Listen: Madison Flitch founder carves a furniture firm with KC stories ingrained

February 10, 2017  |  Bobby Burch

Madison Flitch founder John Pryor works at his Crossroads Shop. Photo by Bobby Burch

Editor’s note: In partnership with the KC Greats podcast, hosted by Scott Parman, Startland News hopes to offer its audience more avenues to learn about entrepreneurs in Kansas City. Opinions expressed in this commentary are the author’s alone.


In this episode, Parman chats with Madison Flitch founder John Pryor, who shares the story of bootstrapping his custom furniture firm.

After escaping his corporate tech job in the Boston, John returned to his Kansas City roots to start a new entrepreneurial journey harvesting local trees for beautiful furniture with a local story.

Located in the Crossroads Arts District of Kansas City, Madison Flitch gives a second life to local trees by harvesting them from the area and transforming them into pieces for a home or office. Founded in 2016, the firm’s collections focus on high design and the natural beauty of the wood to offer pieces that are meaningful and rare.

Learn more about Pryor’s journey with this podcast and check out our photo gallery below that. 



startland-tip-jar

TIP JAR

Did you enjoy this post? Show your support by becoming a member or buying us a coffee.

Tagged , ,
Featured Business
    Featured Founder

      2017 Startups to Watch

        stats here

        Related Posts on Startland News

        Kansas City jazz swings harder: How KU is building on the city’s historic musical legacy

        By Tommy Felts | January 21, 2025

        Editor’s note: This article was written for a class at the University of Kansas’ William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications and distributed through the Kansas Press Association. Icons like Charlie Parker and Count Basie define Kansas City’s jazz legacy. But today’s contemporary artists — such as Blue Noyes and Nic Weaver —…

        Northeast Pizza shop bakes KC’s most accessible food into a new restaurant for all, owner says

        By Tommy Felts | January 17, 2025

        Rising from a family of restaurateurs, Noah Quillec is striking out on his own — with the help of some culinary friends — to bring a new pizzeria to Kansas City’s Northeast; it’s a move he hopes will bring unity by the slice. “This neighborhood is very accessible, so diverse and so all over the…

        Best-selling tea towel maker’s business model hangs by this thread: ‘the more I give back, the more I’ll succeed’

        By Tommy Felts | January 17, 2025

        ​​Elene Banks, founder of Kansas City-based Absorb-Lumen, turned her boutique clothing store into a mission-driven business that puts eco-friendly kitchen essentials in the spotlight, all while giving back to the community through a charitable business model. “It was a happy accident,” Banks said, “We started a boutique online and tried to carry tea towels from…

        Developers plan to transform historic UMKC building into boutique hotel, spa

        By Tommy Felts | January 17, 2025

        Editor’s note: This story was originally published by the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Click here to view the original article. A local group comprised of Sunflower Development Group and hospitality veteran Jen Gulvik has secured permission to proceed with a historic redevelopment project involving one of Kansas City’s most beloved assets: the Epperson House at…