While folks regularly hire trusted professionals for a wide range of household tasks, from dry cleaning their clothing and shampooing their carpets to mowing their lawns, it’s remarkable how many people don’t consider using a professional sharpening service for their kitchen knives and garden tools.

After all, hiring a professional saves time and ensures that your knives and tools are performing at their best (and safest) level while giving you the confidence that the job was done right (the first time). 

Just ask Cody Berg, owner of The Sharpening Company, who launched his professional sharpening company in 2021. 

“People really don’t think about the need for knife sharpening,” he says. “And many people don’t have any idea that they can renew the performance of their scissors, garden shears and shovels just by having them sharpened."

Sharper than new

Berg, a service industry veteran who got his start working for a knife sharpener while he was in high school, says he’s always been attracted to the hands-on work that knife sharpening entails. In Berg's case, that means a three-step process for each knife or tool, which results in a sharpened edge that's often better than new.

1) Re-shaping the dull knife edge using 320-grit sandpaper fitted to a belt sander;

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2) Removing any burrs on the blade with sharpening rouge and a cardboard wheel;

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3) Polishing the edges to perfect sharpness with a cotton wheel.

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Berg finishes up the job by testing out the sharpness of the knife using recycled paper scraps. If the knife doesn't perform well, the process begins all over again.

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As much as he likes the satisfaction of bringing new life to a dull blade, Berg says that seeing the satisfaction of a job well done is the most gratifying part of his day-to-day experience.

“I love watching peoples’ expressions when they pick up their knives or tools from me,” he says. “They’re so happy and reinvigorated. They can’t wait to go home and use them for cooking or gardening.”

Launching The Sharpening Co.

Berg, who learned the foundations of the knife sharpening business by working for a local sharpening company while he was in high school, says the work has always appealed to him. But he didn’t think to open his own business until he spent nearly a year in Italy with his wife, Elisabetta, during the pandemic.

“In Italy, you couldn’t go anywhere without a reason,” he says. “But one of the reasons was exercise. So, every morning I’d go out on a two-mile hike. It was a break from everything and it gave me time to think. I realized that I didn’t want to continue relying on others for my livelihood and that I had the opportunity to start something for myself.”

So, when they moved back to Milwaukee in 2021, Berg says he began investing in the necessary tools he needed to launch his own business. 

“In so many ways, I didn’t know what I was getting into,” he admits. “For instance, I had no idea how all-consuming it would be starting out. But now, nearly two years later, I’m really happy with my decision. I've also found that I love the process of learning and growing the business side of things.”

Berg says he’s still working part-time in the service industry to supplement his income and give him money to reinvest in the business. But, he says he’s grateful for the growth he’s seen thanks to both word of mouth and collaborations he’s entered into with other local businesses.

For instance, both Anodyne Coffee and Outpost Natural Foods Cooperative are hosting pop-ups for The Sharpening Company throughout the summer months; and Enlightened Brewing Co. has even installed a 24/7 drop box outside the brewery which gives guests an easy mechanism for knife drop-off and pick-up (more details below).

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In addition to sharpening knives for individuals, Berg says he also offers a knife exchange program for restaurants and caterers, an offering which makes it easier for them to always have a set of sharp tools on hand. [Read more about that here]. Current clients include local eateries like Ca’Lucchenzo, DanDan, Lebnani House, Sail Loft and Tenuta’s. 

Over time, he’s also gained the trust of local chefs, including Daniel Jacobs and Dan Van Rite, who regularly entrust him with sharpening their often expensive personal knives. Berg says his work for restaurants likely makes up about 50% of his ongoing business, with the rest coming from home cooks and gardeners.

“The best part of this job is that 99% of the people I work with are happy to see me,” he says with a smile. “And I make it a point to maintain a 100% satisfaction rate so that they keep coming back.”

5 reasons to go professional

Thanks to newfangled tools, consumers can attempt to sharpen knives on their own. But Berg says that, even when using the best home sharpeners, it can be tough to get the same level of results that are achieved from a professional sharpening. 

Here are five reasons to consider giving the professionals a try:

1. Knives last longer: Professional sharpeners use tools that remove the least amount of metal from your knives, which helps to increase their longevity.
2. Enduring results: A professionally sharpened knife should stay sharper longer. For a home cook, that can mean at least six months, even with regular use.
3. It's affordable:  The cost to sharpen a knife is generally $10 or less. Even at $20 a year, that's a solid investment.
4. Safety & effectiveness: Sharp knives are much safer to use than their dull counterparts and they are more effective in the kitchen. (If you’ve ever tried to cut a tomato with a dull knife or mow your lawn with a dull mower blade, you already know this.)
5. Sharpness guaranteed: There’s no guesswork about whether or not your knife is as sharp as it can be; The Sharpening Company uses their experience and tried and true tests to ensure your items come back in optimal condition.

By using a local knife sharpening service you’re supporting a local business that reinvests in the community and the local economy.

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Get sharp!

Take advantage of the following opportunities to get your knives sharpened by The Sharpening Company. The following locations will host sharpening events on a weekly basis through the summer and likely into October.  

Please note: The Sharpening Company will be taking a break from service between July 13-30; no sharpening will be offered during this two week period.

Outpost - Bay View
2826 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Stop in and get your sharpening done while you shop, run an errand or grab a bite at the Outpost Cafe.

Anodyne Coffee
2920 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon
Drop off your knives, scissors and garden tools between 9 a.m. and noon and enjoy a cup of coffee while they’re sharpened. You can even run an errand or two while your blades are being whipped into shape; just leave your number and Cody will text you when they are done.

Enlightened Brewing Co.
2020 S. Allis St.
Anytime: Convenient 24/7  drop-off box
Wrap up your knives in a kitchen towel or put them in a tote with your name and contact information; then text or call The Sharpening Company to let them know you’ve made a drop. Your knives will be picked up, sharpened and dropped back off at the brewery (usually within 24 hours).  You’ll get a text and online invoice to pay when your tools are ready for pick-up in the Brewery’s tap room. Don’t forget to grab a brew when you stop in!

The Sharpening Company is also available for events, including block parties. 

“We’re second only to the firemen,” Berg says with a smile, noting that they’ve had some of their most successful events at neighborhood gatherings.

For more information about The Sharpening Co., visit thesharpeningco.com or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.