The Woodpreneur Podcast Acres of Timber
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- Business
We cover the business and marketing side of the woodworking, sawmill, tree service, furniture making, Urban Wood, and woodworking industry. If you're a woodworker, sawmill owner, or any other entrepreneur and/or business owner in the wood industry, you need to check out this podcast.
Each week, we interview business owners, large-scale companies, entrepreneurs, makers, and designers while also offering marketing and business advice that will help you grow your business and increase your profits. Tune in every week!
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www.woodpreneurlife.com
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Mike McCormack: McCormack Builders
In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, Steve Larosiliere interviews Mike McCormack from McCormack Builders. Mike shares how he started his custom home-building company and the challenges and successes he has experienced over the years. He discusses the importance of self-education and continuous improvement in the construction industry. Mike also talks about the plans for his company, including moving to a new headquarters and implementing more efficient building practices. Steve provides feedback on marketing strategies, emphasizing the importance of storytelling and building relationships with clients.
Takeaways:
Continuous self-education is crucial in the construction industry.Building strong relationships with clients is essential for success.Telling stories and showcasing the process behind builds can attract potential clients.Optimizing marketing strategies can lead to increased visibility and growth.
Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction and Background
01:20 - Getting Started in the Construction Industry
03:11 - Taking a Chance and Starting McCormack Builders
06:22 - Building a Dream Headquarters
08:46 - Growth and Scaling the Business
09:59 - The First Critical Hire
13:09 - Realizing the Potential of the Business
15:42 - No Imposter Syndrome
17:23 - The Importance of Self-Education
19:05 - Attracting the Right Clients
21:08 - Future Plans and Growth
23:48 - Marketing and Business Advice
26:28 - Telling More Stories and Building Relationships
28:00 - Feedback on Marketing Strategy
Join our Paid Community at WoodpreneurNetwork.com
Connect with Mike at:
https://www.instagram.com/mccormackbuilders/
https://mccormackbuilders.com -
Ben Uyeda: Designer Architect and Content Creator
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: Rohan Ward Designs
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 -
Zach Shrum: The Bearded Finisher
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 -
Brent Gentling: BYOT Bring Your Own Tools
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 - Dagan Design Construction
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/