Building a Furniture Brand with Ethan Abramson

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 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!

Part Time All The Time with Josh Bubeck of The Rustic Muse 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

-- 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 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.

-- 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 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.

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! 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.

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 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

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! 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.

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 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.

-- 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 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

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 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

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 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.

Under Water Wood with Justin Ephraim of Reduxwood -- 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.

-- 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 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 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 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.

-- 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 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. Read More

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Tyreik Jackson, owner of the NYC and Hudson Valley, NY based company Are You A Fixer LLC. -- 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. Read More

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Ryan Feldthouse, owner of the Fresno, California-based furniture company Feldthouse Family Woodworks. -- 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. Read More

In this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with D'ondra Howard, owner of the Sacramento, California-based furniture company Workboots & Glasses. -- 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Scott McKinnon, owner of the Oakville, Ontario based furniture company Urban Reclaimed. 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Nick Sawyer owner of the Portland, Oregon-based furniture company Sawyer Design. 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. Read More

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Joe Clark, owner of the Bellingham, Washington based company Architectural Elements. 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Scot Gotcher, owner of the Southern Oregon based furniture company Clever Grain 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Joe Thiele, owner of the Portland, Oregon based furniture company Boundary Fog Furniture 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

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Steve and Stevie Thomson, co owners of the Rochester, New York based company Happy Life Wood 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. Read More

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Chelsea Gaddy, owner of the Seattle, Washington-based furniture company Force/Collide. 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. Read More

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with J Paul the Carpenter, owner of the Atlanta, Georgia-based furniture company Porch 959. 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Zack Pascarella, owner of the Buffalo, New York-based furniture company Wise Owl Wood Company. 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Nolan Thompson, owner of the Virginia based furniture company Nolan Built. 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. Read More

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Tom Hamilton owner of the furniture business Citizen Wood Co. 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Justin and Fallon Ascherman co-owners of the Tampa Florida based furniture company Rustic Grain Designs. 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. Read More

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Andrew Fischer owner of the Nashville Tennessee-based furniture company Cold Brew Woodworking. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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. Read More

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Edgar Blazona, founder of the furniture company BenchMade Modern. This episode is brought to you by Jobber- getjobber.com/ethan 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. Read More

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Marina Mazza and Rocky Cappelletti co-owners of the Melbourne, Australia-based furniture company B.A. Furniture. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Matt Noble owner of the Northern Georgia-based furniture company Overkill Woodcraft LLC. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Rachel Bergsma, owner of the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based furniture company Sawdust and Smoke. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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. Read More

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Tyler Shaheen, owner of the Southern Indiana-based furniture company The Southern Craftsmen. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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. Read More

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Michael Wiebe, owner of the Macgregor, Manitoba-based furniture company Beaver Creek Customs. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Bao Loi, owner of the Houston, Texas-based furniture company Design Craft Workshop. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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. Read More

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Ronnie Fulton, owner of the Central Kentucky-based furniture company Fulton Fine Woodworks. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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. Read More

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Dallas Gara, owner of the Alberta, Canada based furniture company GaraWood. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Jonathan Katz-Moses, owner of the Santa Barbara, California-based company Katz Moses Tools. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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. Read More

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Dan Wellens owner of the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based furniture company Country Tables & Furniture. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Brian Chu and Conor Coghlan owners of the Brooklyn, NY-based furniture companies Hoek Home & A05 Studio. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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. Read More

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Tamara Harding owner of the Jamaica-based furniture company Mara Made Designs. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Ellen Smith owner of the northwest Ohio-based furniture company Little Bare Furniture. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Mark Peacock, owner of the North Wales-based furniture company Deer River Craftsman. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Chris and Amber Earl co-owners of the Los Angeles, California-based furniture company Earl Home. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Kyle Kidwell, owner of the Portland, Maine-based furniture company Kidwell Fabrications. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Chris Salomone, owner of the Southern California based furniture company Foureyes Furniture. 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with John Stene, owner of the Southern Montana-based furniture company Stene Woodwork LLC. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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.