Candice follows her heart, and it has taken her to some very impressive places - both in design and in business. As you will hear, her company started out not even really as an idea, it was just a feeling that she needed to create something. But from that first spark, she has grown her company to soaring heights, building a wonderful team, appearing in some of the most respected publications out there, and working with some of the biggest retailers in the world. All doing so, by following her...

On this episode I sit down with Brent Biglow, owner of Biglow Woodcraft If you want to hear the full story behind how Biglow Woodcraft got started, check out the show archives - Episode 161 What keeps you up at night? If you are a furniture maker, especially one just starting out, I’m going to bet you have had some sleepless nights thinking about projects that you built being out in the world. People using them and how they are holding up. Early in his career, Brent had one of these moments....

Brent has a busy 5 person company. Everybody working in sync to keep the orders on track. If you listen closely you can actually hear them all working in the background of this episode. And honestly, I think that’s great because it gives a real snapshot of the way Brent sees his role in his company. He understands that as a business grows the role of the owner changes, and he doesn’t want to be, in his own words, “ the bottle neck”, for production. So even when he is talking with me, he is...

On this episode I sit down with Suzi McAfee, owner of Monarch Woodworx. If you want to hear the full story behind how Monarch Woodworx got started, check out the show archives - episode 159 Most furniture makers love getting orders for mass produced pieces. Not only can you batch out the work, but it means there is enough demand for your work that multiple people or places want it. Suzi’s first production run started out like a dream, which quickly turned into a nightmare. But would an...

Suzi has grown her South Africa based furniture company to where it is today, not by taking shortcuts, but by fully immersing herself in the world of furniture. She loves it all, from the building, the design, and the community that surrounds the industry.  Coming from a childhood with zero experience handling tools, to now running a widely successful furniture company, she has literally used her own hands to build her company into what it is today. Follow along as we talk about designing for...

On this episode I sit down with Ray Brents, owner of Ray Brents Design. If you want to hear the full story behind how Ray Brents Design got started - check out the show archives - episode 157 Those early mistakes in your business always stick with you. Either on the business or the building end. When you have a client issue during the start of your career it can be painful and the very least and a company killer at the very most. On one of Ray’s early projects, he didn’t account for wood...

Ray understands the importance of details. Details in his workmanship, building the best furniture for his clients. Details in his design, making sure what he delivers meets with all his client’s needs. Details in his business, honing his pricing, customer service, shipping, and everything else over the years that helps him keep his company running smoothly. In case you couldn’t tell, details are important to Ray, and what makes his company stand out from the rest. Follow along as we talk...

On this episode I sit down with Aaron Moore, owner of Moore's Refinishing. If you want to hear the full story behind how Moore's Refinishing got started, check out the show archives - episode 155 The start of a business is hard. Learning the skills, getting the clients, and making the money you need to keep the doors open. Although comfortably successful with money coming into his company now, at the beginning Aaron was anything but. So much so, that he had to decide if he wanted to keep the...

Customer service is key, thats Aaron’s business practice in a nutshell. Yes you have to be great at your job, yes you have to understand how to price your work, yes you have to know how to handle your employees, but to pull everything together and be a successful company, you need to have that customer service down to a science. For over 20 years, Aaron has been building his skills in finishing alongside his skills in keeping customers happy, while all at the same time still making the money...

We talk a lot about building a community on this show, and Austin is taking that idea and giving it a physical form. So why not celebrate that. This episode is not only a look behind the curtain at the Texas Woodworking Festival event but also an overall conversation on marketing and brand development and how you can use them both in your own business.  As you might remember, Austin was on the show before, episode 137. So if you want to hear his backstory and learn more about his furniture...

This special episode is with Mike and Michelle Ranger, owners of Ranger Home North West. If you want to hear the full story behind how Ranger Home North West got started, check out the show archives - episode 152 Navigating lumber yards, and buying wood in general, isn’t always the easiest thing in the world to do. No matter how many years you have done it, there are always some idiosyncrasies with each purchase that changes the final outcome you were thinking it would be. But, it gets even...

By focusing on a commitment to their brand, a commitment to their skills, and a commitment to each other, Mike and Michelle have been able to rapidly grow in an industry that is relatively new to them both. By still respecting the traditional ideas of furniture making, but building a brand in the digital marketing age, they are able to reach clients and expand their company in a way that would have been unheard of only a few years ago. Follow along as we talk about how to grow with your...

This special episode is with Bryan and Erin Kerr, owners of Kerr Woodworking. If you want to hear the full story, behind how Kerr Woodworking got started, check out the show archives - episode 150 Bryan and Erin make beautiful furniture. The meticulous attention to detail in their work is one of the many reasons clients continue to reach out to them and how they have been successful over the years. But what about when parts of that furniture are out of their hands? When they have to source...

No furniture maker is an island. No matter how much you can take on yourself, at some point, you are going to need help. Although coming from different industries, Bryan and Erin understood that need. And when they started their own furniture company, recognizing their strengths and weaknesses and being the support the other needed, is how they have grown their company to where it is today. Follow along as we talk about moving in on other people's clients, keeping good notes, how much you...

This special episode is with Jay and Deb Lopez of Together We Build. If you want to hear the full story behind how Together We Build got started check out the show archives - episode 148 You know those projects that start out like every other project you have done, but then one thing after another goes wrong and before you know it the whole project has completely gotten away from you? Jay and Deb had that happen to them on a Kitchen project that kept going down hill until they almost just...

Jay and Deb, are a married couple but also business partners in their company, Together We Build. And, just like the name suggests, they build together. Not just the business, but the actual furniture as well. As the company has grown over the years they have grown a team around them to help with demand. But at the core of the business, it is still both of them, working side by side building quality furniture that they feel good about putting their name on. Follow along as we talk about...

This special episode is with Hunter Hedenberg, owner of Oak & Main. If you want to hear the full story, behind how Oak & Main got started - check out the show archives - episode 146 Quoting and time management, no matter how much you try to avoid it, one of those two always seems to be an issue in every project. For Hunter, at the start of her company, she had a build where both quoting and time management went wrong in a big way. And as you will hear, it almost broke her physically...

Special Podcast Deal - ONLY $1.49 for an entire year of Woodworkers Guild of America Premium Membership - go.wwgoa.com/ethan/  When you start your furniture company, it can take a few years to learn how you want to run it, the type of furniture you want to make and the type of furniture that makes you money. Hunter is going through that process right now. Getting a better understanding of her business as she gets a better understanding of the industry in general. But instead of it being a...

Special Podcast Deal - ONLY $1.49 for an entire year of Woodworkers Guild of America Premium Membership - go.wwgoa.com/ethan/  This episode is with Mike Anderson. Owner of Anderson Woodworking. If you want to hear the full story behind how Anderson Woodworking got started - Check out the show archives - episode 144 Sometimes the skills you learn on the journey are even more important than the outcome of that journey. Mike learned this on an incredibly frustrating stain project that just...

Special Podcast Deal - ONLY $1.49 for an entire year of Woodworkers Guild of America Premium Membership - go.wwgoa.com/ethan/  For some, their furniture business isn’t their only job. Even though they put full time hours into it they still, for any number of reasons, keep their day job.  Mike is in this exact position. He loves his furniture company, but he also loves his other job. So there is a balance that needs to be struck between his 2 jobs, his family needs, and his own need to not...

Special Podcast Deal - ONLY $1.49 for an entire year of Woodworkers Guild of America Premium Membership - go.wwgoa.com/ethan/  This episode is with Richie Duncan, owner of Kodama. If you want to hear the full story behind how KODAMA got started, check out the show archives - episode 142 We all know the importance of having a contract, but few people actually use one when running their business. Or, they have one, but don’t put the time or effort in to make that contract strong enough to stand...

Special Podcast Deal - ONLY $1.49 for an entire year of Woodworkers Guild of America Premium Membership - go.wwgoa.com/ethan/  Richie didn’t start out wanting to invent a new kind of furniture, but through a mix of his love for design, engineering background, adventurous travel, and good old gravity, he did just that. But there is a big leap from coming up with a new idea and being able to successfully manufacture and sell it. So for the last 10 years, Richie has been building and refining...

Special Podcast Deal - ONLY $1.49 for an entire year of Woodworkers Guild of America Premium Membership - go.wwgoa.com/ethan/  This episode is with Tim Holland, owner of TH Custom Woodwork. If you want to hear the full story behind how TH Custom Woodwork got started - Check out the show archives - episode 140 We all forget measurements, we all struggle with deadlines - but when both of those come into play at once, it can be an unforgiving situation. Couple that with realizing you missed a...

Special Podcast Deal - ONLY $1.49 for an entire year of Woodworkers Guild of America Premium Membership - go.wwgoa.com/ethan/  Back in 2013, when Tim started selling furniture, it was just something to do for family and friends. But as his skills grew, so did the demand for his work. And now, what started as a fun side business has been his full time job for years. But as client projects grow, so does the demand on one's time, and as a one person shop, a family man, and someone who rarely...