Building a Furniture Brand with Ethan Abramson

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Jomo Tariku, owner of the Springfield, Virginia-based furniture company Jomo Furniture. 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. Read More!

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Nick and Courtney Starrett, owners of the Jacksonville, Florida-based furniture company Nick’s Custom Woodworks. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Stephen Michutka, owner of the Lumberton, Texas-based furniture company The Wood Pastor. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Darryl Dunn, owner of the San Antonio, TX based furniture company Dunnswood. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Ramon Valdez, owner of the Northern New Mexico based furniture company Ramon Valdez Fine Furniture. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan 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.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Mike Coffey, owner of the 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. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Martin Goebel, owner of the St. Louis, Missouri and Chicago, Illinois based furniture company Goebel & Co. Furniture. 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. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Carlina Sacco and Patrick Bilazzo, co-owners of the Batsto, NJ based furniture company Pine Barren Pallet Works. 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. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Christopher Miano, owner of the Union City, NJ based furniture company CAM Design co. 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 This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Christina Shuler, owner of the Rock Hill, South Carolina based furniture company Glam Farmhouse, LLC. 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. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Jordan Goetz, owner of the Austin, Texas based furniture company Growler Domestics. 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. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down withWoodshop Mike, owner of the Georgia based furniture company Woodshop Mike. 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. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Mark Robertson, owner of the Texas based furniture company Mark The Builder 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

This is a very special episode, We just finished our first season! 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. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Dave Puncochar, owner of the Nashville, Tennessee based furniture company Good Wood Nashville. 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. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Jess and Jef Behnke, owner of the Appleton, Wisconsin based furniture company Two Moose Design. 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. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Mark Jupiter, owner of the Brooklyn, New York based furniture company Mark Jupiter. 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

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Joanie Sprague, owner of the Huntington Beach, California based furniture company The Little Bit Workshop. 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. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Donnie Galli, owner of the Destin, Florida based furniture company Designs by Donnie. 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

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Jeremy Hill, founder of the Marietta, Georgia based furniture company Jericho Home. 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 This episode is brought to you by Jobber - BoostByJobber.com

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Jesse and Niki Weegens, Owners of the Rogers, Arkansas based furniture company American Estates 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. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - BoostByJobber.com

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Wes Lewis, Owner of the Wichita, Kansas based furniture company James Wesley Furniture. 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 This episode is brought to you by Jobber - BoostByJobber.com

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Jess Crow, Owner of the Alaskan based furniture company Crow Creek Designs. 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. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - BoostByJobber.com

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Doc Wright, Owner of the Dallas, Texas based furniture company The Wright Edge. 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

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Jordan Rose, Owner of the New Orleans based furniture company GoodWood Nola. 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. This episode is brought to you by Jobber - BoostByJobber.com

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson talks with Justin Nelson, owner of Fernweh Woodworking Furniture. 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.

On this very first episode, host Ethan Abramson talks with…himself, about how your time is valuable, about his own background in the furniture industry, and what to expect for the upcoming shows. To learn more head over to https://www.buildingafurniturebrand.com/