All good things start in the kitchen!

ERGDesk began as a simple idea born out of necessity — to balance work and fitness in the midst of a busy life. After missing one too many workouts, I tossed a Boos Block cutting board across the handlebars of my Concept2 BikeErg and started pedaling while I worked. What began as a creative experiment quickly turned into a game-changer.

Soon, I was riding for an hour, burning hundreds of calories while checking emails, writing plans, and posting to Instagram — all without leaving the bike. The cutting board prototype did the trick, but it blocked the monitor and handlebars. So, I refined it. A few cuts, a few screws, and the first version of the ERGDesk was born.

From there, each version improved — cleaner design, access to the handlebars, and better ergonomics. Then, during a visit from my friend and fellow fitness enthusiast Marcus Filly, everything changed. He spotted my setup, asked about it, and became my first paying customer. That single $99 Venmo payment set everything in motion.

I built his desk in my garage, rounded the edges, stained it, and shipped it out. Marcus loved it — and still uses it to this day. Soon, friends wanted one, then their friends, and before long, I set up Nick’s Shape Shop inside a 40-foot shipping container. I bought plywood from Home Depot, sharpened my carpenter’s pencil, and before I knew it, I had turned out 50 desks.

Each one was handmade, signed, and serialized — a true craftsman’s touch. As demand grew, I upgraded the design to include concealed fasteners and sturdy straps. The signature ERGDesk shape — with its side cutouts and monitor access — became instantly recognizable.

When the pandemic hit, people everywhere were working from home, and ERGDesk became the perfect solution for staying active while staying productive. The response was overwhelming. We expanded to serve customers around the world — shipping to Canada, Europe, Australia, and beyond.

From a cutting board in my garage to desks in homes across the globe, ERGDesk has grown into a respected, high-quality e-commerce brand known for craftsmanship, function, and simplicity. Our motto — “Get More Done” — resonates with everyone from entrepreneurs to fitness enthusiasts looking for better balance.

The brand’s success has come through word of mouth and customer satisfaction — no advertising, no gimmicks, just a great product that solves a real problem. With over 2,500 units sold and a 100% satisfaction rate (aside from the occasional shipping mishap), ERGDesk has become the trusted name in this space.

We’ve developed additional innovations like the “Butter Board,” an add-on that allows users to pull the desk into typing position mid-ride, further blending work and wellness. Designs are clean, durable, and patent-pending, with room for expansion into other bike and treadmill models.

The foundation is set — a proven Shopify store, thousands of loyal customers, an active social following, and relationships with respected names in the fitness industry. The business is profitable, portable, and perfectly positioned for the next chapter of growth.

As for us, our next chapter takes us to Hawaii. We’re moving our family and other businesses there, and while we’ll always love what ERGDesk stands for, shipping from Hawaii simply isn’t practical. So, it’s time to pass the torch.

This business has been a joy to build — from cutting boards to CAD drawings, from sawdust to Shopify — and we’re proud to hand it off in excellent shape. Whoever takes the reins will inherit a simple, proven, high-margin business with endless potential.

“It’s the start that stops most people.” — Don Shula

If you’ve ever had a dream or a side project calling your name, this might be your start. ERGDesk is proof that a simple idea, done well, can go a very long way.