfather's workshop down the road from where he grew up. The shop rules were simple: Never be afraid to try a new way of doing things, and work to the rhythm of good music. These two rules became the founding principles of his more formative years. They also helped him discover one of his favorite things in life: playing loud music through a well-tuned speaker. To Andrew, there was nothing better than turning up the volume to your favorite tracks. And like any 15-year-old on the cusp of getting their driver's license, he imagined that the road to freedom would not be without good tunes. Because of this, he assembled a professional-grade car audio system just before his 16th birthday using a random collection of speaker equipment found in the shop that was leftover from his father.  

Twenty-five years later, with old memories of the workshop in mind, he found a sliver of inspiration while rummaging through the dusty back corner of the Midtown Antique Mall. There sat a pile of vintage luggage that prompted his eureka moment. He posed the question that would eventually change the trajectory of his outlook. "What if I could turn this old briefcase into speaker housing?" he thought. 

Capitalizing on the momentum of his excitement, he purchased the luggage, went home, cleared out a workspace in his garage, and put his idea to the test.

Enter the Boomcase.

The first Boomcase build that he pursued was to create a Bluetooth speaker for the legendary fictional character, James Bond. He crafted a look fit for the British secret agent using a black hardshell briefcase with brushed aluminum accents. He added tasteful indicator lights and retro toggles that made the case seem like it could decode encrypted messages. He chose to keep the speaker cones exposed to complete the look. Despite its simple appearance, the speaker packed a powerful punch. Because utility mattered to 007, Andrew built the unit to keep the party going off the grid using solar power charging inputs. With one final cap tip to the legendary character, the speaker packs another high-tech surprise inside the case: built-in jumper cables. This speaker's charge is so powerful that it can jump your car should you ever find yourself in a pinch. 

The build was a smashing success, and word of how special this speaker was spread rapidly throughout their community of friends. Andrew quickly realized that building these speakers could become a rewarding dream worth chasing. Within a year of this first build, he has successfully constructed over twenty custom Boomcases with many different and unique styles. Additionally, he has parts ordered to manufacture the next thirty Boomcases. 

Andrew appreciates how each build is an opportunity to flex his imagination. No two speakers are the same, just as no two people are the same. This keeps the process exciting for him. Upcoming requests include period pieces set in the Roaring Twenties (similar to what you might find in the Great Gatsby) to more tactical concepts that serve as a survival kit. 

While Andrew hasn't quit his day job, his sights are set on making this side-hustle thrive. This accomplishment is even more remarkable than his ambitious fifteen-year-old self could have envisioned while daydreaming in his grandfather's workshop. 

Regardless of what the future brings, Andrew has cherished the immense joy and satisfaction that building these speakers has given him. Whether it's 50 cases produced or 500, he is very proud of the effort he put forth into making the change he needed. Reflecting on his progress, he realizes that the secret to his success is simple. "The grass is always greener where you water it," he says.