Welcome to Building YOUR Furniture Brand, a special edition episode of Building a Furniture Brand with Ethan Abramson.

On this episode, we talk about Trade Discounts - the type of percentage off you can give, how to judge if a designer is eligible for a discount, when to collect official to the trade paperwork, and more.

This episode guest is Paula King, co-owner and designer at Rexhill Studio.

If you want to hear more about Paula and Rexhill Studio - Check out the show archives - episode 102

If you want to ask your own question for a future episode, please send an email to hello@buildingafurniturebrand.com 

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Welcome to Building YOUR Furniture Brand, a special edition episode of Building a Furniture Brand with Ethan Abramson.

On this episode, we talk about the good and bad of buying real estate to run your Furniture Business out of. 

This episode guest is Paul Mencel Owner of Philadelphia Table Company and dreamandbuild.com. If you want to hear more about Paul and Philadelphia Table Company - Check out the show archives - episode 89

More information on Paul, his company, and his mentorships can also be found at these links -

www.philadelphiatablecompany.com

https://www.skool.com/handcraftedsuccess

If you want to ask your own question for a future episode, please send an email to hello@buildingafurniturebrand.com 

Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

On this episode I sit down with Vanessa Branco, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for SUNBOLT. If you want to hear the full story behind how Vanessa got started, check out the show archives - episode 173.

When do you start charging a client? It is not always an easy answer. Too soon and they could be scared off, too late and you could be doing a lot of work for free. That balance is what you learn over time as your company and your own confidence grows.

On today's show, Vanessa shares her first stumbles and how she got past those struggles to the place she is today.

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Vanessa has spent her career in marketing. In the furniture world for SunBolt, and in other industries as well. And she has found that marketing, no matter what type of brand you are working with, comes down to a few important keys - having a good team, believing in your product, keeping an open mind to advice, and more.

One this episode Vanessa talks through these topics and shares her advice on helping your company achieve its marketing goals.

Follow along as we talk about telling a good story, how marketing has changed, understanding your brand better, and much more.

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On this episode I sit down with Robby Simon, owner of play.room. If you want to hear the full story behind how play.room got started, check out the show archives - episode 171

Sometimes we take on projects above our building capabilities, above our physical or mental capacities, projects that for one reason or another are, simply put, just above our skill level at the time.

Projects like this can be a make or break for a furniture company. If you finish it successfully, you have moved your business forward. But, if it beats you, then there is a good chance it is going to set you back.

On this episode, Robby takes on a massive build, which is also a massive gamble with his business’ chance of success. The story of how he worked through those challenges is what we talk about today.

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It has been a journey for Robby to get to where he is today, both on the professional and personal level. But, with the idea that life imitates art, one could look at his life and his art and say that he has come through that journey and is now standing tall on the other side.

With his own design voice, his own design style, and his own approach to running his business, he is steadily making a name for himself in this industry. 

But, even with all his individuality, he will still be the first to point out that he couldn’t be where he is today, without all the people who have helped him on his road.

Follow along as we talk about creative freedoms, working a full time job, staying true to yourself and much more.

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On this episode I sit down with Warren Turnbull, owner of Hutch Custom. If you want to hear the full story behind how Hutch Custom got started, check out the show archives - episode 169

Another episode about contract issues. Sometimes, honestly, it feels like I just hit repeat on these episodes. But getting burned without a contract is something that it seems happens to everyone starting out. And it can definitely be traumatic. 

But truthfully, there is no shame in it. It’s almost like burning your hand the first time you touch fire. No matter how many times people tell you, you won’t learn till it happens directly to you.

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Warren is involved in a little bit of a juggling act. He has 2 building businesses, commercial and hand made as you will hear, as well as a full family life. And they all take time during his busy day.

In the furniture industry, it is hard to be spread thin and still be successful. And so Warren is learning to take the parts that work in both of his companies and combine them in a way that will keep him motivated, pay his bills, and make him happy. So he can give himself true quality time with what means the most to him, his family.

Follow along as we talk about work life balance, the imperfections in hand made, understanding impostor syndrome, and much more.

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On this episode I sit down with Cara Molitor and Rick Morchesky, co owners of Dollyfox. If you want to hear the full story behind how Dollyfox got started, check out the show archives - episode 167

Contracts. We have talked about them on this show before, and they will inevitably come up again. They are important, but you never realize how important they are, until you get burned for not having one.

Cara and Rick learned this lesson the hard way, as most often do. But they took it in stride, and as the resourceful business owners they are, learned how to make it a strong point in their business rather than a fault, to keep their company moving forward successfully.

Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

Cara and Rick had been successfully working in the metal industry, each independently, for 7 years before they met. But when they came together, that’s when things really started to take off.

Now, relying on each other’s strong points and understanding each other's weaknesses, they are continuing to build on the skill sets both their backgrounds brought to the table. Blending those to grow their metal shop in the image of what they both want out of a business.

Follow along as we talk about working together for quality results, when is the right time to get paid, why just going for it is sometimes the best advice and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how Vic Tesolin Woodworks got started, check out the show archives - episode 165

In this industry, you never stop learning. As your craft continues to evolve, so does your thirst for knowledge. 

But when you are starting out, that knowledge barrier - of what you know and what you don’t - is pretty apparent. And it can show up in your earlier work in ways you certainly don’t want it to. That's what happened to Vic, when his commissioned tables, didn’t hold up as well as he imagined they would.

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Being around so many furniture makers and understanding furniture at a deep enough level to not only write about it but to also teach it to others (and let's not forget building impressive furniture in his own right) has given Vic a perspective on the industry that many aim for but not all achieve. A perspective that he gladly shares in this episode.

Follow along as we talk about learning to have an ego, how important mistakes are, why showing up can be your greatest skill, and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how Candice Luter Art + Interiors got started - check out the show archives - episode 163

Sometimes, your biggest obstacle turns out to be your biggest win. Thats what happened with Candice and one of her products. Instead of giving up and counting her damaged materials as a loss, she went outside the box to find a solution to her problem. And that solution, well, it took her farther than she ever thought possible.

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But from that first spark, she has grown her company to soaring heights, building a wonderful team, appearing in some of the most respected publications out there, and working with some of the biggest retailers in the world. All doing so, by following her own compass and making her own way.

Follow along as we talk about, believing in your own vision, how to treat your team with respect, failure being the road to success, and much more. 

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If you want to hear the full story behind how Biglow Woodcraft got started, check out the show archives - Episode 161

What keeps you up at night? If you are a furniture maker, especially one just starting out, I’m going to bet you have had some sleepless nights thinking about projects that you built being out in the world. People using them and how they are holding up.

Early in his career, Brent had one of these moments. A project he built stressed him out so much that he ended up having to do something about it.

That story, and the lengths he went to to fix it, is what this episode is about.

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So even when he is talking with me, he is also aware that work needs to go on. And he has built his company in a way that lets it do just that.

Follow along as we talk about changing your goals, being a good boss, building a visual brand and much more.

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Most furniture makers love getting orders for mass produced pieces. Not only can you batch out the work, but it means there is enough demand for your work that multiple people or places want it.

Suzi’s first production run started out like a dream, which quickly turned into a nightmare. But would an unhappy commercial client, a literal no shipping zone, and a global pandemic be enough to stop her from making things right? That story, and the unexpected results that followed is what this episode is about. 

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Coming from a childhood with zero experience handling tools, to now running a widely successful furniture company, she has literally used her own hands to build her company into what it is today.

Follow along as we talk about designing for your clients and yourself, running a business through social media, understating what to outsource and what to keep in house, and much more.

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Those early mistakes in your business always stick with you. Either on the business or the building end. When you have a client issue during the start of your career it can be painful and the very least and a company killer at the very most.

On one of Ray’s early projects, he didn’t account for wood movement in his table. And when he got that client call, it was a make or break moment for him

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Follow along as we talk about getting outside of your building comfort zone, the things you forget with pricing, shipping your work, and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how Moore's Refinishing got started, check out the show archives - episode 155

The start of a business is hard. Learning the skills, getting the clients, and making the money you need to keep the doors open.

Although comfortably successful with money coming into his company now, at the beginning Aaron was anything but. So much so, that he had to decide if he wanted to keep the business going or have his truck repossessed.

The story of how Aaron dealt with this experience is the topic of this episode.

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For over 20 years, Aaron has been building his skills in finishing alongside his skills in keeping customers happy, while all at the same time still making the money he needs to keep his business running smoothly.

Follow along as we talk about trying new things for industry growth, buying into a business vs starting from scratch, the joys of teaching your skills to others, and much more.

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This episode is not only a look behind the curtain at the Texas Woodworking Festival event but also an overall conversation on marketing and brand development and how you can use them both in your own business. 

As you might remember, Austin was on the show before, episode 137. So if you want to hear his backstory and learn more about his furniture company and the school he started (the Austin School of Furniture) please take a listen to that before you go further. 

For this episode, follow along as we talk about digital marketing for your business, growing your brand, the Texas Woodworking Festival origin story, and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how Ranger Home North West got started, check out the show archives - episode 152

Navigating lumber yards, and buying wood in general, isn’t always the easiest thing in the world to do. No matter how many years you have done it, there are always some idiosyncrasies with each purchase that changes the final outcome you were thinking it would be.

But, it gets even harder when you know something is wrong with your material, and the supplier just won’t believe you.

Mike and Michelle had this exact problem, when their largest order of white oak turned out to be - not exactly what they planned. This mistake from their supplier almost sunk their company, so what did they do?

The story, of what Mike and Michelle did next, is what we cover in this episode.

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By still respecting the traditional ideas of furniture making, but building a brand in the digital marketing age, they are able to reach clients and expand their company in a way that would have been unheard of only a few years ago.

Follow along as we talk about how to grow with your pricing, working together as a couple, learning as you go, and much more.

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Bryan and Erin make beautiful furniture. The meticulous attention to detail in their work is one of the many reasons clients continue to reach out to them and how they have been successful over the years.

But what about when parts of that furniture are out of their hands? When they have to source materials, and the pieces they get aren’t on par with the work they need to do? As their furniture continues to rise this has become a problem for the couple. One they needed to deal with if they were to continue to be successful. 

The story of how Bryan and Erin are dealing with this scenario is what we cover in this episode.

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Although coming from different industries, Bryan and Erin understood that need. And when they started their own furniture company, recognizing their strengths and weaknesses and being the support the other needed, is how they have grown their company to where it is today.

Follow along as we talk about moving in on other people's clients, keeping good notes, how much you want to grow, and much more.

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You know those projects that start out like every other project you have done, but then one thing after another goes wrong and before you know it the whole project has completely gotten away from you?

Jay and Deb had that happen to them on a Kitchen project that kept going down hill until they almost just gave up. But, did it stop them in their tracks, or did they overcome and learn from that experience so they could do better in the future? 

Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

As the company has grown over the years they have grown a team around them to help with demand. But at the core of the business, it is still both of them, working side by side building quality furniture that they feel good about putting their name on.

Follow along as we talk about understating the customer you want to work for, managing a company as a couple, how to break down your pricing to keep yourself safe, and much more.

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Quoting and time management, no matter how much you try to avoid it, one of those two always seems to be an issue in every project.

For Hunter, at the start of her company, she had a build where both quoting and time management went wrong in a big way. And as you will hear, it almost broke her physically and mentally. 

But as the old adage goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you a better furniture business owner and so instead of breaking her, she came out of that situation learning how to run her company better going forward. 

Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

When you start your furniture company, it can take a few years to learn how you want to run it, the type of furniture you want to make and the type of furniture that makes you money.

Hunter is going through that process right now. Getting a better understanding of her business as she gets a better understanding of the industry in general. But instead of it being a scary time, she is taking the good and bad experiences that have come her way and using everything she has learned so far to navigate her way to success.

Follow along as we talk about jumping right into the industry, being trustworthy with your clients, the difference between designing and building, and much more.

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This episode is with Mike Anderson. Owner of Anderson Woodworking. If you want to hear the full story behind how Anderson Woodworking got started - Check out the show archives - episode 144

Sometimes the skills you learn on the journey are even more important than the outcome of that journey. Mike learned this on an incredibly frustrating stain project that just wouldn’t turn out right. 

But instead of just tossing it up as a wasted project, he found value in the hands-on experiences he learned during the process. And what could have been just wasted time, turned into time saving lessons for future projects.

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For some, their furniture business isn’t their only job. Even though they put full time hours into it they still, for any number of reasons, keep their day job. 

Mike is in this exact position. He loves his furniture company, but he also loves his other job. So there is a balance that needs to be struck between his 2 jobs, his family needs, and his own need to not burn himself out.

Follow along as we talk about when to find time in your day, understanding contracts before it's too late, the importance of mentorships for your business to grow and much more.

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This episode is with Richie Duncan, owner of Kodama. If you want to hear the full story behind how KODAMA got started, check out the show archives - episode 142

We all know the importance of having a contract, but few people actually use one when running their business. Or, they have one, but don’t put the time or effort in to make that contract strong enough to stand up to demands put on it.

Unfortunately, the importance of contracts come into play usually when it's already too late. That’s what happened to Richie, when a hiring situation he was involved in turned sour.

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Richie didn’t start out wanting to invent a new kind of furniture, but through a mix of his love for design, engineering background, adventurous travel, and good old gravity, he did just that. But there is a big leap from coming up with a new idea and being able to successfully manufacture and sell it.

So for the last 10 years, Richie has been building and refining and learning to understand the ins and outs of the furniture industry while he continues to bring innovative furniture to market.

Follow along as we talk about when to give away product, how to price for a market that doesn’t exist, growing a business like a family and much more.

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This episode is with Tim Holland, owner of TH Custom Woodwork. If you want to hear the full story behind how TH Custom Woodwork got started - Check out the show archives - episode 140

We all forget measurements, we all struggle with deadlines - but when both of those come into play at once, it can be an unforgiving situation. Couple that with realizing you missed a measurement once a piece is already installed in a client's home, and you have yourself a real problem.

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Back in 2013, when Tim started selling furniture, it was just something to do for family and friends. But as his skills grew, so did the demand for his work. And now, what started as a fun side business has been his full time job for years.

But as client projects grow, so does the demand on one's time, and as a one person shop, a family man, and someone who rarely says no to projects - Tim’s time has to stretch in a lot of ways.

Follow along as we talk about, planning out your weeks, answering the phone, how to price quickly to keep clients interested, and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how Tiller Trade Co. got started - Check out the show archives - episode 138

Deadlines, and being able to manage them can be business killers. In this episode David shares a true story example of when his company had to rush a project on site and what the not so pleasant results were. He also talks about his overall take on hard deadlines and how he thinks about them when running his business. 

Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

Now with his own company, he is living his childhood dream and making sure his clients are getting nothing less than the professionalism he would want for himself.

Follow along as we talk about marking your territory, the way to advertise your company locally, how to stand out in the service industry and much more.

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Austin is a mix of both. Starting the Austin School of Furniture as well as running his own furniture business. He is an example of someone who took a business and marketing background and found a way to be successful in the further industry, without the traditional approach of just building furniture.

Follow along as we talk about learning from books over YouTube, the importance of your embracing community, why part time might be better than full time, and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how Crafted Glory got started - Check out the show archives - episode 135

Get ready for one of the most wild journeys I’ve ever heard a piece of furniture go on. And I really mean that. Who would have guessed that one extra long screw could turn into such an adventure. We have upset clients, shipping nightmares, car trips, planes, forklifts, this story has the works. But besides all the stress and pain this story takes, it also helped to cement the Crafted Glory ethos for the future.

Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

As the years have passed, what started as a small goods Etsy company back in 2017 has now turned into a furniture business with a strong foundation that is growing year after year. 

Follow along as we talk about the good and bad of Etsy, laying groundwork for a business' future, understating your pricing value, and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how Old Mountain Woodworking got started, check out the show archives - episode 133

Bryan is a student of woodworking, and he has a lot of rules in the shop when building pieces - you have to be when you build the giant tables that he does. But his biggest rule actually came from one of his smaller tables, and it wasn’t even really wood related. It came about because of a table top that no matter what he tried wouldn’t stain evenly. 

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Follow along as we talk about reaching out to community competition mindset vs creative mindset, working together with your spouse and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how Shallow Creek Woodcraft got started, check out the show archives - episode 131

Stress from a project is easy to see when it comes from outside influences like - materials, clients, timelines, or disasters that you never see coming. But there is also the internal stress that is less easy to quantify, but is still a major stumbling block for a projects completion.

In this episode, Ashley talks about when the success of refinishing a table had less to do with what it actually looked like, and more to do with how she felt about it.

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So Follow along as we talk about going to furniture school later in life, what you can learn from books, different perspectives in the trades and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how Salish Sea Woodworks got started, check out the show archives - episode 129

I don’t want to ruin the story here by giving too much away at the start, but lets just say that epoxy cleanups are hard when they are in your shop...and Jack learned that they are even harder in a client's home, a very high end client's home.

I can’t say anymore because honestly, it stresses me out just thinking about it, so here is the story of an epoxy table that went so so wrong and what Jack did to make it right.

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So Follow along as we talk about working in a small shop, teaching your clients to trust you, understanding your brand and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how Rail & Stile got started, check out the show archives - episode 127 

Shipping furniture is always a nightmare, and even though Kelly and Cromwell put so much effort into building their company, they have still struggled with shipping just like everyone else. This is a story of how even though they hired a big time shipper, got the insurance, and made sure the piece went out correctly, they still had a terrible situation they needed to deal with. 

But did they let the experience ruin their reputation or did they find a way to make it right with their customer? That story, coming up, right after a quick word from our sponsors.

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Follow along as we talk about the art of shipping, who to hire to make your business run smoothly, what your clients really want, and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how Green Grove Design got started, check out the show archives - episode 125 

A burnt down building, no insurance, 75k in lost materials, and more. I think we can all agree that this was not the best experience for Scott. But did this project break him, or did he rise to the occasion and keep going?

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Looking back to where he has been and forward to where he is going, Scott shares his thoughts on what he has seen during his storied career. 

Follow along as we talk about good and bad growth, being a respectful boss, where a design language comes from and much more 

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If you want to hear the full story behind how Erling Hope got started, check out the show archives - episode 123

Being sued by a client at the end of a project is one of the worst outcomes that can happen when running a business. But as Erling found out, getting sued right at the start of a project is a pretty terrible situation as well.

This episode talks about what Erling learned from that experience and what he added to his contracts moving forward, so it never happens again.

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Follow along as we talk about scaling without employees, understanding where Art comes from, why there should be no such thing as ‘Green’ design and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how CT woodwork got started - Check out the show archives - episode 121

It’s not always the big things you need to watch out for, the little details can get you too. This is something Corey learned all too well, when a missed inch made the difference between a completed and installed project and starting over from scratch.

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Having a strong background in woodworking has also let him expanded his business reach by teaching classes and offering other services to the public in his shop. Allowing him to diversify his income in an at times turbulent industry. 

Follow along as we talk about educating clients, shop organization, Woodworking as a destiny and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how P Cakes Productions got started - Check out the show archives - episode 119

In the 27+ years Paddy has been building he has had his fair share of tough clients. And even though the story he is about to tell isn’t exactly furniture building, the takeaways from it can be applied to furniture builders, contractors, and really anyone who is working with clients in any business.

This is a story of how Paddy handled it when a client goes behind his back and threatens his final payments for a project, and how he chooses to react to it. 

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Paddy is also a great example of letting your actions speak for you. Letting your skills, and customer service, and reliability be your calling card. Because even with the TV credits, and famous names in his phone, and spotlights on his work, at the end of the day he runs his business on his reputation first - and that reputation is what speaks the loudest. 

So Follow along as we talk about, switching professions, what TV teaches you about real life, being dependable and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how Carl Jackson Designs got started - Check out the show archives - episode 117

Sometimes clients know best, and sometimes…they don’t. TJ had an experience with a client that no matter what he did they just kept fighting him every step of the way. An experience I am sure many custom furniture makers can relate to.

This episode is about a TV cabinet that TJ wishes he never agreed to and what he learned from that experience.

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So Follow along as we talk about fighting burnout, the value of community, finding your confidence and much more.

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One day turnarounds, brand new clients, materials you haven’t worked with before...Oh and did I mention this is all being filmed for a reality TV show?

Well that is the situation Frank found himself in for this project, and if you think it can’t get any worse, guess what, it does.

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This professional and personal understanding is giving him the day to day and year over year clarity you need to succeed in a hard industry like furniture.

Follow along as we talk about, the value of design school, Technology in woodworking, how one’s past shapes their future and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how SCF Design got started - Check out the show archives - episode 113

Working on a project you don’t feel comfortable with, that has client communication issues, and has family involved is a situation you don’t ever want to find yourself in. But that is exactly where Sean ended up in one of his earliest builds.

So what did he do, let the project play out the way it was going or did he take it into his own hands and turn the situation around?

This episode tells the story of Sean’s hardest project and what he took from that experience to help grow his business moving forward.

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Follow along as we talk about Art vs Business, the creative burnout, finding your own values and much more 

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As your company grows, you have more and more customers. And the more customers you have, the greater chance that you and one of those customers won’t see eye to eye. Casey and Brandon take us back to their first hard customer experience, and talk through what that felt like. They also share what they learned from that interaction, and how they changed their business so it never happened again.

This episode tells the story of Casey and Brandon’s first customer problem and how they turned a bad situation into a good experience for their company 

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So Follow along as we talk about what fast growth looks like, understanding how to work efficiently, dealing with relationships and business and much more.

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When you are building furniture in a shop, you have a certain level of control, but the second you send it out into the world, you lose that control. And no where is that more apparent than with shipping.

Aaron unfortunately has had some hard times with shipping, experiences that anyone who has ever had to ship something would have nightmares about. 

But Aaron took it in stride, and has learned from these times. And instead of stopping him, instead they have shaped the way he runs his business moving forward.

This episode tells the stories of his shipping problems, and how they have helped him with his business

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So Follow along as we talk about where to find inspiration, moving your business across the country, what makes furniture Art, and much more.

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If you want to hear the full story behind how Das Wolfe got started, check out the show archives - Episode 107

Jacob and his company have had their fair share of big projects, and they can still be intimidating, but there was one day he remembers when nothing went right. That day forced him to reconsider how he plans out his project builds and also, how he thinks about communication with his clients.

This episode tells the story of that day, and what Jacob learned from it.

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And this is exactly what he brings to his furniture company. Pushing his work, his clients, and his employees to embrace going further, because he knows that there is our beauty on the other side.

So Follow along as we talk about furniture school, learning the business of business, what Luxury really means, and much more 

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If you want to hear the full story behind how The Native Craftsman started - check out the show archives - episode 105

Derek talks about a very specific situation that I’m sure a lot of us have had to deal with at one point, messing up a piece of furniture right at the end. But he also talks about how he took the lesson of that situation and how he applied it to his business as a whole

Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com 

From then to now though, it wasn’t smooth sailing. He went from being successful to shutting the doors on his company.

But now, a little bit older and a little bit wiser, he is taking a second shot at the furniture business, and loving where it is taking him.

Follow along as we talk about originality in your work, pricing for different markets, coming back from failure and much more.

Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

Back at the start of their business, when Jennie & Aaron where still working out of their home, right in the thick of their largest order to date they had an unexpected visitor who almost ended their business right then and there.

On this special episode we talk about their worst day, and how their fledgling company almost didn’t make it off the ground.

Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com 

This attitude, of taking what comes and making it work for them, is what they apply to their workspace, their clients needs, their own relationship, and to the business as a whole.  

Follow along as we talk about when to make the jump to full time, sharing your vision with your clients, making the most out of your situation and much more.

Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com 

Now with 5 employees, a portfolio full of breathtaking projects, and a long line of happy clients, Paula takes us through the company’s story of growth and their secrets to success - while looking back from where they came, but also forward to where they are going.

Follow along as we talk about small town vs big city clients, making a productive work environment for your team, the importance of professional and personal relationships and much more.

Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

They are building a business that they can seamlessly scale with demand and not have to reinvent the wheel every time they grow.

Follow along as we talk about, technology in your woodshop, the importance of social media for your sales growth, learning from trial and error and much more.

Learn more at - buildingafurniturebrand.com

Having a plan is important, but executing that plan is where the success is made.

Follow along as we talk about switching your career, who to talk to when starting something new, getting your head around opening your own business and much more. 

Learn more at - buildingafurniturebrand.com

Andrew also is a master class in finding one's own niche in a market, and focusing on that market to make the most of what you offer.

Follow along as we talk about how to make Etsy work for you, working with customers remotely, managing your company's growth and much more.

Learn more at - buildingafurniturebrand.com

Having dreamt of working on his own, he now finds him self in a position to control his own destiny, and it is both a scary and exciting place to be.

Follow along as we talk about trying to find your value, balancing life and work, going out on your own and much more.

Learn more at - buildingafurniturebrand.com

And by focusing on both the numbers side and the building side of her business, she has been able to take a new company and grow it into the profitable undertaking you see today.

So Follow along as we talk about balancing 2 full time jobs, finding a woodworking community, what the numbers can tell you and much more 

Learn more at - buildingafurniturebrand.com

Anil has that passion for every part of the business. The building, yes, but also the customer service, the pricing, the advertising - every aspect of his company he puts passion into - and it shows.

But building his company to a packed calendar of residential projects wasn’t always easy. And even with his passion, he has sometimes needed to find ways to fix mistakes and change tactics to continue to push his success forward. 

Follow along as we talk about your pricing and your worth, balancing many different types of projects, team work and much more.

Learn more at - buildingafurniturebrand.com

With a head for business and a heart for building, Rebecca is continuing to evolve her company, using every opportunity that comes her way.

So Follow along as we talk about keeping track of your numbers, the importance of community, working with another shop to grow and much more.

Learn more at - buildingafurniturebrand.com

And after working for and with large scale operations she has decided she wants to grow and maintain her business in a way that feels right to her. Focusing on the parts she enjoys and leaving out the parts she doesn’t. 

Follow along as we talk about learning in School vs learning in Life, understanding your own brand, how far Press gets you and much more.

Learn more at - buildingafurniturebrand.com

But, they are seeing year over year growth and are continuing to build a company that adheres to their notion of success, not anyone else.

So how are they doing it?

Follow along as we talk about embracing your passions, the personal touch with your customers, working together to grow your company and much more. 

Learn more at - buildingafurniturebrand.com

He has built a furniture business, as well as a few other types of woodworking business, with multiple employees and years full of happy clients. Doing so through grit and determination, but also through planning and foresight.

Follow along as we talk about the customer service balance, the importance of knowing your numbers, how to grow with the future in mind, and much more. 

Learn more at - buildingafurniturebrand.com

His focus on hard work, attention to detail, and keeping motivated even when things get hard, is what turned a novice furniture maker into the co owner of a 15 person furniture company.

Now he is involved in Importing furniture, selling slab lumber, and building custom tables and he has his work ethic to thank you for it.

Follow along as we talk about listening to your body, working smarter not harder, why a little effort goes a long way, and much more.

Learn more at - buildingafurniturebrand.com

But how did he get there? How did he make the jump from corporate life to furniture making?

In this episode Dennis talks through how he made the switch, not only the physical switch of changing professions and everything that goes along with that, but how he made the emotional switch to start something new.

Follow along as we talk about building your brand strategy, spending time alone, who to give your phone number to and much more.

Learn more at - buildingafurniturebrand.com

Growing from a part time Etsy store, to a 6 person company, Paul has turned what was once side work into a sustainable business. Producing award winning residential and commercial furniture since 2014 - all with environmental responsibility at the forefront.

Follow along as we talk about; when to say no to customers, building a team, the environmental impacts of the furniture industry and much more.

Learn more at - Buildingafurniturebrand.com

If there is one thing hosting this show has taught me, it is that there are infinite ways you can run your business. So although this is a show about building a furniture brand, at times I like to highlight other types of business who’s core principles like design, manufacturing, selling and core materials like wood, metal, epoxy, concrete overlap the furniture industry.

The story of Maker Watch company is just that, taking the same ideas used in the furniture business and applying them to a very similar design/build company.

Having a bigger picture of your industry, and the ones around it, lets you understand your business better.

Follow along as we talk about client's custom requests, building a brand identity, teamwork, and much more.

Before owning a furniture company Sam owned a business that lived completely in the digital space. When compared to the woodworking business those professions, on the face of it, seem complete opposites

But as you dig deeper, you see that there are more and more similarities in the way Sam approached both. And you also see that there are core lessons anyone in any business can use. Lessons like knowing your customer, striking while the iron is hot, and taking time to understand your company instead of just rushing in blindly.

Follow along as we talk about building your design skills, keeping your brand consistent, shrinking your startup costs, and much more.

Joey likes to tell a story, of a time a client asked for a quote on some custom pieces. When he gave the quote, they said “Really? That much for just some plywood and paint?” He responded with, “If all you wanted was plywood and paint, I could provide the project for much less, but if you wanted me to design it, draw it, spec materials, create a cut list, buy the materials, transport the materials, cut, assemble, and finish the materials, the quote would included all of that”.

He stands by the idea that “Customers aren’t just paying for a product, they are paying for a service”. And this idea, of knowing his worth, and the worth of his company is what has kept his 4 person shop in business since 2016.

Follow along as we talk about, bad bosses, small space solutions, not giving out your cell phone number, and much more.

Since he was 8 years old, Harley has been telling people he was going to build furniture. And he has kept focused on that goal, through school, through apprenticeships, through trades jobs, up to his early 20’s when he started his own company.

Now 26 years old, Harley has immersed himself in the local and global furniture community and has used fresh takes on the age-old woodworking industry to help his company continue to grow. And with a packed project schedule, he is now looking to take that next step and expand his dream into hiring employees. 

Follow along as we talk about having confidence with your clients, bending pricing to real world situations, being young in the trades, and much more.

Over 6 years in business, over 25 employees on payroll, over 2 million in yearly sales - Amanda and Ryan know what they are talking about when they talk about their furniture company.

But they didn’t start out successful, as you will hear, they actually started out by making a mistake. But they learned from that, and the many more that they would make on their journey, and grew from those mistakes into the company that they are today.

Follow along as we talk about when to scale your business, how to structure your employees, the secrets of shipping furniture and much more.

Be a sponge to the knowledge around you, that’s how you learn and grow - and when Ken says this, he knows what he is talking about. Growing up in the industry and working in many shops during his career, he has built a very impressive business. But the furniture company that he has now, with a fully booked out calendar and 5 employees and growing, even though he built it didn’t start out as his. And the journey he took to get there is definitely one you are going to want to hear.

Follow along as we talk about why the trades are making a comeback, how to treat your employees right, when it is ok to tell a client no and much more.

The last 2 years have been a learning experience for Colton. Like any new business, you have ideas of what you want to do but once the business becomes a reality, those ideas need to change with the reality of your day to day experiences.

But Colton has been able to adapt his ideas and develop new ones, and with the help of his wife and a large network of furniture makers he has continued to push his business forward.

Follow along as we talk about building a good website, delivering furniture as a one person shop, finding your community, and much more.

Josh has grown his business from an Etsy shop selling cutting boards to a furniture company with over 1.5 million a year in sales, 11 employees, and a long list of impressive clients. He has done this all, by not losing his perspective. On, yes, his business as whole, but also on the parts that make up that whole; his employees, his customers, his impact on the community, and the impact of the business on himself.

Follow along as we talk about understanding the value of your employees, pricing for large jobs, learning how to be a better boss, and much more.

How did two brothers, who started out selling t shirts, move to now making furniture for customers all over the world, building out office spaces for major companies, and creating custom work for some of your favorite YouTube stars?

From stolen designs, to shipping nightmares, to getting mysteriously kicked off of Instagram with no warning, Rob and Anthony have been through it all. And that is why they are the perfect people to share their story.

Follow along as we talk about developing a brand, dealing with knockoffs, the truth behind shipping, and much more.

If you want to get into the numbers of a furniture company, Joel is the person you want to talk to. Because he knows that yes, it is an artistic industry, but to stay in business you need to know your numbers inside and out. And that is exactly what he shares in this episode.

Every company is different, and Joel acknowledges that. But there are some constants, or at least constant things that you should be looking out for if you have your own furniture company. 

Follow along as we talk about the challenges of finding a shop, the importance of talking price first with clients, what it really costs to start a furniture business, and much more.

What makes you money and what makes you happy, are 2 things that people are always trying to bring together. In this pursuit, you have to remember that sometimes what brings you happiness changes and sometimes what makes you money changes, and you have to be able to recognize and adapt to both to make sure you end up where you want to be.This process, is something Brent has become very familiar with over his career.

Follow along as we talk about finding your spot in the woodworking industry, customer service and how it sets you apart from your competition, the importance of your brand, and much more.

Being a good team means working together. Figuring out your strengths and using them to balance out weaknesses. It sounds so easy, but the truth is it isn’t. It takes work, hard, hard work.

Leigh and Cliff have been working on that balance for years between their own skill sets and that of their employees. Finding a way to bring everyone together to make the business run as smoothly as possible.

Follow along as we talk about joining forces with like-minded companies, the importance of understanding your community, why you should always be telling your story, and much more.

Now for context, Dustin is 20 years old. He started woodworking for the first time two years ago in a high school shop class. Now fast forward back to today - He has a 3600 sq ft shop, he makes and sells 6-8 dining room tables a month, and he is poised to take his company nationwide.

How, you may ask, did he do it? How did he grow so fast? That's what we are about to find out.

Follow along as we talk about making the right connections, learning how to source smarter, how the appearance of your shop matters, and much more!

This episode is brought to you by Shaper Tools -Try the Shaper Origin risk-free in your shop for 30 days. Just visit Shapertools.com/FurnitureBrand to learn more

Josh says that he runs his furniture business part time, and yes technically having another job makes the furniture side part time. But, if you talk with him about his love and dedication to the craft or look at his schedule and see how in demand his pieces are, you will quickly see that his furniture business is anything but part time.

Having to split time between two jobs makes one incredibly efficient in figuring out what works and what needs to be reassessed to make things run smoother. Lessons part time and full time business owners alike can learn from.

Follow along as we talk about why you don’t always follow your passion, time management, what’s in a name and much more

If you ask Stefan about his furniture business, he will more than likely talk about the artistic side of the business. But with multiple employees, multiple shop locations, years under his belt and a solid name in this industry, he definitely has the business side down as well.

He, and by extension his company, walk that fine line between Art and functional furniture. With that balance, you really have to pave your own way, and that is just what Stefan has done.

Follow along as we talk about Art vs furniture, gallery representation, email trails, and much more.

As you will hear, Brian has been dipping his toe in the furniture industry for much of his adult life. He always had that drive to have his own furniture company, but he needed to put all the pieces in place before he made the jump.

Being a part of the industry for so long, he learned and understood what he wanted his company to look like before he made the move. But, as anyone who has started their own business knows, looking from the outside is much different than being in the thick of it. So Brian continued to learn and evolve and grow his company into the success that it is today.

Follow along as we talk about learning on the job, communicating with customers, local marketing on social media, and much more.

New Collar Goods was officially started in 2015, but the roots of Jon & Deana’ s company had been brewing for a long time before that. With their strong sense of design, they knew the kind of furniture they wanted to make. But, they also knew that to succeed in this industry, they needed to understand their customers and find the right balance between the furniture they wanted to make and the furniture their clients were asking for.

That balance, along with a lot more, is what has made their company successful for all these years.

Follow along as we talk about the importance of community, learning when to take a break, the difference between custom and collection furniture, and much more.

Matt officially started his company in 2010, but as you will hear, before that he had been involved in the building trades for literally his entire life. With his deep knowledge of the industry, Matt has dedicated his career to improving the builder/client relationship.

He has made it his mission to not only look the part of a client centric company but also to prove, time and time again with his actions, that for Matt, clients come first. And that is what has let his company stand apart from the competition. 

Follow along as we talk about working alongside family, building a reputation you can be proud of, understanding your clients and much more

Andrew is a builder, a fixer, a tinkerer. Ever since a young age, working with his father, he has had the desire to make things with his own hands.

He also has the spirit of an entrepreneur. Someone who embraces the opportunity to survive or fail based on the choices that they alone make.

Putting those two ideas together, Andrew has built his own furniture company from the ground up, and he’s sure learned a lot along the way. 

Follow along as we talk about making contracts that protect yourself and the client, the importance of keeping your mind fresh, how pricing can be easy, and much more.

Furniture making is, for the most part, centered in the creative world. But owning and successfully running a furniture company is very much rooted in the world of business. When you can navigate a way to blend the two worlds together, that is when you see the best results.

Mike is doing just that. Taking his past careers in business, and mixing in his creative drive, to build a furniture brand all his own.

Follow along as we talk about why you should advertise differently on different social media platforms, the importance of organization, how to understand your value, and much more.

For some companies, there comes a point that it is no longer a question about, "Do we have the skills to build it" it becomes a question of, "Can we manage our time properly to build it".

As you will hear, Matt owns about 6 different full time companies and at the same time still continues to work at his day job. So time management is at the top of his list. But over the years, he has also learned a lot about the business and the creative side of the furniture world, knowledge he is more than happy to share.

Follow along as we talk about converting web traffic to clients, becoming a better boss, optimizing your time, and much more

Where does the line get drawn between you running the business and the business running you?

This is something that Bud struggled with, but also something that a lot of people struggle with - How to run your business successfully but also in a way that lets you actually enjoy it.

Over time Bud has developed his own rules for the way he runs his business, and even though he might not have all the answers figured out just yet, he’s sure been enjoying the ride.

Follow along as we talk about growing Local vs Worldwide customers, trusting yourself, the importance of happiness in business and much more

Pete is not new to the world of furniture. He has been selling his pieces since 2007. But even though he has a long history of being in the furniture business, it is the personal side of the business that means the most to him.

Over the years Pete has grown his building skills, alongside his person to person skills, to help him stand out from the crowd.

Follow along as we talk about knowing your audience, the difference in pricing for different markets, balancing business and personal time, and much more.

-- This episode is brought to you by Shaper Tools -Try the Shaper Origin risk-free in your shop for 30 days. Just visit Shapertools.com/FurnitureBrand to learn more

Over 25 years in the industry and Justin is still pushing forward. It is that drive, that passion, that need for more, that makes him so successful in what he does

From an unpaid apprenticeship to working with some of the top brands in the furniture world, his story has been a long and winding road. But it is not only a story of how Justin succeeded on his own, it is also a story of the people and business around him, that he worked with, co-existed with, and grew with that got him to where he is today.

Follow along as we talk about the importance of collaborations, making eco-friendly not just a buzzword, why it is good to ask for help, and much more.

Sometimes you have to step away from your passion, to realize that it actually is your passion - and that is exactly what Erika did.

As you will hear, she started out with a love for building then went into an office job because it felt safer. I’m sure a lot of people can relate to that. But that safer option, just wasn’t right for her. And, when she returned to furniture she realized that was where her heart and mind wanted her to be all along. 

Follow along as we talk about growing your company in the age of Social Media, understanding client relationships, why the safe option isn’t always the right one, and much more.

This show is dedicated to talking with people about building their furniture brand. It’s no secret, it’s right there in the title.

And for anyone who has ever tried to build a business they know that the start of it, putting the foundation of the business together, is a very important part of that process.

Drew and his co owner Valen are in the midst of that process. Although they have been running their business for years, they still feel like they need to put in more time sculpting what it will look like before going full time.

Unfortunately Valen was pulled away at the last minute but Drew was able to sit down

and talk about their business, and what they are doing to make the jump to full-time.

Follow along as we talk about scheduling 2 full-time jobs, building a portfolio by turning down projects, the benefits of working with a partner, and much more.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Luke Frisch, owner of the La Crosse Wisconsin based furniture business Hazel Burr Design Company.

After years working on oil rigs, on the railroad, and playing football, it's pretty clear that Luke has never shied away from a day of hard work. But when he decided to start his own furniture company, he knew that working hard wasn’t the only way to succeed, he had to work smart as well. That's why he relied on the business lessons he learned over the years, as well as his work ethic, to make his company run the way he wanted it to.

Follow along as we talk about balancing the building and the artistic side of the furniture business, what you need to know when you work with live edge lumber, how to understand your clients better, and much more.

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-- This episode is brought to you by Shaper Tools -Try the Shaper Origin risk-free in your shop for 30 days. Just visit Shapertools.com/FurnitureBrand to learn more

Furniture Maker, Renovator, Family Man -Tyreik is all those things, but not always in that order.

When he decided to start his own company, after working in the Building trade for over 20 years, he knew he had the skills but he also knew that if he was going to do his own thing then he was going to do it on his own terms. 

Because when you can build anything custom for your clients, why not build a custom business for yourself.

Follow along as we talk about the rise of respect for working with your hands, why it is important to learn from others and to give that knowledge back, balancing life and work, and much more.

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-- This episode is brought to you by Shaper Tools -Try the Shaper Origin risk-free in your shop for 30 days. Just visit Shapertools.com/FurnitureBrand to learn more

Although Ryan’s primary business right now is cutting boards, as you will hear, this episode is far from only being about cutting boards. Ryan has spent basically his entire life in the building trade, which has left him well versed in the industry and what it takes to thrive in it.

So this conversation is more than just about building, or the business, it also goes into the type of passion you need to stand apart and the way you judge your ideas of failure and success. 

Follow along as we talk about ignoring industry fads, how to think about intellectual property, the importance of role models and much more.

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-- This episode is brought to you by Shaper Tools -Try the Shaper Origin risk-free in your shop for 30 days. Just visit Shapertools.com/FurnitureBrand to learn more

1 year in - Without a plan, without a background in furniture, without really any tools, that’s where D'ondra started her business.

So after 1 year, where is she now? Her company is strong, she has a growing list of customers, she is making profit, and she is enjoying the life of a furniture maker more than she could ever have imagined.

Let’s take an inside look into her first year and hear not only about the building and business side, but also what it feels like to run your own furniture company.

Follow along as we talk about pricing your worth, your first sale, the importance of happy dances, and much more.

This episode is brought to you by Shaper Tools -Try the Shaper Origin risk-free in your shop for 30 days.

Just visit Shapertools.com/FurnitureBrand to learn more.

Scott has been in this industry for a while. Since the early 90’s he has been renovating homes, building furniture, being a TV personality, and basically involved in every part of the furniture business you can think of.

Over the years, along with honing his craft, he has also honed the type of business he wants to run - moving from general contractor to custom furniture maker.

That switch has come not only with a different way he builds furniture, but also a different way he operates his company. 

Follow along as we talk about the importance of saying no, what being on a tv show gives you, pricing for things that don’t exist yet, and much more.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

Not all those who wander are lost. This could easily sum up the beginning of Nick’s working life. He had the drive, he just didn’t know what that drive was pushing him towards.

With the help of a mentor, a new city, good experiences as well as hard ones, and a new found community of online furniture makers - Nick found a place where his passion and his skills could come together into a profession that he loved.

Follow along as we talk about what your pieces are worth, how to sell a story, the importance of community, and much more

You can check out Nick's latest work on his youtube channel.

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This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 

As you will hear, before Joe started his company he tested a lot of different waters to find what was right for him. His path was a winding one, full of good and bad experiences which shaped what his company would become.

Today, his company employs over 50 people and produces projects for some of the most well known names across the world. A far cry from where he started, but that is the beauty of the journey - It is not where you start, but where you go.

Follow along as we talk about building your media portfolio to capture more business, growing your company on your own terms, managing employees, and much more.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 

Scot started working in the world of furniture when he was 6 years old, but after many years of building, he left the business and pursued another profession.

But being removed from building furniture reignited his passion for it and he found his way back in the form of his company. Pulling from his experiences in many creative fields, Scot approaches his pieces not as purely functional but as pieces of art that people use in their daily life.

Follow along as we talk about coming back to the furniture business, using social media to get clients, the balance of self doubt in the creative world and much more.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 

Some people plan on starting a furniture company. They dot all the I’s and cross all the T’s, and open their doors on the first day ready to go. And some people, like Joe, build their company organically. They develop their design voice and their business playbook as their company grows and evolves.

During his evolution, Joe has certainly found his style. And through ups and down, he has also come to a greater understanding of how he wants to run his business - In a way that works best for him.

Follow along as we talk about educating your customers, balancing social media to help your bottom line, growing a business your own way, and much more

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 

As you will hear early on in this episode, Happy life Wood is not a furniture company. Although its roots started in the world of building and selling furniture it has grown into something else entirely.

This episode is being shared for many reasons, but 2 really stand out. 

1, it is a perfect representation of how a small company can capitalize on a standout viral post to turn themselves from a one hit wonder into a sustainable business.

And 2, as much as the goal of this show is to help people grow their furniture business, it would be remiss if it didn’t also show that there are businesses outside of what a standard furniture company looks like.

Businesses that you can still use the physical and mental skills learned from the furniture world to be successful in a new venture.

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This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

Mixing the soul of an artist and the practicality of a business owner isn’t always easy, but since 2013 Chelsea has been doing just that. Building and growing her business while keeping the heart of it in the creative world.

She has also brought the idea of Community to the forefront of her business model. Through classes and other community outreach, she has provided women and girls the opportunity to embrace metalworking as a viable professional path.

Follow along as we talk about where to get the best business advice, how to juggle multiple revenue streams inside one company, the Importance of originality, and much more.

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This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 

Finding success in multiple creative careers is not easy. Although the idea of artistry may seem similar, in truth, it is far from it. But J Paul the Carpenter has done just that.

A professional singer/songwriter with multiple accolades to his name, he changed his career to become a professional woodworker and has found tremendous success as he continues building a name for himself in the industry.

Follow along as we talk about working with celebrity clients, dealing with the solitude of working for yourself, understanding imposter syndrome, and much more.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 

Zack has rocketed to success in the furniture business. What started as a home project accent wall has grown leaps and bounds into high-end custom tables, corporate client build-outs, and talks of nationwide showrooms.

But with such fast success also comes a steep learning curve, and Zack has taken past business knowledge, advice from trusted sources, and his never say never attitude and grown his furniture company into the success that it is today.

Follow along as we talk about learning from your past experiences, choosing employees or contractors for your shop, the importance of confidence in yourself, and much more.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

Nolan has a plan and he has been following it. But as every business owner knows, plans change, and the measure of your success isn’t how good the plan you started with was, it is how well you were able to adjust your plan to still reach your goals.

This is something that Nolan knows well, and he has managed these changes throughout his career. Adjusting his building practices, adjusting his pricing, adjusting his overall business plan, but even with all that, he is still heading towards the same end goal that he started with.

Follow along as we talk about the importance of community in the furniture industry, how to make your website more searchable online, why it is ok to not know all the answers, and much more.

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This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

Tom has journeyed through the furniture business. Starting as a refurbishing company under a different name, he learned the bones of furniture building by bringing old pieces back to life. This led to him giving life to his own designs, rebranding his company to what it is today - learning the craft, learning the business, and learning what it takes to be successful in this industry.

Tom is humble in what he has learned. As you will hear, he doesn’t push his path on anyone. But we could all learn from what he has to say, what he has done, and how he has grown his business to what it is today.

Follow along as we talk about changing your company image, how to grow your online presence, why you should choose your own path, and much more.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

Justin and Fallon complete each other. Justin does the building while Fallon does the finish work. But it also goes well beyond the physical building of their furniture.

As business partners and marriage partners, they work to support each other in all aspects of their day. And that is how Rustic Grain Designs has grown over the years to be the successful business that it is today.

Follow along as we talk about the most important things to know about your clients, the best way to break down your pricing, how the social media community can change your life, and much more.

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It is the one 1 year anniversary for Andrew on being a full time Furniture company owner. 1 year is a big deal. 1 year without a safety net. 1 year to really start to learn what works and what doesn’t work for your business. A successful company is not built overnight. It takes time, and during that time it's good to pause and take stock of where you are.

Although it has only been a year, the respect Andrew has for how his company is managed runs deep. With pricing, with quality, and with his confidence in the business, he is dedicated to never selling himself short.

Follow along as we talk about finding happiness in what you do, the importance of social media to your sales, respecting your brand, and much more.

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It is an understatement to say that Edgar, with his 25 years of furniture experience, knows a thing or two about selling furniture.

Having worked in the industry as a founder of multiple companies, including BenchMade Modern, a pioneering sofa brand with revenue of 10 plus million dollars in 2020. As well as a designer for many large brands and as a hands-on builder of his own furniture, Edgar has the full view of what it takes to be successful in the furniture business.

Follow along as we talk about how to get the right kind of press, the pains of shipping furniture, what you need to know to start your company today and much more.

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B.A. Furniture is run by both Marina and her Co-owner Rocky Cappelletti. But, in a situation well known to busy furniture companies, Rocky got called away at the last minute to deal with a project, and Marina seamlessly filled in to share both of their stories.

And that right there is a perfect snapshot of Marina and Rocky’s business. Both of them working together to turn their company from what started as a simple pastime into the incredibly successful business that you see today.

Follow along as we talk about why customer service should be the core of your business, how to balance sustainable building practices in your pricing, the importance of support between co-owners, and much more.

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As you will soon find out, Matt started his furniture company with a haircut. An unlikely twist of fate that started him down a road that although hard, is exactly where he wants to be headed.

Because hard work isn’t something Matt turns away from. Instead, he embraces it and works out a way to overcome it using whatever he has at hand. From taking on tough clients, to understanding complex builds, to making furniture in spite of physical limitations, Matt has found a way to not only face these challenges but to go beyond them and make his business a success.

Follow along as we talk about Luck vs Preparation, how to gain the confidence of your clients, the importance of keeping your body healthy, and much more

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Rachel is a self-taught furniture maker. Starting her company from nothing, to now having a year-long waiting list for clients wanting new builds. 

And yes, along her journey she learned how to make amazing furniture, but she also learned how to build a business. How to build a brand. And how to recognize her achievements and use them to turn her company from once barely holding on, into the success that it is today. 

Follow along as we talk about the importance of being the face of your business, what sustainability in the woodworking industry looks like, overcoming imposter syndrome, and much more.

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From borrowed tools and DIY plans off the internet, to now having a full production shop, a collection of his own furniture, and employees, it is safe to say that Tyler has fully committed to his dream of owning his own furniture business.

But it wasn’t easy, and Tyler’s struggles weren’t only about building furniture or getting clients. He also struggled with the decision to go full time and if it was right for him and his family. But once he made the jump, he never looked back.

Follow along as we talk about, building a business from the ground up, the balance of outsourcing tasks, ballpark pricing vs final pricing, and much more.

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There are a lot of different types of companies that fall under the umbrella term of Furniture Business. Michael, as well as being a furniture builder, is also a furniture installer. Starting his job where most furniture makers leave off, Michael takes pieces built in a shop and makes them work in the real world.

Dealing with all the unfriendly truths of working in the field Michael has found a way to not only navigate the hard realities of install work, but to be successful at it. Working to perfect his trade with a mix of woodshop knowledge and on-site magic, he's made a solid career out of installing.

Follow along as we talk about where to learn your trade, how to deal with clients on job sites, building relationships vs contracts, and much more.

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Bao is about a year into his furniture company and although he is not new to working for himself, having come from a successful architectural background, starting any new company comes with a lot of new experiences - some good and some hard. But as any business owner knows, you take the good with the bad, and you grow.

And Bao is doing just that. Expanding his business based on having a solid plan in place, being able to diversify his income, and learning to accommodate change as just another part of growth.

Follow along as we talk about expanding your client base with social media, the importance of contracts to get you paid, adding employees to your company, and much more.

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Ronnie put in his time in the corporate world before he decided that following his dream of owning a furniture company was right for him. But once he made that jump, he never looked back.

Making a name for himself as a high-end builder, who would take on the projects no one else could do, set him apart in the industry. Putting him in the enviable position to not only be able to charge for what he needs to make on each project, but be able to charge for what he wants to make on each project.

Follow along as we talk about how you move from working in the corporate world to working for yourself, the way you can check your pricing nationally, why going into the trades used to be frowned upon, and much more.

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This episode, for the end of season 3, is a little different. Dallas has a furniture company, he makes truly impressive museum quality furniture that in time could reach the level of the masters that inspire him. But his story is different from the regular guests of this show. Like so many out there, he is one of those people who have a full time job, but also run a successful furniture company.

On this episode, yes, there is a focus on the business side but also one on the personal side of what one goes through as they decide if the full time furniture business is right for them.

Dallas, who should be applauded for speaking his thoughts openly and honestly in this episode, is sure to help people who hear this know that they are not alone in the personal struggles that they go through in their own furniture journey.

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Jonathan is a serial entrepreneur. Starting his first business at 14, he’s had a lot of time to think on what it takes to found and correctly operate a business. And he’s translated his experiences into better understanding how to make his companies successful. 

Along with running his other ventures, Jonathan founded a furniture company that eventually turned into the tool company which he owns today. But whether we are talking about the practices he used in his furniture business, or about how he runs his tool company now, the one constant is this, Jonathan Knows Business.

Follow along as we talk about how to get your foot in the door with clients, how you can turn your social media into furniture sales, what it takes to be a great boss, and much more.

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Now if you want to talk about the business side of the furniture business, Dan is definitely somebody you want to have a conversation with. He has made over 5,000 dining room tables over the years, and that doesn’t even count the other types of furniture he has produced during his long career as well. With numbers like that you have to be doing something right, not only with building quality pieces, but also with building a quality company.

Dan is someone that has learned over time how to walk that fine line in furniture making. The line between having a manufacturing company and making pieces as an artistic pursuit.

Follow along as we talk about the importance of workshop automation, what the best steps for making a solid business foundation are, a deep dive into pricing, and much more.

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Running one successful furniture business is hard, I mean really hard, but running two…come on…Yet that is just what Brian and Conor are doing.

Their fabrication studio, A05, has been turning out custom creations for years now. With 10+ employees, an impressive client list, and an even more impressive portfolio of builds.

They also have their company Hoek Home, a flat pack, no tool assembly, sustainable furniture line which has burst onto the scene in a big way.

Follow along as we talk about how they started both of their businesses, how they deal with sourcing, employees, and growth, why being authentic is a company's best foundation, and much more.

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Tamara definitely leads with her heart when it comes to her company, but that’s not to say she leaves the business part behind. On the contrary, with her background in advertising and marketing, she recognizes more than most the importance of having a solid business plan in place as you grow.

So she has balanced both heart and business as she has grown her company to what it is today. Starting with humble furniture beginnings, she is now the market leader of live edge furniture in Jamaica. Employing a full team of craftsmen in her 2 locations and selling her custom pieces as quickly as they can be made.

Follow along as we talk about how she started her business with fireworks, how she has continued to grow and maintain her lead in the market, why she thinks following your passion is a better plan than following the money, and much more.

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For Ellen, Furniture is seamlessly intertwined within her life. To quote her directly, “I am a mother, I am a wife, I am a woodworker, I am a woman, I am not one without the other”. That passion for one's craft is impressive and commendable. Rarely do people find a vocation that draws them in with such strength, but for Ellen, she can’t picture her life any differently.

But when one finds themselves so fully immersed in something it can sometimes be hard to look at it with a critical eye and it becomes especially hard when it is your business and your livelihood on the line. Yet, Ellen has found a way to navigate this, to do what she loves and also be successful at it.

Follow along as we talk about being an artist and a furniture maker, how to price your work the way you want to, how to balance family and your business, and much more.

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Mark went all-in on his dream of having a furniture company, he even built his own shop, but he also knew that his dream of being in this business wasn’t always going to be a good dream. He knew that to build a business you need to be able to weather the good dreams and the nightmares that come in this industry.

That's why along with growing his furniture-making skills, he worked hard to develop his business skills at the same time, so he could learn from the mistakes he would inevitably make and be able to grow from them instead of them being the end of his road

Follow along as we talk about, developing balance in your workday, learning what should go into your pricing model, how not to get burned by your past mistakes, and much more.

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Chris and Amber have grown their company to be both large and small at the same time. With Chris as the shop side and Amber running the business side, they have been expanding their company by leaps and bounds every year. By working smarter not harder and locally outsourcing the main building elements of their pieces, they have been able to continue growing while still keeping their company lean helping them deal with fluctuations in the furniture market.

Follow along as we talk about working with outside manufacturing, the hard parts of shipping, office work, and employee hiring, how they both manage co-ownership, and much more.

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During his two decades of building, Kyle has found a way to stand out in the crowd. With his furniture collection of signature pieces and a custom portfolio filled with overjoyed clients, he and his company have truly made a name for themselves in the industry. Starting in the world of carpentry, he refined his skills both in furniture making and in business to build the company we see today.

Follow along as we talk about finding your space in the industry, how to replicate your pieces but still keep their soul, why interior designers can be your best friends and much more.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

Now Chris does not have what you would consider a traditional furniture company. Yes he builds furniture and yes he has a furniture shop, but he doesn’t actually sell any of that furniture to make his living. I wanted to talk with Chris because I see the path he's taking - selling plans, making content, building a digital footprint - as the path that is being taken by the new modern furniture maker.

Industries change and evolve and grow to encompass the old and the new way of doing things and Chris is a solid blend of both.

So follow along as we talk about the future of woodworking, how to price your furniture plans, if you can still succeed in the world of content, and much more.

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If you ask John what his company is all about, he would probably say something like - it is based on the goal of quality building and customer service - Both things that many people strive for in their business, but very few succeed at.

As you will hear, he goes about achieving these goals in very calculated ways. He knows his personal worth and the worth of learning from the people who came before him. He is not interested in reinventing the wheel, he's interested in incorporating the knowledge he has gained over the years into running a profitable and long-term company.

So follow along as we talk about what it takes to start your own business, the importance of learning from the older generation, how your pricing model can be improved, and much more.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

Jomo’s story is complicated, in more ways than one. This is his second run at having his own furniture company, so he is going through all the physical trials of what it takes to establish a shop, setting up material supply lines, finding employees, and more. But at the same time he is traveling all over the country attending famous events, showcasing his furniture in many media outlets, and in talks with multiple museums to have his pieces in their permanent collection. 

His success now, is grown from a seed that he planted from his first furniture company. And in doing that, his business is both large and small at the exact same time, which is a delicate place for a business owner to be.

And as if that is not complicated enough, he is also working to reshape the design industry. Striving to have African design included in the furniture canon moving forward. 

All of that is to say that Jomo has a lot going on. Follow along as we talk about networking in today's world, organic business growth, navigating the furniture media, and much more. 

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Nick and Courtney did not have their roots in the furniture business, far from it actually. Nick worked at a corporate job and Courtney had a bakery, but as you will hear, once they committed to the furniture business they jumped in with both feet and haven’t looked back since.

They learned the building side right along with the business side and although it was a big learning curve, with a combination of incredibly hard work, laser focus, and an unshakeable belief in quality customer service they have built their company into what it is today.

Follow along as we talk about building your customer base, social media and your company’s bottom line, working together as a couple and as business partners, and so much more.

Read more about this episode at Woodpreneur Life

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Stephen is a one-person shop, and proud of it. His goals are not to grow, not to expand, but not because he can’t. Honestly, he turns a large percentage of work away. And although it might sound strange to some, growth is not what he is after.

His goal is to build a lifestyle company, one that covers his bills, keeps him interested in his daily work, and lets him spend ample time with his family.

One day he may decide to expand, but for now, he is happy where he is.

Follow along as we talk about what it takes to make the jump into working for yourself, the importance of community to keep you positive, why growth is not always the end goal, and much more.

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Darryl has been running his own successful furniture company since 2014. He’s been putting in the work for a long time and it shows. These last few years he has really been hitting his stride, with a packed client list, a fast growing book of press, even adding employees to the shop. 

Darryl has stuck with his own vision, his own rules, his own artistic sensibilities, and it is truly paying off for him.

Follow along as we talk about how he has grown his business, his view on the industry, his own personal rule book for success, and much more.

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Ramon has been in the furniture business for over 40 years, and in that time he has worked in every aspect of the industry. From running a 30 person cabinet company to being a one person boutique furniture shop.

With such an extensive breath of the industry, Ramon’s interview is an honest reflection of someone who has walked the walk. He has spent his whole career in the world of furniture and this episode is a true look at the path he has taken and all the different ins and outs of the furniture business that he has seen.

Following along as we talk about how the industry has changed over the years, what makes a furniture maker a furniture maker, when passion should play a role in your business, and more.

Northern California based furniture company Coffey Custom Builds.

Now Mike is somewhat of an outlier in the furniture business. He got into it because, hold for dramatic pause, he actually likes the business side of the industry. 

So many times we hear about people who love to make the furniture and then have to learn the business side once they get going but Mike is the opposite. Yes he loves the woodworking side as you will hear, but he is someone who had their business plan in place and then started to learn the furniture trade as a secondary step.

Follow along as I talk with Mike about what attracted him to the business side of furniture making, his views on customer service and project organization, when to buy new tools, and much more.

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As you will hear, Martin’s early furniture education was pretty impressive. But all the furniture pedigree in the world would have meant nothing if he didn’t take that knowledge and combine it with his own business knowhow, a roaring creative passion, and just plain hard work, to build his own company into the powerhouse it is today. 

Along with his impressive set of furniture building skills he is also a scholar on the history of furniture manufacturing and he has drawn from both of those backgrounds to set his company apart from the rest

Follow along as we talk about blending old and new furniture making techniques, if getting press is really that important, when to talk contracts on a project, and much more. All with his Shop cats occasionally voicing their own opinions in the background.

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There are a lot of reasons to talk with Patrick and Carlina about their company. 

Yes, they have been wildly successful in their business so far. Yes they have a lot to teach us all about building a community. Yes they are a great example of working together as co owners. And yes, they are an exemplary example of how to overcome adversity to one's business.

But what is equally interesting in their story, is that they are young, both in age and as business owners. In this episode, we talk about everything mentioned above, but we also take a look inside their company and get a snapshot of a business that is growing and evolving as its owners learn more about their own skills and about the industry as a whole.

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Chris views the pieces that come out of his shop as sculptural forms rather than simply functional items. And with that view, he walks a fine line with the way he operates his business. Yes it is a company, but it is also art, and over the years he has found a middle path between the business and artistic worlds.

Follow along as we talk with Chris about how he got started in the industry, how he learned early on about the importance of contracts, how he maintains his creativity while still running a business, and much more

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Christina started her company just 3 years ago, but since the very first day it has been full steam straight ahead with no looking back. As she grew her woodworking skills she also grew a passionate customer base all demanding the stylized signature pieces she produces.

Follow along as we talk with Christina about her business plan, how she deals with hard clients, what she has experienced as a woman woodworker in the industry, her plans for her upcoming first child, and much more.

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Jordan is a furniture maker, but he is also a storyteller, and this episode has equal parts of both. We learn about how he's made his company grow, but we also hear the personal narrative of how he grew alongside his business.

Follow along as we talk with Jordan about starting his business, the lessons he's learned along the way, and how he turned his passion into a reality.

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Mike’s furniture company is located in Georgia, but his reach goes far beyond that. He has set up his business as not only a custom furniture company, but as a business that has multiple streams of income all generated from the projects he’s building. Working this way, he ensures that even if client work is slow he never has slow time in the shop.

Follow along as I talk with Mike about how he grew his business from what seemed at the time to be a complete life disaster into the successful company it is today.

We talk about the importance of face to face meetings, how to make a contract that protects your business, how he can collect 75% upfront for his furniture, and a lot more.

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We could spend an entire episode talking with Mark about his successful furniture company, how he's booked out for months, how he keeps his customer satisfaction high, how he is so in demand that he has to turn away business. But, for this episode, we are focusing mostly on how he is running a full time woodworking business and also working a full time other job at the same time. 

This is a topic that has been brought up in a lot of episodes, so I wanted to sit down with Mark and talk with someone who is living this double life daily, and learn from him about the pros and cons of this lifestyle and how he makes it work. 

Follow along as we talk about how he juggles two full time jobs, how he deals with clients expectations, his thoughts on being a black owned furniture business, and how he is growing his company, his way.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

We brought you 12 episodes, jam packed with business know-how, inspirational stories, behind the scenes insight into building a brand, and some laughs.

The reason host Ethan Abramson started this show was to pull back the curtain on the industry. To show that yes, there are important practices to being successful but there is also not just one path to do it. And after hearing from 12 successful business owners we can see just that. They all had similar core values and business techniques, but they went about building their business in different ways.

Before we start Season Two, we wanted to bring you an episode where we jump back into some of those important conversations, and the lessons we learned from them.

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Dave has a lot going on. With a team of 12, he runs a custom furniture company, a custom flooring company, a furniture store, and a lumber, slab, reclaimed wood business. Standing alone, each of those would be a full time job, but when you mix them all together, from the outside, it looks like a steep mountain to climb.

Follow along as we talk about how he grew his business, how he deals with clients, and how he can offer a no questions asked 100% guarantee return policy on everything that comes out of his shop.

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Jess and Jeff are at a turning point in their business. Having found overwhelming success with their line of home goods they are setting their eyes towards their next goal, furniture design. But as they move further into the world of furniture, they bring the knowledge of growing a strong business with them as well as a roadmap of the steps that brought them to where they are today.

Follow along as we talk about how to conquer selling on Etsy, the positive side of partnerships, dealing with competitors knocking off your creations, and much more.

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Mark is a 4th generation craftsman, someone who literally has building in their blood. But he knew when he started his company that a love and legacy for building wasn’t enough to pay the bills. So he focused equally on the furniture making and the business side or the industry to make his company what it is today.

Nestled in the heart of Brooklyn, Mark and the 15 person team that makes up his furniture shop, are turning out custom work stronger than ever before. But how did he get here, how did he get to this highpoint in his career? 

Follow along as we talk about the value of hard work, how to have the tough conversations about pricing and lead times, furniture building vs the furniture business, and much more.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

Joanie has had an impressive story, and has done many things in her life, but what probably stands out the brightest on her journey is her TV career. A career that showcased two very different worlds. One side, as runner-up on Cycle 6 of America’s Next Top Model and the other side, in a completely separate world, as a host and builder on very popular DIY and Home Renovation shows.

She has also had an impressive modeling career, which is a rather different thing entirely from building furniture. But she made that jump, and her company, The Little Bit Workshop, is busy. Busy building furniture that, in her own words, isn't necessarily high end, but is still furniture that people need.

Follow along as we talk about why she made a career change into Furniture, the struggles women feel not being taken seriously in the building industry, finding ones worth as a maker, and how furniture companies can look different but still be furniture companies.

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In his late 30's, Donnie found himself jobless with he and his family 3 days away from homelessness. That was the day he built his first piece of furniture, and he hasn't looked back since.

Donnie was an entrepreneur well before he became a furniture maker. And with a true entrepreneur's spirit, after each of his businesses failed, instead of giving up he learned from his mistakes and became stronger after each one.

But a hard working attitude doesn’t always get you to where you want to go, and although Donnie had collected a wealth of knowledge, he had very little else to show for his years of hard work. That is when he turned to furniture, not out of passion, but out of necessity.

Follow along as we talk about how Donnie built his company from literally nothing to the incredibly successful business it is today. 

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

Once a former teacher, now Jeremy builds furniture that you just want to gather around. Custom pieces that fit your home like they've always been there. He’s raised his company from a little garage to a thriving and successful business that keeps growing stronger year by year.

He has faced many struggles along his journey but has always come out the stronger for it. It isn't easier turning a local company into one with global reach, but he has done it, while still maintaining a healthy work life balance. 

Follow along as we talk about making the jump into working for yourself, the structure of pricing your work, the good and bad of taking on a partner, and much more  

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Producing wood and metal furniture pieces, with nods to an era where things were built by hand and the sweat off your brow, Jesse and Niki’s company exemplifies the hard work esthetic. This dedication to hard work is not only seen in the look of their furniture, but in how they run their business as well.

Complementing each other's skill sets - He as the artistic force, Her as the business know how - they have built their company from a local dream to a worldwide brand.

Follow along as we talk about how they are increasing their sales while streamlining their workload, the positives of social media, business life after lockdown, and much more.  

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Wes opens his shop doors every day with two goals in mind. One, to build high quality, heirloom, custom furniture with no room for anything below perfect. And two, just like the high quality furniture he builds, he wants a high quality of life as well.

His is a story a lot of people can relate to. His aspiration is simply to work for himself, build furniture, and successfully run a boutique custom shop that will sustain him and his family for a lifetime. A seemingly small goal but one that few people can ever reach.

Follow along as we talk about making the decision to work for yourself, the tightrope of collecting money owed, how success looks different to different people, and much more  

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Jess is known for seamlessly blending epoxy into her pieces. From hyper realistic fish swimming through rivers to brightly colored geometric patterned tables, she makes furniture that is uniquely hers because she puts so much of herself into it.

She has grown her business alongside growing her community and both intertwine seamlessly to make her company what it is today.

Follow along as we talk about mistakes made, expanding your network, pricing lessons, and the importance of and embracing your weird.

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Doc’s company is known for their gigantic custom work, made from responsibly sourced live edge exotic woods. With a client rooster that includes celebrities, athletes, and musicians, Doc’s furniture is always in the spotlight.

Follow along as we talk about the importance of contracts, the journey of importing lumber, being arrogant in the industry and learning your worth as a business.

 This episode is brought to you by Jobber - BoostByJobber.com

Jordan, and his 12 person team, run a custom fabrication shop that specializes in all types of residential and commercial projects.

Follow along as the conversation goes from company growth, the difference between commercial and residential projects, sustainable practices, how to manage such a large team of creative people, and so much more.

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Started in 2017, Justin's company is known for meticulously crafted solid wood American made furniture. Follow along as the conversation goes from furniture pricing, thoughts on working with showrooms, the plunge into hiring a first employee, advice for people just starting out in the industry, and so much more.

To learn more head over to https://www.buildingafurniturebrand.com/