Kim and Rob were always on the go—working away, staying overnight in different towns, and spending too much time away from home. When their daughter, Izzy, was born, they knew something had to change. They wanted a side hustle that would let them work from home—something they actually loved (and definitely not another candle business).

They had been eyeing a CNC machine for years, so they finally took the plunge. Rob, an expert at spreadsheets and justifying good investments, crunched the numbers, and before they knew it, Custom Cutting Studio was up and running.

What started as a one-day-a-week gig quickly outgrew its side-hustle status. Within two months, they scaled back their regular jobs to keep up with demand—then COVID hit.

Suddenly, they had even more time to build their business, and it took off.

As orders rolled in, they needed more space. In true Kim and Rob fashion—never ones to do things by halves—they didn’t just look for a bigger shed. Instead, they found the perfect property in Dungowan, NSW, just outside Tamworth. If you’re heading their way and you’ve passed the Golden Guitar, you’ve gone the wrong way.

Now, Custom Cutting Studio is a thriving metalwork business, creating custom fire pits, property name signs, and metal art for homes and businesses across Tamworth, Dungowan, the New England region, Australia and the World.

And, because Kim and Rob can’t sit still for long, they’ve also planted a

real pine Christmas tree farm (see the attached picture)

More than just a business, this is their passion—a way to create, stay local, and bring something unique to their community.