Today we’d like to introduce you to Samuel Robertson.
Hi Samuel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
It all started at my brother’s house when my niece wood-burned a little tree onto a wooden disk. I remember thinking, “This could actually be a really fun group date.” I bought a couple of wood burners, invited some friends over to try it, and it clicked right away. People were chatting, creating, laughing, and leaving with something they were genuinely excited to keep.
Not long after, my friend Alex Millet and I started hosting bigger pop-up events at his sister’s wedding venue. We’d set out burners and wood rounds and do our best to fill the space. The turnouts were modest at first, but the people who came had a great time and kept coming back. When Alex moved away, I realized it was time to find a permanent home for what we’d started, and Scorched became more than a pop-up idea.
Since it began as a date-night concept, I wanted to be near BYU and UVU so college students could drop in on a whim, whether they planned ahead or not. I found a space between the two campuses and put everything I had into it renovating the space. My goal was a place that felt casual, creative, and easy to enjoy, without the pressure or price tag that can come with other experiences.
After a lot of late nights renovating with friends, the space was finally ready. I ordered our first project inventory, hired a couple of employees, and opened on August 1, 2025. The first few months have been incredibly encouraging, and I’m excited to keep growing Scorched over the next year. I’m also deeply grateful to everyone who’s shown up, spread the word, and supported small businesses and the kind of ideas that only become real when people decide to go for it.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a perfectly smooth road. Each stage has brought its own set of problems. The first hurdle was funding. I didn’t have outside investors, so a lot of the early decisions came down to stretching every dollar, buying only what we truly needed, and taking calculated risks. There were plenty of moments when I felt like our funding was running dry and I wasn’t sure how the next month was going to go.
Renovations were the next big hurdle. I am one of the least handy people and the space needed real work to become the kind of welcoming, comfortable place I pictured. I started by asking ChatGPT all of my renovation questions and trying to put some sort of plan together. After that, it was late nights and weekends with friends doing the unglamorous stuff, ripping out carpet, grinding cement, painting, endless trips to hardware stores, and figuring things out as we went. It took longer than expected, and there were definitely setbacks, but it also made me feel even more invested in the space once it was finally ready.
Then, after opening, the challenge shifted to marketing and getting the word out. I quickly learned that having a great experience isn’t enough if people don’t know you exist. Building awareness has taken consistent effort, posting and creating content even when I’m not exactly sure what to post, trying different promotions, partnering with local groups, and learning through trial and error what actually brings people in. It’s been a lot of work, but each month has gotten better. I’m no marketing expert and I’m sure there are still plenty of changes we need to make as a company, but I try to improve things little by little.
We aren’t completely past any of these hurdles, but I feel more capable of handling them now, and more optimistic every day about where we’re headed.
As you know, we’re big fans of Scorched Studio. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Scorched Studio is a hands-on wood-burning studio where people come in, pick a project, and burn their own design into it.
The experience is simple and approachable. You walk in, choose from a menu of projects (like coasters, cutting boards, wallets, leather journals, and more), and then you get to create at your own pace. Our team is always nearby to answer questions, help troubleshoot, and make sure you feel confident, but the best part is that it’s truly your project and your design from start to finish. It’s beginner-friendly, but still satisfying for people who want to get creative and leave with something they’re genuinely proud to take home.
We’re known for being a “date night and group hangout” kind of place, but also for the quality of what guests leave with. Our projects feel giftable, durable, and personal. We also put a lot of effort into making the experience memorable, from the way the studio feels to the little touches, like taking a Polaroid at the end so you have a keepsake of the moment, not just the project.
What sets us apart is the combination of creativity and hospitality. A lot of creative studios either feel intimidating and pricey, or chaotic and cheap, but we’ve built something that feels welcoming, structured, and easy to jump into, even if you don’t consider yourself an artist.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Scorched Studio solves a problem I’ve personally felt. Especially in Utah winters, it can be surprisingly hard to find something fun to do that isn’t just dinner, a movie, or wandering a store because it’s cold outside. I wanted to create a warm, low-pressure place where people can come in, stay for a while, and leave with something real they made, plus a good memory attached to it.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
My favorite childhood memory has always been going up to Cody, Wyoming in early July to visit my cousins. I come from a big family, and we didn’t travel much unless it was to see relatives, so that road trip to visit my favorite cousins always felt like the best thing in the world.
Those trips were usually a mix of a few staples: the rodeo (which I still swear is the best rodeo on the planet), the Fourth of July parade, and best of all, fireworks. There was a giant firework store right down the hill from my uncle and aunt’s house, which always felt a little ironic for a town that didn’t seem very big. We’d cut through the backyard into the “wilderness” and climb our way through sagebrush, cacti, and prairie dog holes to get there.
Using whatever money we could scrounge up, we’d buy a few different kinds, but the main attraction was always Roman candles. They were essential. We’d watch the city fireworks show, and then we’d go live it in 4D. With the Roman candles, we played everything from “life-or-death dodgeball” to full-on free-for-alls. It usually ended with someone getting burned, us running out of candles, or, more often than not, both. My sister still has a scar on her arm, and my cousin has a bald spot on his scalp from where I lit his hair on fire.
It probably doesn’t sound that fun to anyone who didn’t grow up in it, but those firework battles still feel like peak entertainment to me. Even now, the smell of fireworks takes me right back and makes me wish I had a couple of cousins around and a handful of roman candles.
Pricing:
- Studio Entry – $15
- Wood Products/Projects – $5-$15
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.scorchedstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scorched.studio/
