Matt Beaudoin of Mystic Knotwork Named Connecticut's 2020 Small Business Person of the Year

Leading what is described as the first and oldest knot shop in the nation, Mystic Knotwork’s President & CEO Matthew Beaudoin has been named as the Connecticut’s Small Business Person of the Year by the U. S. Small Business Administration.  The award coincides with 2020 Small Business Week, being celebrated this week in September.

An SBA Small Business of the Year is one that shows staying power, growth in number of employees, innovativeness of product or service being offered, responds to adversity as well as contributions to community-oriented projects, according to the SBA.  In announcing his selection, the SBA notes that “all of this criteria is deeply rooted in Mystic Knotwork since its founding.”

Mystic Knotwork has been the source for nautical knots throughout New England for over 50 years, with nautical knotwork a tradition since 1957. They are a source for the original sailor bracelet as well as accessories for the home, wedding, and events.

It all started with Matt’s grandfather Alton Beaudoin who founded “Beaudoin’s Rope Locker.” At 7 years old Matt started helping out to earn an allowance and eventually apprenticed with his grandfather for over 15 years.  Matt originally followed a degree in Engineering and pursued the path of working in the corporate world.  After some time, he decided to go back to his roots and in 2009 relaunched the knot business as “Mystic Knotwork”.

Today, he employs fourteen staff members and has used SBA assistance through the Southeastern CT SCORE Chapter as well as the Connecticut SBDC for ongoing business counseling, according to officials.

CTSBDC Business Advisor, Matt Nemeth, nominated Beaudoin after working with him to help secure key capital funding, while recognizing the business owner’s strong presence in the manufacturing industry in southeastern CT.  They are also recipients of COVID-19 relief funding in the form of a PPP to ensure workforce capacity during the pandemic and being assisted by the PTAC to help them get into the federal contracting program.

“Mystic Knotwork is an excellent shop, offering a unique product sitting as a proud gem on Connecticut’s coastal shoreline. With their exclusive and locally made products they have carved a niche for themselves,” said Interim District Director Mark S. Hayward. “The legacy of Mystic Knotwork will live in the Beaudoin family for many more years to come. We are proud to have Matthew (Matt) Beaudoin as our Small Business Person of the Year.” The artistry continues to evolve through Matt’s wife Jill and stepdaughter Christa Clarke.

The combination of traditional technique along with a respectful combination of colors speaks to the modern nautical design sense. They are part of the local community in Mystic and are woven into the tapestry of Mystic, SBA officials point out, noting that they pride themselves on saying “All knots tied right here in Connecticut from American cord." 

They have been recognized with a mention during the American Made Summit in 2014 with an honorable mention for heritage arts.  Martha Stewart, who hosted and curated the event, chose them as one of 4 heritage artisans from over 6,000 other worthy choices.  This small business, officials emphasize, is a wonderful example of what “Made in America” is all about!

National Small Business Week is being celebrated September 20-24. It honors the nation’s small businesses, many of which are veteran, women and minority-owned, for their achievements and dedication to their communities. This year’s National Small Business Week virtual conference is open for registrants at https://www.sba.gov/national-small-business-week.

The U.S. Small Business Administration “makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster,” the SBA explains. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices, including in Connecticut, as well as partnerships with public and private organizations.