The Woodpreneur Podcast

“ Add 20% to all of those bills because then that's going to give you margin If you're way too busy and way too swamped, it's because your prices are not high enough.” -Steve Larosiliere Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, we discuss about running a successful woodworking business comes with its fair share of challenges, especially when growth begins to stretch your resources thin. In a recent conversation with Steve, the co-founder of a thriving lumber and furniture business, we delved into the complexities of managing a growing enterprise and how to make the most of your available time and resources. Here's a breakdown of the valuable insights shared during our discussion Now is the time to listen and hear the whole story! Elevate Your Positioning: Steve emphasized the importance of positioning your business effectively. Highlight your unique selling points and create an outstanding customer experience to justify higher prices. Streamline Quoting and Presentation: Use professional presentations like PowerPoint to enhance your quotes. Follow up with potential clients through video presentations or personal calls to provide a personalized experience. Delegate and Outsource: Identify tasks that can be delegated or outsourced to free up your time. Use a CRM (like VMAs) to automate follow-ups, lead generation, and customer management. Effective Time Management: Implement strict time blocking to prioritize important tasks. Don't answer the phone during specific hours; let calls go to voicemail and set expectations for call-back times. Create Attention-Grabbing Assets: Allocate time in the morning to create attention-grabbing assets for your business, such as social media posts, emails, and marketing materials. Focus on High-Impact Activities: Differentiate between tasks that are merely time-consuming and those that significantly impact your business growth. “My mornings are all about checking in with my sales team. My afternoons, while mid morning is about reviewing sales calls and numbers and metrics.” -Steve Larosiliere Want to get in touch with Steve Larosiliere? Contact him through: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelarosiliere/?hl=en Woodpreneurlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodpreneurlife/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevelarosiliere/ Acres of Timber Website: https://www.acresoftimber.com/ Stoked Website: https://www.stoked.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SteveLarosiliere Woodpreneurlife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@woodpreneurlife4211 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevelarosiliere1/ Woodpreneurlife Website: https://www.woodpreneurlife.com/

“There's a bunch of different variations, but you actually should just do what's comfortable for you. And if not, potentially outsource the rest, but like, focus on these nine pieces of content” Steve Larosiliere Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, in the ever-evolving world of woodworking, establishing a strong online presence is crucial for growth and success. As a woodpreneur, it can be challenging to decide what content to share on your social media platforms. That's why we're here to guide you through the nine essential pieces of content every woodworking business needs to flourish on social media. I'm Steve Larosiliere, the founder of Builder Growth and the host of the Woodpreneur Podcast, where we specialize in helping wood, lumber, woodworking, and sawmill businesses thrive. Today, let's dive into a quick training session to help you create these nine fundamental content pieces and lay the foundation for continuous growth on your social media platforms. Now is the time to listen and hear the whole story! “You can create content and videos and, and written words with screenshots. And you know carousels based off of all of this right so the ever process for milling lumber, if you have a process for building tables of process for designing and quoting, built ins, if you have a process for flooring, if you have a process for any, like renovations, like anything that that people always ask you, what's your timeframe, what's your lead time like from start to finish? What are your payment terms like all of this stuff” -Steve Larosiliere Step 1: Uniformity and Clarity in Your Profiles Before you start creating content, it's essential to ensure consistency across all your social media accounts, be it Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Make sure your usernames are the same across all platforms, and your bios are similar. Each bio should include a link to your website and a clear call to action, such as "Contact me for a custom design" or "Book an appointment for a consultation." This consistency and clarity will help potential customers easily connect with your business. Step 2: The Nine Essential Content Types Now, let's explore the nine types of content you should focus on for your woodworking business: 1. Facility and Product Showcase: Share pictures and videos of your woodworking facility, shop, showroom, or factory. Highlight the various products you offer, from custom furniture to lumber milling and renovations. 2. About Us and Company Bio: Create a video or written content that tells your audience about your business's history, vision, mission, and values. Share how long you've been in business to humanize your brand. Step 3: Content Creation and Editing To streamline the content creation process, consider using tools like Chat GPT to write scripts and captions. Video editing software like Cap Cut, iMovie, or Instagram's built-in editor can help you compile photos and B-roll footage. Add a voiceover to enhance your content's impact. “if you want to stay relevant, just stay on on the daily, just post stories to Instagram and habits sync to your Facebook personal or business page.” -Steve Larosiliere Want to get in touch with Steve Larosiliere? Contact him through: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelarosiliere/?hl=en Woodpreneurlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodpreneurlife/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevelarosiliere/ Acres of Timber Website: https://www.acresoftimber.com/ Stoked Website: https://www.stoked.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SteveLarosiliere Woodpreneurlife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@woodpreneurlife4211 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevelarosiliere1/ Woodpreneurlife Website: https://www.woodpreneurlife.com/

“with all the obstacles, overcoming, there's so many, with any occupation that you go into, or your daily life, you have to mitigate risks, and this type of occupation that he's in, there's a lot of mitigating. And it's just been more of a learning experience as his sidekick, I guess that's my answer to all of the the wives out there, or husbands, you know, that, that feel like their spouse wants to go into this is just to know that life is short, and to push your spouse to go for what they want their dreams” -Matt Ruben Welcome to the Woodpreneur podcast, the ultimate show for the business and marketing side of the lumber, woodworking, hardwood flooring, and sawmill industry. With your host Steve Larosiliere today isMatt & Antonia Ruben from Ruben Custom Sawmill. Matt and Antonia's journey in the woodworking industry began several years ago when Matt was working as a manager at a steel foundry while pursuing woodworking as a part-time passion. Their lives took a significant turn when they decided to invest more in Matt's woodworking venture. Matt's wife, Antonia, played a pivotal role in encouraging him to expand and take his passion seriously. They recognized the potential for growth and the demand for portable milling and custom wood pieces. “when you go for something, don't give up and there's no there's no way we'll ever be able to fix an issue if you don't try to mitigate through your your problems and try to, you know, get you'll get to where you want to be when you go through all that.” -Matt Ruben The Humble Beginnings: Matt and Antonia's journey in the woodworking industry began several years ago when Matt was working as a manager at a steel foundry while pursuing woodworking as a part-time passion. Their lives took a significant turn when they decided to invest more in Matt's woodworking venture. Matt's wife, Antonia, played a pivotal role in encouraging him to expand and take his passion seriously. They recognized the potential for growth and the demand for portable milling and custom wood pieces. Facing Early Challenges: Matt's woodworking business started to gain traction, but it wasn't without challenges. In 2020, shortly after he officially started the business, Matt received a cease operations order. This unexpected setback marked the beginning of a challenging journey. The couple faced various misconceptions, complaints, and legal battles from their neighbors and local authorities. Despite being law-abiding and passionate about their craft, Matt and Antonia found themselves in a difficult position. Want to get in touch with Matt Ruben? Contact him through: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rubencustomsawmill/ Website: http://rubencustomsawmill.com/

“ So here's the thing, the thing with with business is so I have clients that are doing what you're doing and and the only difference is how fast they're able to respond to their leads.” -Steve Larosiliere Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, in this episode, i am sharing a snippet from $10k in 15 days challenge, where in this discussion highlights the importance of persistence, adaptability, and a clear vision for entrepreneurs in the custom furniture industry. By learning from their experiences and implementing the right strategies, these business owners are working towards building thriving enterprises in a competitive market Now is the time to listen and hear the whole story! “when are you looking to do this project? If they say next year, don't get on the phone with them? If they say six months, don't get on the phone with them. If they say right now, or the next two months or three months, then get on a call with them” -Steve Larosiliere The Challenge of Getting Leads One entrepreneur expressed their frustration with leads that seemed promising at first but ended up being "tire kickers." Many potential customers expressed interest but were not ready to commit. This is a common challenge for businesses, especially those just starting. Generating Leads: A Valuable Achievement Another participant pointed out that generating any leads at all is a significant accomplishment. Many businesses struggle to attract leads, making it crucial to acknowledge the achievement of generating interest, even if they don't all convert into sales. Identifying Target Customers The conversation then shifted to the importance of targeting the right audience. One entrepreneur discussed the significance of crafting a message that resonates with potential customers who can afford and are ready to invest in custom furniture. Understanding your target market and their needs is key to success. Creating a Sense of Urgency The entrepreneurs emphasized the importance of creating a sense of urgency when dealing with potential clients. Urgency can help qualify leads and separate those who are genuinely interested from those who are not ready to commit. By asking potential clients when they want to complete their project, business owners can better assess their level of commitment. The Sales Process: Step by Step A step-by-step approach to the sales process was also discussed. The process begins with a quick initial call to understand the customer's needs and explain the project's steps. It then progresses through qualification, design consultation, and proposal presentation, each step serving to further refine the lead and build trust. “Part of the challenge is having clarity on what your right business model is. Because once you have the right business model, like it, you'll go really really fast.” -Steve Larosiliere Want to get in touch with Steve Larosiliere? Contact him through: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelarosiliere/?hl=en Woodpreneurlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodpreneurlife/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevelarosiliere/ Acres of Timber Website: https://www.acresoftimber.com/ Stoked Website: https://www.stoked.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SteveLarosiliere Woodpreneurlife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@woodpreneurlife4211 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevelarosiliere1/ Woodpreneurlife Website: https://www.woodpreneurlife.com/

“Honestly, if you just spent most of your time analyzing who is your ideal customer, or profiling your past five customers, this will help you tremendously, because then you're like, Okay, these are the people that buy where I want to buy, how do I reach them” -Steve Larosiliere Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. In this episode i’m going to help you with Finding the right customers for your woodworking business requires a strategic and thoughtful approach. Identifying your ideal customer, tailoring your marketing efforts, qualifying leads, collecting feedback, and collaborating with industry peers are all crucial steps to success. Steve Larosiliere's insights provide a roadmap for your woodworking business's growth and prosperity. By following these steps, you'll be on your way to attracting and serving the right clientele, ensuring the long-term success of your business. It's time to hear the complete story now! “Define your ideal customer. So what you want to do is, before you find the right customer, you need to know who they are. And you want to start by creating an ideal customer profile. This is a detailed description of the right type of customer who are the best fit for your business? And so some of the things you want to think about our demographics like what are the age, whether to gender, income level, occupation or types of occupation?” -Steve Larosiliere Tailor Your Marketing and Outreach Once you've created your Ideal Customer Profile, tailor your marketing and outreach efforts to cater specifically to this audience. Here's how: Content Marketing: Develop content, such as articles, videos, and posts, that directly addresses the needs and interests of your ideal customers. For instance, if your target audience consists of homeowners looking to renovate kitchens, create content about kitchen design and the benefits of custom cabinetry. Social Media Targeting and Paid Advertising: Utilize platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Google PPC to target your ideal customers based on their demographics and interests. Leverage localized Search Engine Optimization to attract local customers. Attend Local Events and Network: Engage with your community by attending local events, joining business associations, and building relationships with potential customers and businesses that can refer customers to you. This hands-on approach can be highly effective. “Facebook and Instagram make it so easy to target these people geographically by age by what their lifestyle is, whether they have family, that sort of stuff, we can probably do another training on that localized Search Engine Optimization” -Steve Larosiliere Contact him through: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelarosiliere/?hl=en Woodpreneurlife Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/woodpreneurlife/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevelarosiliere/ Acres of Timber Website: https://www.acresoftimber.com/ Stoked Website: https://www.stoked.org/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/SteveLarosiliere Woodpreneurlife YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@woodpreneurlife4211 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevelarosiliere1/ Woodpreneurlife Website: https://www.woodpreneurlife.com/

“Our living room built in our closet. And as I was doing these projects, my neighbors, they were like catching on to what I was doing. And then I had one neighbor that inquired about a project. And I did it for her, you know, made it made a decent profit off of that project. And that's what kind of opened my eyes to wait. There's something here that, you know, I'm not yet understanding, but I think I should, dive a little bit deeper into this” -Anil Victor Welcome to the Woodpreneur podcast, the ultimate show for the business and marketing side of the lumber, woodworking, hardwood flooring, and sawmill industry. With your host Steve Larosiliere today is Anil Victor the founder of Would Woodwork. Neil's journey from creating infinity tables to crafting custom woodworking masterpieces is nothing short of inspiring. Let's dive into his incredible story. Listen now and get the whole story! “ Do whatever you needed to do but I took that time so you know, learning woodworking I was like reading articles on how to build certain things, watching YouTube videos, you know, dabbling around making mistakes.” -Anil Victor The Turning Point in His Woodworking Adventure In 2017, Anil and his partner Samantha purchased a townhome. Disappointed by the cookie-cutter designs and lack of character, Anil took matters into his own hands. He started creating custom accent walls, window benches, and even closet spaces. Word quickly spread among his neighbors about his exceptional woodworking skills. One neighbor, in particular, asked Anil to take on a project for her. He accepted the challenge, and the result not only impressed her but also ignited Anil entrepreneurial spirit. This initial project planted the seed of an idea—the potential for a thriving woodworking business. Fast forward to the end of 2020, and that seed had grown into "Wood Woodwork." The Pandemic Pivot The year 2020 brought immense change for many people, including Neil. As the pandemic unfolded, Anil work transitioned from his tech job to full-time woodworking. The turning point came when he looked in the mirror, questioning his potential. March 18, 2021, marked the day he handed in his two-week notice, taking the plunge into full-time entrepreneurship. Anil initial focus was on creating custom accent walls, capturing the attention of social media. TikTok and Instagram became powerful tools for showcasing his work, drawing in potential clients. His innovative designs and meticulous craftsmanship rapidly gained recognition, paving the way for a broader range of projects. “But the way I like to say it is like social media and Instagram and Tiktok and Facebook or whatever, YouTube, whatever the platform is, the more you show up, the more you consistent, it is literally like driving on a highway” -Steve Larosiliere Want to get in touch with Anil Victor? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wouldwoodwork_llc/ Website: https://wouldwoodworkatl.com/

“ For many, the fourth quarter is a culmination of the year's work. And in woodworking businesses and in wood businesses, this is definitely your chance to shine. A lot of people bring get most of their business during this time” -Steve Larosiliere Welcome to the Woodpreneur podcast, the ultimate show for the business and marketing side of the lumber, woodworking, hardwood flooring, and sawmill industry. With your host Steve Larosiliere today we'll delve into the critical topic of the fourth quarter (Q4) and what it means for your wood business. Q4 is the culmination of a year's hard work for many wood businesses. It's a time when opportunities abound, from custom holiday orders to end-of-year projects and beyond. People are looking to invest their money, both in personal and business ventures. Your performance during this period can leave a lasting impression and set the tone for the following year. However, many wood printers underestimate the potential of Q4, often letting business come to them instead of proactively seeking it. Listen now and get the whole story! “over promising under delivering can tarnish your company's in your brand's reputation. So part of this process is to really look at what you're capable of. I know it's enticing to want to like produce a lot of smaller quick to order things. And it's you know, it's it's it's nice money” -Steve Larosiliere Components of a Successful Q4 Strategy To craft a successful Q4 strategy, you must reflect on your past performance in the previous three quarters. What products were well-received? Which marketing strategies yielded the best results? Identifying your top sales sources and most profitable products will guide your approach. Consider enhancing your star product. Can you make it even more appealing by using unique materials or creating limited-edition versions? Additionally, capacity planning is vital. While it's tempting to accept every order, prioritize quality over quantity. Focus on substantial projects that allow you to maintain a sustainable workload and enjoy the holiday season. Tips and Recommendations for Woodpreneurs Here are some practical tips to help you navigate Q4 successfully: Eisenhower Box: Use this tool for task prioritization to identify what needs immediate attention.Time Blocking: Allocate dedicated time for both production and marketing activities. Minimize distractions during these blocks.Centralized Communication: Streamline communication with clients by consolidating emails, phone calls, and direct messages into one central location.Focus on High-Value Products: Concentrate on high-ticket items like tables, furniture, and built-ins. These projects can yield better profit margins with fewer orders.Seek Support: Don't hesitate to bring in extra help, outsource marketing, customer communication, or accounting tasks when needed. Conclusion Remember, Q4 is not just another quarter; it's an opportunity to end the year on a high note and set the stage for the year ahead. Your wood business has the potential to shine during this period. Every product, every customer interaction, and your own story can leave a lasting impact.

“Imagine if you literally had to hand sand, your, every piece of furniture, right, that would take you forever. Or you can use an orbital sander that gives you more leverage there” - Steve Larosiliere Welcome to the Woodpreneur podcast, Woodworking is a craft that has been cherished for centuries, producing beautiful and functional pieces of art. As a woodworking enthusiast or professional, you're no stranger to the hours of hard work and dedication that go into each project. But have you ever stopped to think about the concept of leverage and how it can transform your woodworking business? In this podcast, we'll delve into the world of leverage and how it can take your woodworking endeavors to new heights. Listen now and get the whole story! “what we do for folks like you is that what we do is that we hire and train a virtual assistant that you pay five to $7 an hour, and you put them and we placed them in your business, so that they can oversee your online advertising, they can oversee and post for you on social media. And they can help amplify your word of mouth. And they can even book appointments for you and do more research on your ideal customer, and email them and post to there and tag them and get their your message in front of them” -Steve Larosiliere Understanding Leverage in Woodworking: 1. Production Leverage: To truly grasp the concept of leverage, let's start with a journey through woodworking history. Back in the 1800s, milling lumber was a laborious task that involved sawing logs by hand. It could take an entire day to mill just one log. The introduction of the chainsaw mill brought a significant improvement, allowing woodworkers to cut logs more efficiently, processing up to one log per hour. However, the pinnacle of production leverage came with the bandsaw mill. With this tool, a few logs could be processed in an hour, drastically increasing productivity. While these tools come with costs, they make woodworking more efficient and profitable. 2. Drying Leverage: Wood drying is another area where leverage plays a crucial role. Traditional air drying can take years, often at a rate of one inch of drying per year. This slow process ties up valuable resources and limits your project throughput. The game-changer is the dehumidification kiln, reducing drying time to just a few months. For even greater leverage, consider investing in a vacuum kiln, which can dry wood in a matter of weeks or even days. This level of efficiency ensures that you always have a steady supply of dry wood for your projects. 3. Finishing Leverage: Finishing woodworking projects can be a time-consuming task, especially if you rely solely on hand sanding. Each piece of furniture or woodwork requires meticulous attention to detail, and the process can seem never-ending. Enter power tools like orbital sanders and wide belt sanders. While these tools come with upfront costs, they provide immense leverage by saving you a significant amount of time. Wide belt sanders, in particular, cover larger areas quickly, allowing you to complete projects more efficiently. “ I'm guiding you and mentoring you along the way. And by the way, I've got my own mentors, and I've got my own guides in my own business. And they make lots and lots of money. And they've seen all sorts of business. And these are the people that I tap into when I don't know, but I've grown in scale” -Steve Larosiliere

“I knew it could be something big. I just never imagined how big and I never imagined how quickly we could get it there. So my summation is if you're ready to pull the trigger, if you're ready to do it, and you're ready to burn your boats then burn your boats” -Joel McPherson Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Joel McPherson Joel started repurposing, also known as upcycling or reclaiming wood, involves taking reclaimed or salvaged wood and giving it a new life. Instead of allowing fallen or discarded trees to waste away, artisans and woodworkers like Joel McPherson from McPherson Makery are recognizing the potential in this overlooked resource. He shared the insights about the art of wood repurposing, exploring how trees can be transformed into treasures and how this sustainable practice benefits both artisans and the environment. Listen now and get the whole story! “In a world where people try to do a bunch of different things, one should focus on their vision, and everything that kind of stems from that, and it's trees and wood. But you're staying in your lane with that your equipment and your services, which is super duper, super duper powerful” -Steve Larosiliere Preservation of Natural Resources: By using salvaged wood, the need for cutting down fresh trees is diminished, preserving forests and the vital ecosystems they support. Lower Carbon Footprint: The process of harvesting, transporting, and processing fresh lumber generates significant carbon emissions. Repurposing wood reduces this environmental impact. Artisanal Craftsmanship: Unique Aesthetic: Reclaimed wood often tells a story through its imperfections, patina, and character. This uniqueness adds charm and personality to wood products. Customization: Woodworkers can create one-of-a-kind pieces tailored to clients' preferences, contributing to the revival of handcrafted, personalized items. “I was confident in my use of the machinery and its capabilities, and my abilities will fit. So that was no longer a question in my mind, all I had to focus on was my customer relations and how I'm actually presenting myself to the public so that they knew what I had to offer” -Joel McPherson Local Economy Boost: Wood repurposing can stimulate local economies by supporting small businesses, artisans, and sawmills specializing in reclaimed wood. Job Creation: As the demand for repurposed wood grows, more jobs are created within the industry, from sourcing to processing and crafting. “ Sometimes the thing that you want to accomplish in life and in business always doesn't turn out the way you hoped that it imagined. Sometimes it comes out through helping other people achieve Their thing to” -Steve Larosiliere Want to get in touch with Joel McPherson? Contact him through: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/macpherson_makery_llc/ Website: https://www.macphersonmakery.com

“If I wanted to actually, earn enough money to buy a house or start a family or something, I'm going to need to, to earn more than just what I make as a barista, or even this the sporadic performing arts work that came in. So I made a decision, I was either going to become a laborer or like a chippy, or a carpenter, or actually start my own business.” -Ben Adams Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Ben Adams from Ben Adams Studio. Ben's journey into the world of woodworking is a testament to the power of passion and the pursuit of creativity. From a young age, he was drawn to the art of making, tinkering, and building. His grandfather's shed served as a haven for his curious spirit, igniting a spark that would eventually shape his destiny. Initially studying theater and performing arts, Ben found solace in crafting wood during his spare time. As he honed his skills and created beautiful pieces year after year, his love for woodworking never waned. A pivotal moment arrived during the challenging days of the pandemic, when the performing arts industry took an unexpected pause. This interlude allowed Ben to fully embrace his woodworking talents and turn them into a flourishing business. Listen now and get the whole story! “ So having having low prices, but it's really hard when you start out having low prices to then have, when you're getting your business going to actually then try and raise the prices is a lot harder than starting out at a reasonable price, and then maybe, maybe getting cheaper as you get more efficient.” - Ben Adams Building Bridges: Challenges and Triumphs Transitioning from a garage-based operation to a commercial workshop poses its share of challenges. Ben's journey demonstrates the importance of aligning vision with growth. For him, one of the pivotal challenges was pricing his art accurately. Overcoming the tendency to undervalue his work and understanding the intrinsic worth of his craftsmanship became a crucial step towards building a sustainable business model. Designing for Generations: A Legacy of Craftsmanship At the core of Ben's work lies the joy of crafting pieces that will stand the test of time and resonate through generations. It's the beauty of knowing that the dining tables he creates will witness family gatherings, celebrate milestones, and serve as a tangible link between the past and the present. His pieces tell stories - of the trees that stood for years, the hands that shaped them, and the moments they become part of. In an age of mass-produced items, Ben's dedication to sustainable practices and handcrafted excellence shines as a beacon of authenticity. His journey reminds us that behind every piece of art lies a creator's heart, a dedication to preserving traditions, and a commitment to crafting a sustainable future. In Montville, Ben Adams Studio is more than a workshop; it's a testament to the beauty of transforming nature's gifts into functional art that resonates deeply with our souls. As Ben continues to craft his legacy, he invites us to pause and reflect on the stories we can infuse into the objects we create, the importance of sustainable practices, and the timeless beauty that can emerge from a single piece of wood. “I would even take some of the excess money and hire a virtual assistant, like do it for a week or 225 in the morning. 25 In the evening, right? instead of maybe 50, do 4020 In the morning, 20 In the evening, friend 20 People in the morning on Facebook, 20 people in the evening, so I would do the DMing on Instagram, and on Facebook, I would you friend 50 people a day, join the groups participate, all that sort of stuff, and then go all in and don't stop literally don't stop” -Steve Larosiliere Want to get in touch with Ben Adams? Contact him through: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benadamsfurniture/ Website: https://www.benadams.studio/

Joanie Sprague: The Little Bit Workshop “ How does a model become a woodworker? I'm like, I don't know, how does the high school person become a gynecologist. You learn, you learn, yeah, you just learn and so but there's also a huge like, Hey, guys, or girls, or whoever, if I can do it, you can do it, you can do it.” – Joanie Sprague Welcome to the Woodpreneur podcast, the ultimate show for the business and marketing side of the lumber, woodworking, hardwood flooring, and sawmill industry. With your host Steve Larosiliere today is Joanie Sprague whose path took an unexpected turn in her late twenties when she realized that her modeling career was no longer fulfilling her sense of purpose. Seeking more rewarding and hands-on endeavors, she embarked on a journey into the construction and home improvement field. Through television opportunities, she found herself immersed in the world of carpentry and DIY projects, igniting a passion that would ultimately become her life's work. Listen now and get the whole story! “And I did it outside of TV and started my own home improvement and DIY kind of thing. And then the woodworking just was a little, you know, extra cherry on top. Because now that was like you learn these skills in construction. And then you carry that over into woodworking, and you've got all the tools and you're like, Wow, this is so cool. “ Empowering Others: One of the driving forces behind Joanie's mission is to encourage and empower others, especially women, to pursue their passions fearlessly. By sharing her journey and skillset, she has become a role model for those who may have once thought woodworking was out of their reach. Her dedication to educating and supporting others resonates deeply and shows that determination knows no boundaries. “I still get a lot of that, like, people just don't trust me, because I don't look like I fit the particular mold in that space.” Building a Community: Joanie's impact extends beyond her carpentry skills. Through her Little Bit Workshop brand, she has nurtured a community of individuals eager to learn and engage with hands-on projects. Whether it's through creating content or teaching woodworking classes, Joni's warm and relatable approach creates an environment where people can confidently explore their creative potential. Looking ahead, Joanie envisions expanding her educational efforts by hosting woodworking classes and workshops. Her aspiration is to create a safe and inviting space where individuals can learn practical skills and build a strong sense of community. By focusing on the intersection of creativity, empowerment, and craftsmanship, she aims to inspire a new generation of woodworkers to realize their potential. “Like, what's the thing that people liked from you what is the most profitable and then literally just go all in Add on that, and just push that as much as possible” – Steve Larosiliere Want to get in touch with Matt Moore? Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joaniesprague/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thelittlebitworkshop

Matt Moore: Matt Moore Designs “If you have a particular set of standards that you want to work to, it doesn't matter what anybody else thinks about them. You know, if it's right for you, then it's right for you. And that's all that matters.” – Matt Moore Welcome to the Woodpreneur podcast, the ultimate show for the business and marketing side of the lumber, woodworking, hardwood flooring, and sawmill industry. With your host Steve Larosiliere today is Matt Moore whose Designs stands as a testament to the power of personalization and connection. Through the MM Method, Matt and his team have redefined the woodworking experience, transforming homes and lives in the process. With an unwavering commitment to authenticity, quality, and intimacy, Matt Moore Designs is poised to continue reshaping the woodworking landscape for years to come. In this episode, Matt shares his goal is to redefine how people perceive and interact with their environments, incorporating customized woodwork that enhances both aesthetics and functionality. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Jesus Romero: Romero Furniture “I started studying industrial design. I graduated in industrial design. So, one of the teams of the industrial design was working with some materials, metal, some wood, some resin, some, I don't know, a lot of materials. So, when we started to work with wood, I had all the knowledge to work with. I know how to work with machines. I had a little experience because I was a child, I was 17 years old, I guess.” - Jesus Romero Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Jesus Romero from Romero Furniture. Jesus earned a degree in industrial design. One of the industrial design teams used metal, wood, resin, and a variety of other materials. Jesus, therefore, had all the information at his disposal when he began working with wood. He is skilled in operating machinery. He had some experience, but he was still a young man back then—17 years old, to be exact. In this episode, Jesus shares how he develops his sense of style and aesthetic, where he gets his materials, and the turning point in his career when he realized he could live a genuine life around his business and MORE! Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Sam Hunt: Cordova Woodworking “I used to own and operate an online advertising business. And that was kind of fizzling down. I didn't want to stay in that industry. So, for quite a while, I was looking for something I wanted to do. And yeah, woodworking was a hobby. So that was kind of always in the back of my mind. But I went to design school. I did two programs, to learn more hard design skills like sketching and drafting, not necessarily more though on the theory side. And then from there, I was like pretty eager to jump into something. So, I got myself a studio to share a woodshop in Vancouver and started making some of my own designs and doing some custom work. And it started in early 2020.” - Sam Hunt Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Sam Hunt from Cordova Woodworking. Sam used to own and run an online advertising company, but it was starting to lose steam. He didn't want to continue working in that field. Sam had been searching for quite some time for anything to do, and woodworking was a passion. So, that was something he thought about often. Sam enrolled in design school and completed two programs to gain more expertise in complex design techniques like drawing and drafting, albeit perhaps not as much in theory. He was eager to dive into something after that. He then acquired a workspace in Vancouver to share with a woodshop and began producing some of his own designs and performing some bespoke work. And in early 2020, everything started. In this episode, Sam shares what his first year of business was like, how he established his sense of style and aesthetic, and the main core product he sells most of the time. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Josh Scheutzow: A Carpenter's Son “It was just a side hustle. But with an interesting twist. I was an estimator engineer for a construction company, and my boss had this beautiful wood shop down in our office. And so, I started making cutting boards in my spare time to make some extra money to pay for adopting one of our kids. And so, we kind of quickly picked up some steam. It was right when Instagram started to gain popularity and people were joining up telling the story of what they were doing. So, we figured we'd do the same thing. So, we started making cutting boards to offset the cost of our kids' adoption. And then, just kind of quickly spiraled out of control. And we sold about $30,000 worth of cutting boards and stuff within a month or two. It was nuts. So, it’s kind of became all-consuming very quickly.” - Josh Scheutzow Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Josh Scheutzow from A Carpenter's Son. Josh started the company as an exciting side venture. Josh worked as a construction company's estimator engineer, and his boss had a lovely wood shop right in the office. As a result, Josh began producing cutting boards in his spare time to earn some additional cash for one of their children's adoption. Thus, they quickly gained momentum. It was at that exact moment that Instagram began to gain popularity, and users began to sign up and share their activities. Josh assumed that they would act likewise. He began creating cutting boards to help pay for their children's adoption. The situation then quickly got out of control. In a matter of months, they were able to sell cutting boards and other items for roughly $30,000. Yes, that was insane! It immediately became all-consuming as a result. In this episode, Josh shares his first major AHA when he realized that his business is a real thing, how he handled the uncertainty and stress, and the moment he started hiring staff. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

John Stene: Stene Woodwork “Mostly, it grew up in a cabinet shop. I wasn't really planning to be a cabinet maker, but been working in cabinet shops for 17 years. And just moved back down and to the home place where I grew up. And my dad passed away, and then the shop was sitting here empty. So, I decided to take up the shop and start the business.” - John Stene Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by John Stene from Stene Woodworks. Most of Stene Woodworks' growth occurred in a cabinet shop. They didn't intend to become cabinet makers, but he had 17 years of experience working in cabinet shops. Just recently, he returned to his childhood home. The shop remained empty after Steve's father passed away. He so made the decision to open the shop and begin his business. In this episode, John shares his first significant business accomplishment, the state of the South-Central Montana cabinet-making market, his main service to clients, the benefits of community involvement, and ways you can start making a difference today! Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Justin Mitchell: JAMCo Woodworks “The big part of working with us is this personal branding strategy. And because I believe that whether Justin decides to do a solo business or whether he wants to do anything else, he's always going to have this community. And he's got these tools and skills to continue growing.” - Steve Larosiliere Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Justin Mitchell from JamCo Woodworks, one of Steve's clients in his mentorship program. Justin has 20 years of experience in the construction industry. Justin had to transition into a different industry for a period because he couldn't survive the 2008 crisis. After that, Justin realized he was a terrible employee and needed to work for himself. He so launched his construction business, and they were building custom homes with up to 13 employees. They also had specific difficulties through Covid, whether related to their personnel or more general problems with the supply chain. In this episode, Justin shares the AHA moment that he had during the mentorship program that generated a lot of momentum for him, the moment that he realized that he was already in the competitive business game, and Justin shares his first couple steps as soon as he got into the mentorship program. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Steve Larosiliere: A Coaching Session with Wood Businesses “Just tighten it up. Create a policy. Go to ChatGPT and just say, “Hey, ChatGPT.” I need a payment policy to include on my website. Can you write one up?” - Steve Larosiliere Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today's episode is a little bit different than usual. Steve recorded one of his coaching sessions with a few clients in his mentoring and coaching program. It's a bit lengthy, but you'll undoubtedly benefit significantly from it. You can learn how Steve coaches various wood businesses; you'll surely get many suggestions and criticism relevant to your wood business. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Paul Mencel: Philadelphia Table Company “It started kind of like everybody else does, kind of starts as a hobby or a side hustle. I graduated with a degree in chemistry and physics. And I was like, kind of like substitute teaching, but also, at the same time, I was in a rock band that ended up getting signed to RCA Records. So, between touring and recording, we made some money upfront, but not a ton. So in between touring and recording, I'd build furniture. It started with just one piece for my house. And then friends would come over, and then it was friends and friends of friends. And then I'd be on tour, and I'd get an order or two from Etsy, and I'd be like, “Sweet, I could make rent this month.” - Paul Mencel Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Paul Mencel from Philadelphia Table Company. Like everyone else, Paul began making furniture as a hobby or a side business. He earned a degree in physics and chemistry. He was a member of a rock band that eventually reached a record deal with RCA Records while still working as a substitute teacher. They earned some money upfront, but not much, while making furniture between tours and recording. It all began with only one item for his house. After that, friends would drop by, followed by friends of friends. Then, while on tour, he would receive one or two orders from Etsy and say, "Sweet, I could make rent this month." In this episode, Paul shares the initial product they were producing, the current state of his business, the number of people he currently has, and how he spread the news about the company when it was still in the beginning stages. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Steve Larosiliere: Best Business Models For Woodpreneurs “You need to have the ability to focus on one to two things. You can't focus on five different things, right? Focus on five different things. It's going to be really, really hard. It's learning new processes, doing things over and over again, like starting from scratch.” - Steve Larosiliere Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere will be talking about the best business models for Woodpreneurs. Whether you work in lumber, construction, sawmill, furniture, or any other industry where you build, produce materials, or sell wood items, then this is for you. Steve will discuss the best business models. This is based on his interviews with guests for the Woodpreneur Podcast and clients he has worked with. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Will Phillips: Sandtown Furniture Co. “My background, I sort of learned everything that I know, through a career at Under Armor. So, I spent a long time working there. And I started Sand Town in 2010. I continued to work at Under Armor. It was my side hustle for eight years until I made that leap that you often talk about and talk to your clients about. So anyway, I found a partner. I found a wood shop. We designed a collection. We started taking it to the farmer's market, the big farmer's market in Baltimore. And we left it really rustic. We wanted it to be this story of Baltimore, and we wanted you to be able to look at the piece and understand that this was salvage material.” - Will Phillips Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Will Phillips from Sandtown Furniture Company. Will acquired all of his knowledge while working with Under Armour. He stayed there for a while until starting Sand Town in 2010. Before making the leap we frequently discuss with our clients, he worked at Under Armour for eight years as a side gig. He discovered a wood shop and a partner. They designed a collection. They began bringing it to Baltimore's large farmer's market while yet keeping it in its natural state. They wanted it to tell the tale of Baltimore and to be apparent to the customers that it was salvaged material when they looked at it. In this episode, Will discusses his customer demographic, how selling at Baltimore's market became a thing and the huge AHA moment that led him to resign from Under Armour and concentrate on his company. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Jordan Messick: Coastal Building Supply “I had about 15 years of experience in different corporate jobs in sales, management, and director of sales in various industries, and felt that I had gained the knowledge and business experience to go out on my own.” Jordan Messick In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Steve Larosiliere, the founder of Acres of Timber, engages in a fascinating conversation with Jordan Messick from Coastal Building Supply in Wilmington, North Carolina. The episode begins with Jordan sharing the background of Coastal Building Supply, formerly known as Fitzgerald Wood Products. The company was established in 1994 by Patrick Fitzgerald, a lifelong Woodpreneur specializing in imported tropical hardwoods, particularly teak, for marine and boating applications. Jordan explains how the company's focus gradually shifted toward the residential use of tropical hardwoods over the years. He further reveals that he purchased the company in January 2022 and subsequently rebranded it as Coastal Building Supply in June 2023. Read More!

Matt Lucero: Lucero & Co. “Well, we make tung oil wood finishes and we press our own tung oil here in Vietnam. So, I'm located in Vietnam and we manufacture our products here. And we sell to the market here for furniture production also retail. And we export. We just started selling retail in the US and we have plans to expand, we have a lot of different types of products. They're very easy to use. I think you've even used them. They can't be simpler.” - Matt Lucero Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Matt Lucero from Lucero & Company. Matt's company produces tung oil wood finishes and presses their own tung oil in Vietnam, where he is currently based. They produce their products and sell them to the market for furniture production. They also engage in retail and exporting. They recently began selling retail in the US, and they intend to grow! In this episode, Matt shares his journey to Vietnam, his time spent working with a nonprofit organization, and the target market that their tung oil products are aimed at, and a lot more! Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Nathan Porter: Goodview Woodworks “Why is it called “GoodView”? It's super simple. I live on Buena Vista Road, so that's the English translation of, Buena Vista's. “GoodView”. Not as cool as you might think, but business, as to woodworking business. It actually started out as a YouTube channel. Wasn't really a full-on business.” - Nathan Porter Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Nathan Porter, the founder of GoodView Woodworks. Nathan's business name is called "GoodView" for the simple reason that he resides on Buena Vista Road, which is Buena Vista's English translation. The company actually began as a YouTube channel. Nathan wanted to share some videos and he wanted to learn how to do river tables, and this was five years ago, back when hardly anybody knew about river tables. He built a coffee table for a friend, and documented the process, as a result, the videos quickly gained popularity. Each episode of his five-part series received 300,000 views. This episode will be a bit different because Steve will be interviewing a successful coaching client who is also a Woodpreneur. They will discuss Nathan's financial situation as a business owner prior to working with Steve and/or enrolling in his coaching program, the process of working with Steve coming straight from one of his students, and tune in as they reflect on the inspiration behind the creation of GoodView. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Clinton & Kerry: CK Wall Designs LLC “One of our favorite past times was going to the model homes and looking at model homes. And look at the core and the accent walls that they have there. And we would, sometimes ask, where could we find someone to do something like this in our house? But we met with the same answer. It's custom. But custom companies are usually expensive. So, we couldn't find anyone to do it. And one day she just asked me, she went on Pinterest and found something. Asked me to do it because I have an artist background, but no woodworking background. So, I just took it on, got it done, and got it looking even better than the one that she showed me with just hand tools. I didn't even have power tools at the time. So, I used the hacksaw actually.” - Clinton & Kerry Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Clinton & Kerry, founders of CK Wall Designs LLC. Going to model homes to check out the accent walls was one of Clinton and Kerry's favorite past times. And occasionally, they would inquire where they might find someone to carry out such tasks in their home. However, they received the same response, "It's custom." But customized businesses are frequently pricey. And one day, Kerry searched Pinterest for a project, found something, and asked Clinton to complete it because he had experience as an artist (but not as a woodworker). Clinton just took on the task, finished it, and improved upon the one Kerry had shown him using only hand tools. Clinton used a hacksaw because he lacked power tools at the time. In this episode, Clinton and Kerry share how they spread the word from the start, how they built the brand that elevated the art of accent walls that clients are flying them to different locations to complete a project, and the biggest hurdle they faced in running their business. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Rocky Levy: Icon Modern “Icon Modern is the culmination of a concept I had in the early 2000s. So, I was a multi-line sales rep in the commercial industry, so I sold desks and chairs and laid everything for commercial clients. I called on designers, and, at the time, sustainability in the industry was minimal at best. So, a sustainable message was a very difficult thing to achieve.” - Rocky Levy Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Rocky Levy, Owner & Sales/Marketing of Icon Modern. Icon Modern is the culmination of Rocky's concept in the early 2000s. He thus worked as a multi-line sales representative for the commercial sector, selling chairs and desks. He laid everything to commercial clients, and he called on designers, and at the time, there was, at most, a meager amount of sustainability in the industry. Creating a sustainable message requires a lot of effort. Therefore, Icon Modern is a combination of a side hustle, entrepreneurial power, and a desire for sustainability. In this episode, Rocky shares how they won a project with Starbucks and Twitter, acquired a space and built a showroom with items related to their wood shop, and the primary type of furniture they produce. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Brad Huebner: Hammer & Grind “The people that are going to be good employees, they're not sitting at home unemployed on a couch searching the Indeed job boards, and this happens to find, they're working for someone else. And you have to steal them away. I mean, dude, you really have to steal them away from the company.” - Brad Huebner Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today's episode will be a bit different from the norm as your host Steve Larosiliere will be interviewing not just a woodworker, but also a contractor coach and a podcaster. We will be joined by Brad Huebner from Hammer & Grind. After graduating high school, Brad worked various jobs while contemplating his plans. And during his junior and senior years of high school, he studied architectural drawing for two years. After realizing in his senior year that being an architect required outstanding marks, Brad decided to join the military instead of pursuing his dream profession. To cut a long story short, he found himself working for a construction management company some years after getting out of the military. In this episode, Brad discusses the most profitable jobs he did before, the difficulties he faced while starting his handyman business, and his opinions on whether it is better to stay small or expand into an actual business. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Brad McDonald: McDonald Cabinet & Furniture “I've been in construction since 2006. And then I started working in a couple of local cabinet shops and got the bug to build kitchens, furniture, and stuff. And I just wound up having enough side work that it would make sense to go out on my own. Right now, I've been doing a lot of countertops and bar tops.” - Brad McDonald Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Brad McDonald from McDonald Cabinet & Furniture. Since 2006, Brad has worked in the construction industry. He later began working at a few nearby cabinet shops to gain experience in producing kitchens, furniture, and other items. He eventually had enough side work that going independently made sense. Brad is currently working on numerous countertops and bartops. In this episode, Brad shares the challenges facing his company, the kind of customers who prefer custom kitchens versus store-bought items, and how his business has been doing over the past year. We all require assistance at some point. Brad says he'd prefer to work with someone like him, even if it's a retired older man looking for something to do a few days a week or a summertime college student. However, he is still determining if he can afford that. But the objective is to get a foreman who can manage the shop daily, after which Brad will handle customer relations and some design, perhaps with the help standing by his side. Brad will be free to concentrate on some of his more creative goals. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Zach Jernigan: Jernigan Woodworking “My dad kind of taught me the way when I got out of high school and then when COVID happened, I just kind of started doing other people's houses and it’s kind of boomed from there. A lot of built-ins, kind of specialty stuff. Trying to get into the custom fish tanks because we just did one.” - Zach Jernigan Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by the award-winning Zach Jernigan of Jernigan Woodworking. When Zach graduated from high school, his father taught him the craft of woodworking. After COVID, Zach began working on other people's homes, and business took off from there. His company currently concentrates on specialty items, mainly custom fish tanks. In this episode, Zach shares his experience on how he started a business amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, his preferred woodworking materials, and who are his ideal clientele. Trying to decide whether we should move forward is always challenging. Zach said that although everything is currently a bit expensive, he is still trying to figure out how to open a shop. Zach is still determining if he can pull it off, especially if he hires another guy. Although his business has been successful, is it time for him to move forward, grow, open his own shop, and bear the risk? Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Kevin Donner: Treesmith USA “So, we are a small tree company. I'm an arborist. I've been an arborist primarily for 10 years or more now. Always with a passion for, not seeing things go to waste after we bring trees to the ground. So, 90% of our work is pruning and removal, and general tree assessment. Providing people with guidance as far as caring for their trees and their properties.” - Kevin Donner Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Kevin Donner, owner of Treesmith USA. Kevin has worked mainly as an arborist for the past ten years. He is constantly driven by a desire to prevent things from being wasted once they have felled trees. Pruning, removal, and general tree evaluation make up 90% of their job, which involves advising clients on how to take care of their trees and property. In this episode, Kevin talks about the moment he realized he could run his own business, the difficult lesson he learned the hard way when he first got going, and the key pieces of equipment he bought that helped him get started. It all began as a hobby, as per Kevin. Word gets around, and guys just start hitting him up. And for him, it feels right that he is turning materials into usable ones, as it's difficult for an existing tree company to incorporate that because it's relatively new in the market. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Tyler Booth: Temecula Yard Games “I started making custom cornhole works, which was just a kind of a shot in the dark and it really took off, probably did about 20 sets the first year and then, about 50 the second year and about a hundred last year or kind of in between years, not necessarily 12 months. So, I tried to kind of create this experiment in business. And so, I've added since then the Etsy pages, the kind of, content creation side. And make a little money off each one of these streams, which is really helpful in terms of supporting the new tools and the other projects that I want to do.” - Tyler Booth Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Tyler Booth of Temecula Yard Games. Tyler began creating unique cornhole pieces and it quickly gained popularity. He likely produced around 20 sets his first year, followed by 50 sets his second year, and roughly 100 sets his third year. Tyler then added the Etsy pages and content creation and generated a small profit from each of these sources, which is very beneficial for funding the new tools and furthering the projects he wants to work on. In this episode, Tyler discusses how creating an online community has benefited him, the time he started designing furniture, and his bestselling product at the moment aside from cornhole pieces. Tyler has been ringing in the new year gradually. He reveals that he has modified his design as he begins the new season of corn boards. He now has a 12-by-24-inch mini-board, which Tyler characterizes as a fun kid-friendly travel companion. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Sebastien Desmarais: Hollywood Woodwork “We're an architectural woodwork company, founded in 1968 by my grandfather at the time we were a small two-person shop and we started doing different things, and we grew up and eventually we focused on commercial architectural woodworking, and by 1999 we've grown to maybe a 20-million a year company. And we started heading down a path of employee ownership. So, we're an ESOP, we're partially employee-owned, and since then, just been growing the business and now we're diversified a little bit. We do woodworking, we do metalwork, and we're also into residential as well.” - Sebastien Desmarais Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Sebastien Desmarais from Hollywood Woodwork. Sebastien's grandfather established Hollywood Woodwork in 1968, specializing in architectural woodwork. At the time, they had a small, two-person staff. By 1999, they had developed into a 20 million-dollar firm as a result of their focus on commercial architectural woodworking. The business then began to move in the direction of employee ownership. They are an ESOP member, which means they are partially employee-owned. Sebastien has been expanding the company and recently began to diversify. They work with metal, wood, and even residential clients. In this episode, Sebastien shares where most of their assignments come from, who their biggest client is, and how he keeps in touch and maintains a good relationship with them long after the project has concluded. Keeping up excellent client relations after the project is finished can be difficult. Nonetheless, Sebastien said it's as easy as picking up the phone when people call, completing the task, and handling the issues. "The individual who dives deeply into problems and seeks out solutions." That, in his opinion, is what keeps their customers coming back. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Haeden Secor: Truett & Grace Construction “You're catching us in the very early stages. We probably went into business about seven months ago. So, we're definitely in the growing stage, mostly just making connections, networking, and stuff like that. The long-term goal is we're more of a general contractor. That's what the goal is. So, being in Lake Harwell, we're here on the lake. So, our long-term goal is, we want to start building custom lake homes, kind of designated more towards the higher-end homes is what my end goal is, but for right now, just getting started, I'm not turning down any projects.” - Haeden Secor Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Haeden Secor from Truett & Grace, a professional contracting company, Located in Hartwell, Georgia. Haeden launched his company roughly seven months ago. They were undoubtedly in the growing stage and were mainly networking and forming relationships. Situated in Lake Harwell, their long-term ambition is to build unique lake homes oriented more towards higher-end properties. However, as they are only beginning, Haeden is not rejecting any projects at this time. In this episode, Haeden discusses his first six months of business ownership, how he transitioned from his day job to make his side hustle a full-blown business, and the most profitable projects his team has completed thus far, and more! It's challenging to work a full-time job plus a side gig. Haeden's company's initial marketing strategy consisted only of yard signs and word-of-mouth, but he had to approach it slightly different. After all, he had a full-time job and was working from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM, so he could put only so much time into it. He also wanted to avoid overloading himself by advertising too vigorously. But how did Haeden handle it? Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Tim Mills: Lakes Region Woodworking “I started off in high school, absolutely fell in love with woodworking, working with my hands, and it's just kind of grown from there. I'd never really gotten into the actual woodworking aspect of it until I moved into the house that I have now. Now, my basement is huge, so I took over part of that as my actual wood shop. I've just been acquiring tools and stuff over the years. And being a trim carpenter, you kind of learn a lot of things about different woods, how to do different things, and I've always just liked creating. I get these ideas in my head and then I just want to bring them to life. So that's what really sparked it all.” - Tim Mills Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Tim Mills from Lakes Region Woodworking. Tim started in high school and immediately fell in love with woodworking and creative work. From there, it just continued to expand. He hadn't actually begun woodworking until he moved into the home he currently resides in. He converted a portion of his spacious basement into his actual woodworking space. Tim has amassed a variety of equipment over the years, and as a trim carpenter, he learned a lot about various kinds of wood and other skills, and he has always enjoyed making things. He has these thoughts and wants to make them into reality. That is what ignited it all! In this episode, Tim discusses his most recent business venture—starting a handyman service—as well as his objectives for 2023 and his intentions to pivot his business to do more carpentry and built-in work. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Matt Williams: Mr. Toolbelt “I started it when I was working for somebody else doing it at nights and weekends until I made enough to make it on my own or felt like I could. So, it started in 2011. About 2013, I took the plunge to go full on.” - Matt Williams Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Matt Williams, also known as Mr. Toolbelt. Matt started doing woodworking while he was employed by another person, working nights and weekends until he had enough money to support his own business. In 2011, he began his small side hustle, and in or around 2013, he decided to go full-time. Ten fruitful years after it started as a side gig, his firm is still going strong! In this episode, Matt talks about his company's internal dynamics, his early years in management, and how he advertised their services ten years ago when they first opened for business. For most business owners, reaching a milestone of ten years is difficult. But he explains that it was a careful balancing act between trying to perform the work, managing behind the scenes, and doing all that SEO. Sure, it was a lot, and it took a lot of work, but things got a little easier once he hired his first employee. After that, it was more accessible and easier to work ON the business rather than IN it. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

Bridgette & Dillon: Farmhouse Woodworking “We started dating, I think it was like in 2019, and like she kind of said, we just started building things together for our own house and we kind of loved how we were a great team. We worked really well together, and we really liked what we were making. And then some of our friends started reaching out and they're like, “Hey, I love that. Could you build that for us?” And yeah, we started realizing people wanted this stuff that we were making.” - Dillon Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Bridget and Dillon of Farmhouse Woodworking. Since Bridget's father was a contractor, she was constantly exposed to the world of woodworking as a child. She majored in engineering in college, worked as an engineer for a while, and discovered her passion when she and Dillan bought their home and began DIY home improvements. Dillon, on the other hand, was a teacher before starting the business. The woodworking crafts they made along the way and how well they got along with one another won them over. When some of their pals requested to create things for them, they learned that people actually wanted the stuff they were producing. In this episode, Bridget and Dillon talked about their most significant project, how they made it through quitting their day jobs to focus on their woodworking business, and their promotional strategy to draw in customers. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More!

John Miller: Busby Cabinets “So, I started talking with Jack Busby, who was the founder of this company and had been running it for almost 40 plus years when I came across it. So, he and his wife started it in his dad's goat barn here in Alachua County in Florida and we've got four locations throughout the state of Florida, which have just under 70 employees. Have 35,000 square foot facility here in Alachua where we produce everything. And he had really built himself a very nice niche in the luxury residential, cabinetry, and millwork world. And, it checked all the boxes when I was looking for a company, one that had been started by somebody, run by someone, and had reached a point where then I could come in and apply the things that I've learned in my career to help grow this business as well.” - John Miller Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by John Miller, the present CEO of Busby Cabinets. John founded the corporation with the goal of establishing his own company to manage and oversee. Before he purchased Busby Cabinets, he began his search roughly three years prior. When he discovered Busby Cabinets, which was founded by Jack Busby and had been in operation for about 40 years, he immediately struck up a conversation with him. Jack really carved out a pretty beautiful place for himself in the area of luxury residences, cabinetry, and millwork. It met all of John's criteria for a company, including being in a position where he could join and use the skills he had acquired over his career to advance the company. In this episode, John discusses his ideal client, what brought him to this particular manufacturing sector, and the moment in his business when he realized he needed INNERGY, all that, and a lot more! Listen now and get the whole story! For more information on INNERGY or to book a demo please check out https://woodpreneur.com/innergy Read More!

Joe Keller: RCS Millwork “I realized maybe it wouldn't be so bad to be my own boss. I went and bought into RCS with my dad and now we've got about 86 employees. And so, we do commercial millwork all over the United States. Sort of primarily focused here in the Midwest, in very specific markets but we'll follow our favorite customers just about anywhere that they want to go.” - Joe Keller Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Joe Keller, the president of RCS Millwork. Joe's dad founded RCS Millwork as a family business. As things improved, his father grew the business from 3 employees to 60. After finishing college, Joe worked for a general contractor until he realized that being his own boss wasn't all that horrible. He thus moved in and joined the family business alongside his father, and the two of them managed to grow it from 60 to 85 employees. They currently carry out commercial millwork across the country. It is mainly concentrated in the Midwest, in certain markets. However, they will generally follow their favorite clients wherever they go. In this episode, Joe talks about their key projects, how they work well with general contractors, and how they use INNERGY, a new ERP system, to keep everything organized. Listen now and get the whole story! For more information on INNERGY or to book a demo, please check out https://woodpreneur.com/innergy Read More!

Kris Reynolds: Reynolds Custom Woodworks “We wanted a table in one of the hallways upstairs in the house, and we couldn't find one that would fit. So, I thought, I'll try to make one. And that was it for me. I was hooked, and it kind of came naturally. I was able to sort out design, I was able to come up with joinery, and I was hooked. So, it started off kind of as a furniture-making operation. A lot of the items in our house. And, of course, then friends want stuff. And then I got asked to build a kitchen for a friend of mine in 2004, and I was like, I want to build cabinets. And then here we are today; we do about 35 to 40 a year.” - Kris Reynolds Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Kris Reynolds, owner of Reynolds Custom Woodworks. Kris started by attempting to build a table for his family after they struggled to locate one that would fit in one of their home's corridors. And it was because of that event that Kris found his calling. He got hooked, designing and building things came naturally to him. Consequently, he finally created a furniture-making operation in their home, and after that, friends started asking him to do something for them, like building kitchens. And fast forward to today; they do 35 to 40 services annually. In this episode, we'll find out where Kris gets most of his clients, the difficulties he faces in his current business space, and how he transitioned from being a full-time physics teacher to becoming a full-fledged Woodpreneur. Additionally, Kris discusses some of his ideas for company expansion, his responsibilities in light of his team's growth, and how he feels about his company today as opposed to when he first started. Get the complete story by listening right away! Read More

Austin Waldo: Austin School of Furniture “I want to get more into woodworking, so as soon as I get to Austin, I'm going to look up a woodworking club and see what they're all about. And found a club that's no longer around and went to the club meeting, which was pretty terrible. As a furniture maker, I was bored. I want to meet more woodworkers and be much more social around it. So, I took some classes at the community college, met some great folks there, and we started brainstorming, what do we like to do? Well, we like good craft beer, and we like woodworking, so let's start a club that's about that.” -Austin Waldo Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Austin Waldo, the managing director of Austin School of Furniture. Austin started school when he went to a woodworking club, but he felt it could have been more thrilling and better. Because of it, he consequently made more friends and met more woodworkers. He enrolled in a few classes at the community college, where he met some wonderful people, and they got to work on concepts. The group decided to form a club after discovering a shared passion for woodworking, and the rest is history. In this episode, we'll learn how Austin was inspired to start a new school by a group of pals with a healthy carpentry passion and a background in marketing and technology. We'll discover the school's beginnings, successful reorientations to change, and future goals. Austin also talks about the Texas Woodworking Festival, which will be held in Austin on August 26th and 27th of this year, celebrating everything woodworking! Listen now and get the whole story! Read More

Mike Jones: Mike Jones Made It “Around 2019, I just kind of started building stuff for myself as a hobby and just didn't realize how much I enjoyed it now that it wasn't like, just demanded or just forced upon me. Just having the opportunity to build things that I wanted to build versus what my dad had ever tasked me with for that particular day. So basically, I started building stuff for myself and posting it online, and originally, I started like selling a lot of my stuff on Facebook, kind of just to fund my habit.” -Mike Jones Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Mike Jones, the founder of Mike Jones Made It. Having a mom who's into real estate and a do-it-yourselfer dad, Mike grew up always helping his dad renovate things, like her mom's daycare and some of their rental properties. Mike began creating stuff for himself as a hobby in 2019 and later realized how much he enjoyed it because he was doing it for himself now rather than because his dad required or pushed him to when he was younger. As he started constructing things for himself, he thought of posting his creations online and selling them on Facebook to support his hobby. In this episode, Mike recalls his office career as a Tax-Exempt Bond Finance at an Affordable Housing Finance before becoming a full-time Woodpreneur and the things that led him to leave his job and focus solely on his wood business. He also shares how having entrepreneurial roots inspired him to follow in their footsteps. Listen now and get the whole story! Read More

Mike McGarry: Urban Lumber MB “So, I mean, it took a lot of lobbying and a lot of convincing to eventually get to the point where I could run a pilot project, basically just to convince the city that this is a feasible option. So, I borrowed as much money as I possibly could. I think I had, at the time, I think I had 50K to try and pull together a full sawmill facility. And I found a nice landlord that gave me a building to rent for cheap. Founded a used forklift, found an old sawmill that I rebuilt into an electric sawmill, bought an edger, and it just started milling. Just really figuring it out as I went every step of the way. The mechanical side especially was the first challenge.” -Mike McGarry Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Mike McGarry, the Co-Founder of Urban Lumber MB. Mike has been at the urban lumber game since about 2018. In Winnipeg, they were losing a ton of trees in their urban canopy, primarily due to Dutch Elm Disease and Emerald Ash Borer. Because of this, Mike decided, "Hey, I've seen other companies pull this off in other locations (recycle trees); why can't we do this here in Winnipeg?" However, there was a lot of red tape at the time, mainly because three levels of government were saying, "There is no way that we can allow you to run a sawmill using these trees." In this episode, Mike recounts how much lobbying and persuasion it took him to get to the point where he could launch a pilot project and persuade the city that his proposal was viable. And how he borrowed as much money and got scammed in the way just to try and pull together an entire sawmill facility. It's time to hear the complete story now! Read More

Steve Larosiliere: Solo Episode “When I first started, I didn't really care about downloads, and I still kind of don't care about downloads. I care more about providing really great stories and insights and lessons for the Woodpreneur Community. And so, I would say that I probably took last year the most seriously that I ever have with the podcast. I did my best to find good guests. And I know that a lot of you find a lot of value in the consulting sessions that I provide for folks.” -Steve Larosiliere Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today's guest is none other than Steve Larosiliere himself! Hear him as he recaps 2022, discusses his goals for 2023, and shares a handful list of trends and other stuff that Woodpreneurs should know this 2023. For the Woodpreneur Community, Steve started the podcast to share inspiring stories, insightful thoughts, and life lessons. Before he knew it, 20,000 people were already listening to the podcast without him ever glancing at the statistics. As a result, Steve diligently searched for quality guests and treated the show seriously. His efforts were well-spent, as many listeners found a lot of value in the consulting sessions he provided for folks. In this episode, Steve discusses his love of helping people with their businesses and the reason behind the company's rebranding (Acres of Timber). Also, watch out as he talks about launching a brand-new podcast specifically just for builders with an old guest Yelitza Mora and don’t miss the most awaited marketing tips for this year 2023! It's time to hear the complete story now! Read More

Landon Knopf: LK Custom Woodworking “I started in high school doing construction. That was kind of everything. But I got a lot of really good basics down doing that. My parents built a cabin down in Southern Missouri. Kind of like where it all started, they built a cabin. I was in college at the time. Me and my dad decided that we were going to finish the entire interior of the cabin ourselves. And with that, I was able to accumulate all these tools, because it was kind of my idea.” -Landon Knopf Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Landon Knopf, the owner of LK Custom Woodworking. Landon's humble beginnings began when he worked in construction throughout high school when he first acquired all the fundamentals. When he turned college, his father decided they would complete the interior of the cabin they had built in Southern Missouri all by themselves. And so, Landon was able to gather all the equipment required for woodworking. In this episode, Landon discusses his intentions to construct a home for himself, how good it is to have your brand in people's homes, and his love of making custom furniture like coffee tables and dressers. Early exposure to carpentry and woodworking led Landon to decide that he wanted to work for himself and establish a woodworking company rather than for a company. He longs for the ability to choose his path and to carry out his work wherever and whenever he pleases. Now is the time to hear the entire story! Read More

Jon Heyesen: Arbor Wood Co. “Arbor Wood Co. We're Minnesota based. We produce thermally modified wood, siding, decking dimensional lumber, millwork, and all that stuff. We have been around for a decade, 10 years exactly. And the Arbor Wood story really starts from an intersection of a love of building materials, a love of specifically, sustainably produced building materials, design, and an intersection, a connection with the academic world.” -Jon Heyesen Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Jon Heyesen, the CEO of Arbor Wood Co. Jon's journey began at the point where his passion for design, his connection to academia, and his love of building materials—more specifically, building materials produced sustainably—met. Because of where they are, the natural resources they have, and their incredibly strong natural resources research section, they have a rather active partnership with the University of Minnesota. As a result, relevant research people who want to take good care of the natural resources they have, such as freshwater, forests, a variety of soils, and varied terrains, are collaborating with them. In this episode, Jon discusses the benefits of thermal modification and the science behind it, his well-known product line of thermally modified wood furniture, and how steam stabilizes the wood to prevent warping. He also discusses how Thermally Modified Wood targets less environmentally friendly alternatives. It's time to hear the full story now! Read More

Mike Hoy: Rocky Mountain Wood Slabs “Rocky Mountain Wood Slabs, how it became was, it started back when I was a little kid just being interested in working with my hands, being interested in building things. At 12 years of age, my mom's ex-husband had a welder and he taught me how to weld. And then I just really took off from there. I got into construction. I worked with one home builder and he was awesome. Because I told him my goal was, I wanted to do built-ins, I wanted to do cabinetry, I wanted to build furniture.” -Mike Hoy Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Here with us today, together with your host Steve Larosiliere is Mike Hoy, owner of Rocky Mountain Wood Slabs & Handmade Bespoke Furnishings. Mike's humble beginnings began when he was just a young child who enjoyed crafting things using his hands. With time, Mike got into construction while building himself some capital, and now, as he gains a lot of experience, his focus is to do more built-ins and build more furniture. In this episode, Mike shares how he understood that every piece of wood has a tale to tell, and it is the artist's job to make that narrative come to life. Mike believes his mission is to fulfill the goal of each tree being cut down. His most excellent satisfaction comes from infusing new life into the wood and revealing its hidden beauty. It's his passion, not just work or leisure. Now is the time to hear the whole story! Read More

Craig DeCicco: DeCicco Woodshop "I've been sort of building furniture or building things for most of my life. I was in the Marine Corps, my first time living in a house, and I was just building some crappy furniture for myself. And then slowly started building slightly better furniture for myself. And then, a few years passed, and some friends started asking me if I could build some furniture for them. A couple more years go by that and I'm just, "Does anybody else wants any furniture?" -Craig DeCicco Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Craig DeCicco, the proprietor of the custom furniture firm, ‘DeCicco Woodshop,’ is here today with your host Steve Larosiliere. When Craig and his family purchased their home, he began working on some modest furniture pieces. Friends and relatives began to notice and inquire whether he might construct something for them. Over the ensuing few years, Craig started creating a proper workshop and developing his talents. Every now and then, he would accept requests for custom furniture. Eventually, when those orders got more regular, he launched his firm as a side gig first before becoming a full-time endeavor. In this episode, Craig shares how his side hustle developed, the reasons he began to reevaluate his full-time position, and his plans for his business which started as a hobby but is now a full-fledged custom furniture business. Listen now to hear the complete story! Read More

Layane Maximiliano: Unique Wood Furniture “Max started flipping houses, so that’s how he started his tools collection. And I was working as a designer in a high-end cabinetry company for kitchens and bass. I loved it. I loved the designing process and customizing. But then, after a few years, we decided to come back to Texas. We’d missed it. So, we came back, and Max opened a home remodeling company here. So, with interior design love, I just wanted to decorate my house. So that’s how we basically started.” – Layane Maximiliano Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. With your host Steve Larosiliere today is Layane Maximiliano, an Interior Designer and founder of Unique Wood Furniture, together with her husband, Max. Layane and her other half Max are both immigrants from Brazil who are now residing in Texas for 13 long years! Layane did something worthwhile while waiting for the approval of their green card; she completed her Interior Design degree – which in turn will be the gateway to this well-established furniture company. In this episode, Layane discusses how their first project was actually an accident that ended up being a huge blessing in disguise, their risk-taking experiences moving from Brazil to California to Florida to Texas, and the challenges of being an expatriate in a foreign country where the language serves as the primary barrier. “No man is an island.” We rely on one another to survive and get through this thing called life. This saying rings true for the power couple, Layane and Max. Layane shares how they complement each other’s strengths and weaknesses and how it helped grow their business. To hear the entire story, listen right now! Read More

Nathan Zirkel: A to Z Man Construction “I used to be a fireman and I got started, I built my house, or I remodeled our house that we live in currently. And that kind of just started everything and then I was doing it on my days off. And eventually, I got hurt here about three years ago and had to step away from the fire department. And so, this went into full-time. It was always full-time, but it went into even more full-time.” – Nathan Zirkel Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast! Nathan Zirkel, owner of A to Z-Man Construction LLC, is here today with your host Steve Larosiliere. Nathan was a fireman before starting his own company. Remodeling their very own humble abode during his days off was his first project. When his full-time job as a firefighter hit a rough patch, he eventually became a round-the-clock Woodpreneur. In this episode, Nathan talks about the challenge of growing his business for those people whose not into the “technical” side of it. How his wife is a significant help to his company (as the saying goes, “behind every great man is a great woman,” and we couldn’t agree more!), and the power of word of mouth, the most effective form of traditional marketing. Change is the only thing constant in this world, and Nathan’s clients served as living proof, from “we want to remodel our bathroom, show us once done” to being very focused and hands-on “this is what we want and how we want it done.” Now is the time to listen and hear the whole story! Read More

“As I graduated high school I was like, “this is it! I love this career!” I was fortunate to work on some great projects and decided to pursue custom home building, which, definitely at the time, seems a lot easier than it is until you undertake that task. And then you got to realize, “Okay, well, one thing’s, having the entrepreneur mindset and going out on your own and maybe having a skill set in your expertise but running a business is another thing.” Unfortunately, those are two completely different things.” - Brad Leavitt Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast! Brad Leavitt, President, and Founder of AFT Construction, a business that provides custom home-building services, is here today with your host Steve Larosiliere. Brad began building in 2005 and worked for a company for six years before deciding to go into business for himself. Brad describes how he got started during the recession and met Dave Clark, his business partner and mentor. Check out our Blog for More