Advertise on podcast: Building a Furniture Brand with Ethan Abramson

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 company and the school he started (the Austin School of Furniture) please take a listen to that before you go further.  For this episode, follow along as we talk about digital marketing for your business, growing your brand, the Texas Woodworking Festival origin story, and much more. Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

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 harder when you know something is wrong with your material, and the supplier just won’t believe you. Mike and Michelle had this exact problem, when their largest order of white oak turned out to be - not exactly what they planned. This mistake from their supplier almost sunk their company, so what did they do? The story, of what Mike and Michelle did next, is what we cover in this episode. Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

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 pricing, working together as a couple, learning as you go, and much more. Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

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 materials, and the pieces they get aren’t on par with the work they need to do? As their furniture continues to rise this has become a problem for the couple. One they needed to deal with if they were to continue to be successful.  The story of how Bryan and Erin are dealing with this scenario is what we cover in this episode. Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

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 want to grow, and much more. Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

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 gave up. But, did it stop them in their tracks, or did they overcome and learn from that experience so they could do better in the future?  Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

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 understating the customer you want to work for, managing a company as a couple, how to break down your pricing to keep yourself safe, and much more. Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

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 and mentally.  But as the old adage goes, what doesn’t kill you makes you a better furniture business owner and so instead of breaking her, she came out of that situation learning how to run her company better going forward.  Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

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 scary time, she is taking the good and bad experiences that have come her way and using everything she has learned so far to navigate her way to success. Follow along as we talk about jumping right into the industry, being trustworthy with your clients, the difference between designing and building, and much more. Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

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 wouldn’t turn out right.  But instead of just tossing it up as a wasted project, he found value in the hands-on experiences he learned during the process. And what could have been just wasted time, turned into time saving lessons for future projects. Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

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 burn himself out. Follow along as we talk about when to find time in your day, understanding contracts before it's too late, the importance of mentorships for your business to grow and much more. Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com

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 up to demands put on it. Unfortunately, the importance of contracts come into play usually when it's already too late. That’s what happened to Richie, when a hiring situation he was involved in turned sour. Learn more at buildingafurniturebrand.com