Building a Furniture Brand with Ethan Abramson

This episode is with Scott Grove, owner of the furniture company Green Grove DesignIf 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?Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

For 45 years Scott has been building. The countless furniture pieces made, sculptures crafted, books written, courses taught, has given him a view on the industry that few can claim. He has worked with world renowned designers, giant companies, museums and galleries, and along the way has made his own road and his own name in the industry.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 Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com 

This episode is with Erling Hope, owner of the furniture company Erling HopeIf you want to hear the full story behind how Erling Hope got started, check out the show archives - episode 123Being 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.Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

40 years in this industry and Erling still cherishes learning more. He looks on his knowledge as an ever evolving thing, always collaborating and trying new ideas and materials and solutions to problems. But even with that heart for exploration two things always stay true for him, his dedication to design and quality. His commitment to both of those principles will not waver, no matter the piece he finds himself working on.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.Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com 

This episode is with Corey Tighe owner of the furniture company CT woodworkIf you want to hear the full story behind how CT woodwork got started - Check out the show archives - episode 121It’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.Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com 

When Corey says he has been in this industry his whole life, he means it. By learning every part of the business - from family, from school, and on the job, he has seen all sides of what the world of furniture offers. And he has taken that knowledge to help build his own successful company along the way.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.Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com 

This episode is with Paddy Collins of P Cakes Productions.If you want to hear the full story behind how P Cakes Productions got started - Check out the show archives - episode 119In 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. Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

The humbleness that Paddy talks about his career with, should not overshadow what he has accomplished. Because with almost 30 years of custom projects under his belt and a TV resume of impressive shows he’s been a part of, he definitely has advice to share.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.Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com 

This episode is with TJ Turner, owner of the furniture company Carl Jackson DesignsIf you want to hear the full story behind how Carl Jackson Designs got started - Check out the show archives - episode 117Sometimes 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.Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

TJ clearly got into this industry because of his love for the Artistic side of furniture making. And his company took of quickly because of the passion he puts into every piece. But along the way, by leaning into the community of furniture makers around him. he also learned the business side of the industry as well. And by putting both those pieces together, he has turned his once dream of having a furniture company into a full fledged reality. So Follow along as we talk about fighting burnout, the value of community, finding your confidence and much more.Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com 

This episode is with Frank Bonomo, owner of the furniture company Studio BonomoOne 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.Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

Frank has lived a lot of different careers, a story you often hear when it comes to people who start their own businesses. Starting his company further down the road, after seeing what life has to offer, has allowed him to draw from his varied experiences and has let him better understand himself as well as the business he wants to run.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.Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com 

This episode is with Sean Flaherty, owner of the furniture company SCF Design.If you want to hear the full story behind how SCF Design got started - Check out the show archives - episode 113Working 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.Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

6 years in, Sean has a contemplative view of the furniture industry. With the roots of his company starting in the art world, he likes to focus on the process of design and building as a journey itself, and not necessarily a reflection on the value of the finished piece. In a medium like furniture, where artistic merit and business acumen go hand in hand, Sean has had to find his own balance to gauge what success means to him and his company.Follow along as we talk about Art vs Business, the creative burnout, finding your own values and much more Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com 

This episode is with Casey and Brandon Smith, co owners of the furniture company Path Design Company - If you want to hear the full story behind how Path Design got started, check out the show archives - episode 111As 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 Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

Casey and Brandon started their company because they wanted to have an outlet for their creativity - an idea that I am sure a lot of people also have. But they put the work in, and the time, and learned to work smarter and faster. They also came to understand that the business side of any creative endeavor needs attention paid to it as well if you want it to grow. And grow it has, from what started as just a creative outlet to now, a successful business that supports them both.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.Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com 

This episode is with Aaron Matheson of Matheson Woodwork 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 businessLearn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com  

As a professional photographer, Aaron was always able to look at the everyday world and see it a little bit differently. And when he started building furniture, he was able to take that visual understanding and translate it to his designs, and to conversations with his clients, and to physically building his furniture pieces. Being able to look at the world and to understand what you like in it visually, is a big help when you are creating something new - like a piece of furniture.So Follow along as we talk about where to find inspiration, moving your business across the country, what makes furniture Art, and much more.Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com 

This episode is with Jacob Wolfe, owner of the furniture company Das Wolfe.If you want to hear the full story behind how Das Wolfe got started, check out the show archives - Episode 107Jacob 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.Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com 

Jacob’s work as a furniture maker, and as a visual artist in general, Is always marked with a little something extra. Be it an unexpected twist on a recognizable form, or adding a modern technique into an old world build. His style is equal parts artisan and mad scientist, with work that centers around taking what we think of as ordinary and making it anything but.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 Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

This episode is with Derek Hartvigson, Owner of the furniture company The Native Craftsman.If you want to hear the full story behind how The Native Craftsman started - check out the show archives - episode 105Derek 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 wholeLearn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com 

Derek is a 5th generation woodworker, but even though he loved the craft, he didn’t go straight into the trade. Yet, after pursing other professions, he found his way back to furniture making and started his own company in 2015.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

Special Episode - Building on the BadBack 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 

Jennie and Aaron have gone through all the combinations of having their own furniture company. Starting individually as a hobby, then both part time, then one going full time, and finally until they were able to both turn the goal of working for themselves into a reality. But through it all, the one constant has been their adaptability.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 

Paula and her husband Justin started their company in 2009, and since then, have been steadily growing their business. 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

Talking with Kristina and Nick you quickly realize that this is very much a business first company for them. Yes they love to make furniture, but the way they make it and even design it, is based strongly in thinking about how they can continuously and effectively produce it for their clients.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

Ronald is at day 1 with his business. He had the idea, followed his passion, put in the work, and now he is ready to open the doors of his own company. But as you will hear, just saying you are open for business is the minimum buy in for having your own furniture company. There is so much more that goes into it once you get going.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

Customer service is an art, and when you are selling on platforms like Etsy, it is an art that you need too perfect to stand out. So that is exactly what Andrew has been doing for the last 6 years. And growing his building skills along side his client skills has lead to continued success in this industry well beyond what he could have imaged when he started.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

With 10 years of experience in the industry, Zachary is not new to the world of furniture making, but he is new to running his own company. We check in with him a year into owning his business, to learn first hand the good and bad of what he has been going through during this first year.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

Excel sheets and board feet Alyssa has experience in both. As an Accountant she spends her time going over other people’s numbers and so when it comes to her own furniture company she does the same. Keeping records as detailed as her buildsAnd 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

Having a passion for your business is important. It is what gets you up in the morning on the good days and the bad ones.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

Rebecca is a true student of the industry. She is always learning, growing, and asking questions that help move her furniture company forward. And this drive to continue expanding her knowledge has lead to not only her company continuing to succeed, but has also given her the ability to teach others what she has learned. Helping to expand the industry and grow the trade of Woodworking for all.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

With Awards and press, events and high profile clients, Leah has her pick for the direction she wants to take her brand. But Sometimes you figure out what you want your company to look like, by figuring out what you don’t want it to look like. 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

Jumping in with no safety net, making the move to full time with a young family, focusing on a brick and mortar store not internet ranking, building local relationships not nationwide connections -Michele and Bobby are not following the crowd when it comes to their company. 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

From building a wine rack in a 1 car garage to sell on Etsy, to building out full wine bars and restaurants, and event spaces, and breweries in a custom built 10,000 square foot shop space - Brian has come a long way.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

2 time Olympic athlete, that is not on the resume for a lot of furniture makers. But Ryan took that competitive edge that he used to excel in the world of sports, and brought it to the world of furniture - on the building and the business side.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

Dennis returned to his childhood passion of building, bringing with him his grown up passion for the world of design. Combining both into the well groomed furniture company, Austen / Morris, we see today.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

From Rock Star to Furniture Maker, some people take interesting journeys to get to their destination - but once Paul locked his mind onto his furniture business he never looked back.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

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

-- 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 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.

-- 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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

-- 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 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.

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. 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.