The Woodpreneur Podcast Acres of Timber

In this episode, Steve Larosiliere interviews Nick from Oakvale Homes and Development, a large remodel and new construction business in Buffalo, New York. It began as real estate investors and transitioned into working for other homeowners. Oakvale Homes focuses on high-quality craftsmanship and delivering a positive customer experience. It uses project management software like BuilderTrend to streamline its processes. The company has hired carpenters, implemented a lead carpenter system, and employed a dedicated project manager to manage its growth. Oakvale Homes targets customers who have previous renovation experience and understand the process. The company is considering expanding into custom home building and educating their audience through content creation.










Takeaways


Oakvale Homes started as a real estate investor and transitioned into a remodel and new construction business.They focus on high-quality craftsmanship and delivering a positive customer experience.Oakvale Homes uses project management software to streamline their processes.They have hired carpenters, implemented a lead carpenter system, and hired a dedicated project manager to handle their growth.Oakvale Homes targets customers who have renovated before and understand the process.They are considering expanding into custom home building and educating their audience through content creation.

Chapters


00:00 Introduction to Oakvale Homes and Development


04:07 The Value of an Outside Perspective in the Construction Industry


04:35 The Challenges and Learning Curve of Starting a Construction Business


06:26 The Thrill of Selling a Project and Shifting the Risk to the Customer


07:22 Building a Team and Delegating Responsibilities


08:23 The Consulting Background and its Influence on the Construction Business


09:49 The Evolution of Oakvale Homes' Services and Focus


10:30 Implementing Project Management Software and Overcoming Resistance to Change


12:26 Hiring and Training Carpenters and Project Managers


14:40 The Importance of the Customer Journey and Transparency


20:21 Dealing with Challenging Projects and Learning from Mistakes


22:18 Word of Mouth Referrals and Targeted Print Advertising


24:53 Managing Multiple Projects and Planning for Growth


26:06 Considering Differentiation Between Remodelling and Custom Home Building


26:15 Exploring the Strategy of House Flipping


27:07 The Current State and Future Outlook of Oakvale Homes


28:26 Targeting Customers Who Have Renovated Before


29:22 Educating Customers and Expanding Content Creation


32:11 The Ideal Customer Profile for Oakvale Homes


Join our Paid Community at http://WoodpreneurNetwork.com


Connect with Nick at:


https://www.instagram.com/oakvalehomes/


https://www.oakvalehome.com

In this episode, Steve Larosiliere interviews Andrew Bateman from Bateman Labs. Andrew discusses the development and launch of their VRM chair, a comfortable and technology-focused workstation designed to replace traditional desks. The chair is modular and customizable, with various accessories available. Andrew shares the challenges of transitioning from custom cabinetry to a single product focus and the positive reception they have received at gaming conventions. He seeks advice on marketing strategies to reach a wider audience of work-from-home professionals.






Takeaways:


Bateman Labs developed the VRM chair, a comfortable, technology-focused workstation designed to replace traditional desks.The chair is modular and customizable, with accessories like cup holders, headphone hooks, and monitor stands.The company transitioned from custom cabinetry to focusing on the VRM chair.The VRM chair received positive feedback at gaming conventions.Marketing strategies could include partnering with work-from-home influencers and highlighting the chair's ability to solve common workspace problems.

Chapters:


00:00 Introduction to Bateman Labs and the VRM Chair


03:09 Development and Features of the VRM Chair


06:07 Transition from Custom Cabinetry to Single Product Focus


11:11 Positive Reception at Gaming Conventions


Join our Paid Community at http://WoodpreneurNetwork.com


Connect with Andrew at:


https://www.instagram.com/batemanlabsinc/

In this episode Steve Larosiliere interviews Kory Robison, owner of Robison Home Builders. Kory shares his journey in the construction industry and his company's growth. He grew up in the industry, working for his father's custom home-building company. After a few years of college, he decided to join the family business and eventually took over the company. He emphasizes maintaining core values and quality as the company grows. He discusses the challenges of scaling the business and the need for effective systems and subcontractor relationships. Kory also highlights the impact of word-of-mouth marketing and the influx of out-of-state clients. Kory also shares his goals for growth and how he measures success based on client satisfaction. He discusses the communication cadence with clients and the use of technology in his business. Finally, he seeks advice on marketing strategies for his custom home-building company.






Takeaways:


Growing up in a family construction business provides valuable experience.Maintaining core values and quality is crucial for growth.Scaling requires effective systems and strong subcontractor relationships.Word-of-mouth marketing and referrals are powerful for growth.Out-of-state clients can drive business expansion.Custom home construction demands problem-solving and flexibility.Success is measured by client satisfaction.Effective client communication is essential.Technology can streamline construction operations.Marketing strategies include storytelling, community involvement, and targeted advertising.





Chapters:


00:00 Introduction and Background05:37 Seeking Mentorship and Business Coaching10:21 Lessons Learned from Scaling Too Fast14:50 Pride in Sustaining Growth and Core Values23:48 Effective Communication32:39 Marketing Strategies

Join our Paid Community at http://WoodpreneurNetwork.com


Connect with Kory at:


https://www.instagram.com/robisonhomebuilders/


https://www.robisonhomebuilders.com

In this episode, Steve Larosiliere interviews Steve Yi, founder of SpeTools. Steve shares his journey of starting the company and creating woodworking tools to meet customer demands. The company started on Amazon in 2006 and quickly gained popularity. Steve discusses the challenges they faced in developing new products and the importance of customer feedback. He also mentions their focus on CNC tools for woodworking and their plans to expand their product range. Steve highlights the satisfaction he gets from solving problems for woodworkers and the excitement of identifying new opportunities in the market.






Takeaways


SpeTools started on Amazon in 2006 and quickly gained popularity by offering affordable woodworking tools that met customer demands.The company focuses on developing CNC tools for woodworking and plans to expand its product range to include jigs and gauges.Customer feedback plays a crucial role in product development, and SpeTools actively listens to customer needs and preferences.Steve Yi finds satisfaction in solving problems for woodworkers and is excited about identifying new market opportunities.

Chapters


00:00 - Introduction and Starting SpeTools on Amazon


06:42 - Listening to Customers: The Key to Product Development






Join our Paid Community at http://WoodpreneurNetwork.com










Connect with STEVE at:


https://www.instagram.com/spetool_cnc/?hl=en


https://spetools.com

In this episode, Steve Larosiliere interviews Jake Frampton. Jake shares his journey from corporate HR to starting his own remodelling business. Discovering his passion for project management and hands-on work, he was inspired to leap the COVID-19 pandemic. Jake emphasizes the role of social media, especially Instagram, in growing his business and connecting with designers and architects. He highlights the importance of showcasing the people behind the business and building a personal brand.


Jake discusses the challenges of managing a growing team and large projects, and how therapy has helped him find balance and fulfillment. The conversation touches on empathy, intentionality, and conveying value in business. Steve advises on increasing perceived value through storytelling, clear processes, and testimonials, and suggests creating content to educate and engage customers.






Takeaways


The COVID-19 pandemic can inspire starting your own business and pursuing your passion.Instagram is a powerful tool for growing your business and connecting with clients and industry professionals.Showcasing the people behind your business and building a personal brand can attract clients.Effective project management and team empowerment can help manage growth and large projects.Prioritizing mental health and seeking therapy can improve work-life balance and personal growth.Empathy leads to better decision-making and intentional actions.Conveying value to clients is crucial for business success.Storytelling, clear processes, and testimonials increase perceived value.Creating videos and photos can educate and engage customers.

Chapters


00:00 - Introduction and Jake Frampton's Origin Story 


07:58 - Harnessing the Power of Social Media for Business Growth 


15:04 - Challenges and Rewards of Managing a Growing Business


Join our Paid Community at http://WoodpreneurNetwork.com


Connect with JAKE at:


https://www.instagram.com/frampton.remodeling/

In this episode, Steve Larosiliere interviews JT Belknap from DFM Toolworks. JT shares his journey of starting a woodworking tool business. He discusses the challenges of entering a market dominated by overseas sellers and the importance of making their products in the US. JT talks about the initial funding and the use of credit cards and partnerships to bootstrap the business. He also highlights the benefits of selling on Amazon and the scalability it offers. JT shares his experience with automation and the use of robots in manufacturing. He also mentions the challenges of expanding into other product lines and the importance of focusing on woodworking to pay the bills. JT discusses the challenges of selling on Amazon and the importance of data analysis. He considers the benefits of starting a podcast for brand building and lead generation.










Takeaways:


Selling on Amazon provides scalability and the ability to experiment with new products.Automation, including robots, has helped improve efficiency in manufacturing.Expanding into other product lines can be challenging, and it's important to focus on the core business to generate revenue.Selling on Amazon has become more competitive, with increased competition and carbon copies of products.Analyzing data on Amazon can provide valuable insights into market size and market share.Podcasting can be a powerful tool for brand building and lead generation.Building a community around a brand and providing value upfront can help attract and retain customers.Utilizing data and databases can provide valuable insights for business growth.





Chapters:


00:00 Introduction and Background


07:21 Managing a Team of Part-Time Employees


11:41 Scalability and Automation with Amazon


16:23 Challenges of Expanding into Other Product Lines


30:24 Building a Community and Providing Value






Join our Paid Community at http://WoodpreneurNetwork.com


Connect with JT at:


https://www.instagram.com/dfmtoolworks/