This Land, a Veteran Run Startup, Launches Nationally to Showcase American Craftsmen

CHARLOTTE, NC--(Marketwired - Nov 11, 2014) - This Land, (www.thisland.com) a mission-based, online shopping and lifestyle destination dedicated to promoting American craftsmen and supporting our nation's military heroes, officially launched nationwide today with a curated inventory of the finest limited edition, handcrafted housewares, accessories and jewelry from some of the nation's most talented artists and craftspeople. Each piece on the site is a unique, functional work of art, the result of time honored traditions of craft, made by hand and with heart using tools like anvils, leather punches, wood lathes, looms, and even blow torches.

To celebrate and honor all of America's craftsmen, This Land is challenging holiday shoppers to think about where and how the gifts they purchase are made and to pledge to buy one item that is made by an American craftsman. Visit http://thisland.com/pages/pledge-one-gift to take the online pledge and join a growing list of people who appreciate what it means to make goods with honor and integrity. Invite others to do the same by showing your support on Twitter with #pledge1gift and sharing the challenge on Facebook.

"This Land is a project of passion for me. It's about celebrating what America is all about -- hard work, integrity, legacy and giving back as well," said Dan McCready, founder and Marine Corps veteran. "It has been an unforgettable year for our team as we've traveled the country, met with inspiring artists, created a one-of-a-kind collection, and learned a lot along the way. We're proud to bring timeless handcrafted pieces to the mainstream through the online channel and showcase our artists in a way that's never been done before, while supporting military veterans with proceeds from each sale."

Take a Journey into This Land
This Land welcomes visitors into the lives and workshops of its artists. Through compelling photography, video, and journaling, the collection comes to life with full behind the scenes tours and artist interviews. Beyond making unique and hard-to-find handcrafted products easily accessible to consumers, This Land is a rich storytelling platform, with a lively community that shares inspirational stories of hard work, honor, perseverance and legacy that embody the pioneering spirit of America. This Land welcomes anyone with a story to join in the conversation on the Journal section of the site.

This Land works in exclusive collaboration with a select few of the finest artists in America to design signature pieces. One example is master leather artist Casey Gunschel, who has designed and crafted an exquisitely hand tooled leather guitar strap that features an Americana-inspired stars and stripes design. Other featured items include:

• Blown-Glass Flask by John Geci
• Forged Steel Bottle Opener by Stephen Yusko
• Forged Iron Letter Opener by Jeff Fetty
• Blacksmith Skewers by Nathan Blank
• Hand Loomed Kitchen Towels and Wine Bags by Barb Butler

"This Land connects skilled makers like me, people who have spent years or decades honing their craft, with an audience who appreciates how art and history enrich our culture," said Casey Gunschel, leather artist. "This Land triumphs the makers, the people with the hands behind handmade, connecting the past to the present with generations old traditions and binding us together through a collective history."

In conjunction with its Veterans Day launch, This Land also announces its first storefront, a pop-up shop in Charlotte, N.C. Designed by two North Carolina-based woodworkers, the space itself is a piece of art made of reconstructed old crate pallets that mix the old with the new. This Land will rotate inventory and showcase new artists weekly in the shop.

About This Land This Land is a mission-based shopping and lifestyle destination that celebrates the pioneering spirit of America by showcasing the country's finest artists and craftspeople. Artists represented on This Land are the best in their fields who practice time-honored traditions to create one-of-a-kind, handcrafted pieces of heirloom quality. Founded and run by veterans, This Land gives a portion of every sale to support our nation's military heroes. Visit www.thisland.com to learn more about the journey.