The Woodpreneur Podcast Acres of Timber

Ben Uyeda, a designer and content creator, shares his journey from architecture to building a successful media company. He discusses the challenges of transitioning from client-based work to pursuing personal projects and monetizing through online platforms. Ben emphasizes the importance of aligning personal interests with financial opportunities and the value of authenticity in creative work. He also talks about his current project of building a hotel and the balance between work and personal life. Ben's approach to growth is driven by curiosity, interest, and the desire for continual escalation in his projects. The conversation explores interesting ways to source raw materials, such as logs for woodworking and fabrication. It discusses overlooked species with heavy uses, unique sources of logs, logs with a story, and the value in unconventional wood. The conversation also highlights the importance of creativity in finding extraordinary margins and mentions specific woods like eucalyptus.






Takeaways


Align personal interests with financial opportunities to create fulfilling work.Demonstrate value and curiosity in your projects to attract opportunities.Focus on authenticity and genuine interests rather than seeking external validation.Continually challenge yourself and escalate projects to foster growth and motivation.Maintain balance by evaluating and adjusting priorities regularly. Consider exploring overlooked wood species with heavy uses, such as Sycamore, Hemlock, Cedar, Doug Fir, and Osage Orange.Look for unique sources of logs, such as salvaging bog logs or partnering with tree services that have contracts with state and local governments.Seek out logs with a story or historical significance to add character and value to your woodworking projects.Embrace the potential of unconventional wood materials, as they can offer unique aesthetics and high margins.





Chapters






00:00Introduction and Background






03:00Transition from Design to Content Creation






06:17Challenges in Pursuing Personal Projects






09:13Demonstrating Value and Attracting Opportunities






11:14Authenticity and Genuine Interests






14:21Choosing Brand Partnerships






18:20Escalating Projects and Continual Growth






22:26Building a Hotel Project






25:34Maintaining Balance and Self-Care






29:59Completion and Launch of the Hotel






35:18Evaluating Personal and Professional Growth






37:14Advice and Struggles






38:29Sourcing Raw Materials: Types of Logs






39:45Overlooked Species with Heavy Uses






41:15Unique Sources of Logs






42:24Logs with a Story






44:06Value in Unconventional Wood






45:07Creativity and Extraordinary Margins






46:36Eucalyptus and Other Interesting Woods


Join our Paid Community at WoodpreneurNetwork.com






Connect with Ben at: 






https://www.instagram.com/benjaminuyeda/






https://www.benuyeda.com

Rohan Ward, a furniture maker and designer, shares his journey of starting and growing his business in Chicago. He discusses his background in woodworking and furniture design and the influence of his childhood and education on his craft. Rohan emphasizes the importance of personal branding and standing behind the quality of his work. He also talks about the challenges and rewards of running a small business, including managing a team and maintaining a high level of craftsmanship. Rohan shares his approach to marketing and finding clients and his interest in exploring AI in furniture design.










In this conversation, Steve Larosiliere and Rohan Ward discuss strategies for scaling up and making more money in the furniture-making business. They explore the importance of recognizing expertise, increasing prices, and nurturing and optimizing the brand. They also discuss the potential for expanding the product line and branding, and the idea of creating a line of furniture. Finally, they explore the concept of building a product that pays without requiring physical labour.






Takeaways


Personal branding and standing behind the quality of your work can be powerful marketing tools.Craftsmanship and attention to detail are essential in the furniture-making industry.Word-of-mouth referrals and building relationships with designers can lead to new clients.Exploring AI in furniture design can offer new possibilities for creativity and efficiency. Scaling up and making more money in a business often involves finding the right recipe for growth and expanding labor.Recognizing expertise and increasing prices can help position a brand as elite and attract higher-paying clients.Nurturing and optimizing a brand is essential for long-term success and increased recognition.Expanding the product line and branding can help reach a wider audience and increase revenue.Creating a line of furniture based on years of knowledge and experience can be a lucrative venture.Building a product that pays without physical labor can provide a sustainable income stream.





Join our Paid Community at WoodpreneurNetwork.com






Connect with Rohan at: 






https://www.instagram.com/rohanwarddesigns/






https://rohanwarddesigns.com

In this episode, Steve LaRosiliere interviews Zach Shrum from Centurion Wood Coatings. Zach shares his journey into the wood coatings industry and how he transitioned from owning a painting business to working for Centurion. He discusses the company's focus on industrial wood coatings and their target market of professional cabinet makers and painters. Zach also talks about the importance of creating opportunities for others and the satisfaction of growing a business. He provides insights into Centurion's product line and their approach to finding and working with distributors. Lastly, he seeks advice on how to break past 10,000 followers on Instagram and improve their marketing efforts. In this conversation, Zach Shrum and Steve Larosiliere discuss the use of hashtags to build community and increase brand visibility. They explore the power of hashtags in reaching a targeted audience and share examples of how hashtags have helped businesses grow. They also discuss the importance of focusing on one's unique ability and delegating tasks to others. The conversation emphasizes the value of surrounding oneself with smart people and leveraging their expertise.


Takeaways


Zach Shrum's journey into the wood coatings industry started with owning a painting business and eventually led him to Centurion Wood Coatings.Centurion Wood Coatings focuses on industrial wood coatings for professional cabinet makers and painters.Creating opportunities for others and growing a business can be incredibly satisfying and fulfilling.Centurion Wood Coatings offers a range of products, including 2K water-based polyurethane and self-cross-linking acrylic.Finding and working with distributors is a combination of organic growth through customer referrals and targeted marketing efforts.To improve their Instagram marketing, Centurion Wood Coatings can create a branded hashtag, encourage user-generated content, and engage with their community through a private Facebook group. Hashtags are a powerful tool for building community and increasing brand visibility.By using relevant hashtags, businesses can reach a targeted audience and stand out among competitors.Tapping into local communities with hashtags can lead to new opportunities and connections.Focusing on one's unique ability and delegating tasks to others can increase productivity and success.Surrounding oneself with smart people and leveraging their expertise can lead to greater achievements.

Chapters


00:00Introduction to Centurion Wood Coatings


01:15Zach Shrum's Journey into the Industry


03:05Taking Over and Growing a Business


04:24Transition to Centurion Wood Coatings


06:47The Responsibility of Creating Opportunities for Others


11:46The Role of Director of Sales and Marketing


18:35Centurion Wood Coatings Product Line


22:55Finding and Working with Distributors


26:26Advice on Instagram Marketing


35:57Using Hashtags to Build Community


39:00The Power of Hashtags


40:20Tapping into Local Communities with Hashtags


44:45Focusing on Your Unique Ability


47:36Surrounding Yourself with Smart People


Join our Paid Community at WoodpreneurNetwork.com


Connect with Zach at: 


https://www.instagram.com/thebeardedfinisher/


www.thebeardedfinisher.com

In this episode of the Woodpreneur podcast, Steve Larosiliere interviews Brent from BYOT. Brent shares his journey of starting a YouTube channel focused on DIY home improvement and woodworking. He discusses how he transitioned from a full-time contractor to a content creator and the impact of COVID-19 on his business. Brent emphasizes the importance of audience-first content and the value of networking with other creators. He also shares insights on staying motivated, continuously learning, and finding success in the content creation industry. In this conversation, Steve Larosiliere speaks with Brent about time management and the importance of delegating tasks. They discuss the amount of time spent on various activities, such as emails and scheduling, and explore ways to streamline these processes. Brent expresses the need to prioritize self-care and physical well-being. Steve suggests hiring a virtual assistant to handle administrative tasks and shares tips on finding the right person for the job. They highlight the benefits of outsourcing certain tasks and the potential for increased productivity and growth.






Takeaways


Transitioning from a full-time job to content creation requires dedication and perseverance.Listening to your audience and adapting your content to their needs is crucial for success.Building a supportive network of fellow creators can help combat the loneliness of entrepreneurship.Continuous learning and staying ahead of industry trends are essential for growth and success. Efficient time management and delegation of tasks can free up valuable time for other activities.Prioritizing self-care and physical well-being is essential for overall productivity and well-being.Hiring a virtual assistant can help streamline administrative tasks and allow for more focus on core responsibilities.Outsourcing low-wage tasks can save time and enable the pursuit of higher-value activities.





Chapters






00:00Introduction and Background






03:00Creating the BYOT Brand






06:54Navigating Challenges and Unexpected Success






10:45Finding the Right Audience






13:42Balancing Personal and Professional Life






18:34The Loneliness of Content Creation






23:08Motivation and Overcoming Challenges






28:59Staying Ahead and Continuous Learning






30:45Plans for the Future






37:09Advice on Hiring






41:21Managing Time and Tasks






43:04Taking Care of Yourself






45:11Delegating Tasks to Assistants






47:38Benefits of Hiring Assistants






48:50Maximizing Time and Productivity






Join our Paid Community at WoodpreneurNetwork.com


Connect with Brent at: 


https://byotools.me/


https://www.instagram.com/byotools/

Dagan Koffler, owner of Dagan Design Construction, shares his journey in the design and construction industry. He discusses how he got into the business, the challenges he faced, and the growth of his company. Dagan emphasizes the importance of building a strong team and creating a positive company culture. He also talks about the benefits of being a design-build firm and the value of social media in marketing his business. Overall, Dagan's story highlights the rewards and challenges of running a successful design and construction company. The conversation covers various strategies for showcasing and promoting design projects. It emphasizes the importance of creating articles and case studies based on each project in the portfolio. The discussion also highlights the value of featuring customers in videos and social media to provide relatable content. Additionally, the conversation explores the idea of deepening storytelling and expanding into furniture design. However, challenges with client participation in terms of privacy concerns are acknowledged.


Takeaways


Building a strong team and creating a positive company culture are essential for business growth.Being a design-build firm can provide a competitive advantage and streamline the construction process.Social media is a valuable tool for marketing and connecting with potential clients.Continual learning and self-improvement are key to success in the design and construction industry. Create articles and case studies based on each project in the portfolio.Feature customers in videos and social media to provide relatable content.Deepen storytelling by showcasing the people behind the projects.Consider expanding into furniture design to offer a broader range of services.

Chapters


00:00Introduction and Background


01:13Getting into Design and Construction


04:06Growing the Business and Hiring Staff


07:10Taking the Business Seriously and Making Investments


09:05Building a Team and Delegating Responsibilities


11:51Learning and Growing as a Leader


15:14Focus on Remodeling and Design-Build


17:12The Reward of Creating and Building


18:23Differentiating from Competitors


21:12Maximizing Social Media and Marketing


25:05Building a Strong Company Culture


26:59Expanding into Other Business Ventures


27:41Advice on Social Media and Marketing


33:12Creating Articles and Case Studies


33:57Featuring Customers in Videos and Social Media


35:25Deepening the Storytelling


36:23Expanding into Furniture Design


37:34Challenges with Client Participation


Connect with Steve:


BuilderGrowth.io


Instagram.com/thelarosiliere


Instagram.com/woodpreneurnetwork


Join our Paid Community at WoodpreneurNetwork.com


Connect with Dagen at: 


dagandesignconstruction.com


https://www.instagram.com/dagandesign/

"I read a fair amount, like pretty much everybody. What I have is a great ability to see what other people are doing, to observe what people are working on, and to understand techniques or things that can work for us."






Miles Janes





Welcome to a brand-new episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast. Today, your host Steve Larosiliere is joined by Miles Janes from Vermont Heavy Timber. Miles grew up surrounded by the aroma of sawdust and the intricate beauty of woodwork, thanks to his father, a skilled cabinet maker and woodworker. Despite initially considering a career in kitchens.






Miles found his true passion in the realm of timber frame restoration. His journey began when he joined a timber frame restoration company in his hometown, Building Heritage, owned by his now good friend, La Lothrop. Little did he know, this would mark the beginning of a remarkable journey in the world of heavy timber.






Listen now and get the whole story!






“I love challenges. And so that's really exciting. And also, what's exciting is that we're finally like, we're doing well. It's been a grind for like, three years, I'd say, you know, we're always growing.”






Miles Janes





Lessons Carved in Wood






Reflecting on his decade-long journey in the business, Miles shares some invaluable lessons. One of the core principles guiding his business is a commitment to integrity and quality. Refusing to compromise on the type of work they undertake and the standard of craftsmanship they deliver has been key to their success. Additionally, Miles emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and seeking wisdom from those who have walked the path before.






Facing Challenges with Grit and Determination






While the road hasn't always been smooth, Miles navigated through uncertain times with resilience and determination. From tight financial spots to daunting projects, he faced each challenge head-on, always maintaining his commitment to excellence and integrity.






Looking Ahead: A Vision for the Future






As Vermont Heavy Timber celebrates its 10th year, Miles is excited about the future. With a stellar crew and a solid reputation, the business is poised for growth. Miles envisions expanding into new territories, potentially transitioning into an ESOP model, and taking on even more challenging projects.






Crafting Success Through Storytelling






In the ever-evolving world of business, Miles understands the power of storytelling as a tool for growth. By documenting their projects, sharing their journey, and showcasing their expertise, Vermont Heavy Timber aims to solidify its position as a leader in the industry. From captivating website narratives to engaging social media content, Miles is determined to let their work speak for itself.






Want to get in touch with Miles Janes?






Contact him through:


Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vtheavytimber/