We make and sell unique handmade wooden items. We use oak for most of our items, but we also use black walnut and fruit-wood. All items are thoroughly made in Lithuania.

The story of Gauchas

The story is told from the perspective of the owner of the shop Audrius Gaučas.

I was born in times of scarcity.
Me and my three brothers grew up in the middle of Lithuania in a rather industrial, yet small city called Kėdainiai. My mother was a teacher in a local kindergarten and my father worked in the milk factory his whole life. I was the oldest of their sons. That meant I had to look after my two younger brothers. We spent our childhood playing with toys which we had little of. Most of the toys were made of wood and we knew little about plastic ones. We grew fond of wooden toys. I strongly believe this is the reason I still find wood so fascinating. Every time I work with wood, it brings some of my childhood memories back to life. The joy of wood and its possibilities lead me to the choice of a carpenter studies in a vocational school where I spent years gaining knowledge. Not so long after I finished my studies I was recruited to join the Soviet army where I spent two long years of my youth. A couple of years after I came back from the army, the Soviet Union was on its brink of the end. I married and I had two children. The Restoration of Independence of Lithuania opened the borders in Europe. So, after working in the furniture factory for some time I decide to take a chance and travel somewhere to earn more money for my growing family. I said to myself that I was going to do any job and work really hard. So, this is how I spent many years of my life. Travelling, working and most painfully – forgetting my passion.

Wood.
I wanted to do something on my own – to be independent. During one of my visits I came up with the idea to make a wooden criss-cross pattern which is used in ships. I used this pattern to make new things like trays, boxes, yet I still had to go abroad  in order to earn more money for the machinery and the family. I started selling my products, so I had to travel less and less. The sales slowly picked up as I took part in more fairs. 2016 was the last time I worked abroad.

Now/Future.
It is hard to say what the future will bring. I feel confident to continue what I started more than 15 years ago. In the end I feel proud of myself that I stayed true to myself. Thinking back 40 years ago, I could never have thought that I will be bringing joy of wood to the whole world. My oldest son Romas is helping me to run the shop as so did I by helping my parents raise my brothers.

Take care.

Yours,
Audrius Gaučas

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