From $500 and a Carport to a Global Brand: The Empire Copper Story

Every business has a beginning. Ours started with copper scraps, table salt and a whole lot of passion in a carport with no walls.

Here’s how we grew Empire Copper from a humble side hustle to a global business, piece by piece.

2019 – The Spark

It all began in 2019 when Cam started tinkering with copper in the carport, which at the time, didn’t even have walls. With just $500, some basic tools, and a curiosity, Cam began experimenting with patinas on copper scraps.

Evenings and weekends were spent trialing techniques and discovering how copper could transform. Something clicked and Empire Copper was born.

2020 – A Tiny Workshop & Slow Hustle

In 2020, we moved house and Cam set up a small workshop in our garage. We were both doing business courses and learning the ropes; from branding to bookkeeping. We set up on an online marketplace, but things moved slowly… and that was totally okay. At this stage, it was still just a creative side project.

But even then, we knew we were building something special.

2021 – Going All In

This was the year we launched empirecopper.com and officially turned our side hustle into a business. We were focused, intentional, and ready to grow.

Empire Copper became more than just handmade objects  it became our identity, our weekends, our future. Every piece Cam made carried his signature hand-finishing, and patina magic. And slowly, the orders kept coming.

2022 – The Grit Year

2022 was our hardest year. We had to pivot quickly and make an unplanned move into a local workshop. The business was growing, but Cam was still working full-time. This meant waking at 3:30am, heading to the workshop, then off to his job by 5:00am.

He’d finish at 1:00pm, go straight back to the workshop, and work until 5 or 6pm every night. He kept that pace up for almost a year. It was exhausting, but it built the foundation for everything that came next.

2023 – Growth Like Never Before

This was the year things really took off. Our work began appearing in homes all over the world, as well as in beautiful spaces styled by interior designers, stylists, and architects.

We were featured in a Buzzfeed article and were named an Australia Post Local Business Hero. We saw our community grow stronger than ever. Empire Copper became not just a brand but a recognised name in artisan homewares.

2024 – A New Studio, A New Level

In 2024, we took a massive leap. We moved into our new home and built a custom workshop and studio for Cam. It was a dream come true.

We also began paid advertising for the first time, and the response blew us away. Orders surged, and the need to keep up with demand meant Cam cut back from five days to three days a week at his “day job” to give Empire Copper the time and energy it deserved.

2025 – The Dream Becomes Reality

This year, we’ve hit major milestones:

• Empire Copper is now in 30 countries
• Website sales have grown by over 100%
• We officially passed 1,000 orders through our website
• Empirecopper.com now outperforms our Etsy shop
• And most exciting of all…
  Cam finally QUIT HIS DAY JOB!

After years of grinding, growing, and believing, Cam now works full-time in Empire Copper. And that’s thanks to every single person who has supported us along the way.

What’s Next?

We’re just getting started.

Our mission remains the same: to create one-of-a-kind copper, brass, and bronze pieces that bring beauty, soul, and timeless craftsmanship into homes around the world.

Thank you for being part of our journey. We can’t wait to show you what’s next.

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Browse our latest collections or, follow us on Instagram for behind-the-scenes stories, new releases, and more milestones ahead.

- Beth 🫶🏻