From Humble Beginnings to Maxfield’s First Product - The Journey of Creation

Hello friend,

The story of Maxfield began not as a brand but as an idea, sparked by a simple, elegant humidor—the Boveda acrylic humidor that we crafted under the Northwoods name. That humidor was our first step in creating something uniquely ours, and it started us down a path toward what would become Maxfield.

 2021, I took a bold step and enrolled in a product development program, a 12-month deep dive that pushed me to rethink every assumption I had about what customers truly wanted. This experience wasn’t easy; it forced me to confront my own suboptimal mindset and understand that simply “good enough” wasn’t going to cut it. We had to go deeper. This led us on an exhaustive search for a U.S.-based woodworking company to produce our first cigar accessory organizer. We actually found two. We wanted it perfect, and after many samples and months of refining, we finally held 100 finished pieces of each version in our hands. Each one was beautifully crafted, albeit at a premium cost. And we still did not have a name for our new brand, so we made this organizer under the Northwoods name.

Then came the hurdles that every new brand faces. After months of thinking, we came up with “Boardwalk Cigar Accessories,” as our new brand name. But, after consulting a lawyer, we discovered a cigar maker was using the name.

Disappointed but undeterred, we returned to the drawing board. We needed something that reflected legacy and timelessness. After months of bouncing around ideas, one name finally clicked—Maxfield, after my son. It was perfect: a tribute to family, enduring quality, and the future.

In pursuit of that quality, we spoke to over ten of our Northwoods customers, learning what really mattered to cigar aficionados. We wanted to know what they liked, what they found lacking, and what they wished for in an accessory brand. These conversations reaffirmed our commitment to listening to our customers, and they gave us a roadmap for Maxfield’s identity: refined, quality-driven, and built on relationships.

Our journey wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. We needed branding that would capture Maxfield’s spirit, so we spent months searching for a talented agency and finally found xHeight Design in the UK. They helped us create a logo and color palette that captured Maxfield’s heart—elegant, sophisticated, and warm.

During this time we searched extensively for an US-based maker of humidor and we found one willing to work with us! We even had hygrometers and nameplates manufactured with the Maxfield name.

t then, unexpected hardships forced the craftsman to close his doors. We were devastated, left to wonder if we’d ever find the right partner.

Then, as if fate intervened, a mutual connection introduced us to a gifted artisan who shared our vision for in cigar accessories. This person welcomed us into a collaboration that was more than we had ever hoped for. Through every twist and turn, we learned that sometimes the setbacks reveal the better way forward.

Today, Maxfield isn’t just a brand. It’s a commitment—a promise to our customers that every product will be crafted with care, precision, and a deep understanding of what makes those special moments feel truly extraordinary. We’ve spent years listening, refining, and, yes, restarting from scratch. Now, we’re finally here, ready to deliver on the promises we’ve made.

In our next email, discover the inspiration behind our first product and what makes it a true Maxfield original—don’t miss out!

Warm regards,

The Northwoods Humidors & Maxfield Cigar Accessories, Co. Team