Building a Furniture Brand with Ethan Abramson

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Andrew Fischer owner of the Nashville Tennessee-based furniture company Cold Brew Woodworking.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

It is the one 1 year anniversary for Andrew on being a full time Furniture company owner. 1 year is a big deal. 1 year without a safety net. 1 year to really start to learn what works and what doesn’t work for your business. A successful company is not built overnight. It takes time, and during that time it's good to pause and take stock of where you are.

Although it has only been a year, the respect Andrew has for how his company is managed runs deep. With pricing, with quality, and with his confidence in the business, he is dedicated to never selling himself short.

Follow along as we talk about finding happiness in what you do, the importance of social media to your sales, respecting your brand, and much more.

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On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Edgar Blazona, founder of the furniture company BenchMade Modern.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber- getjobber.com/ethan

It is an understatement to say that Edgar, with his 25 years of furniture experience, knows a thing or two about selling furniture.

Having worked in the industry as a founder of multiple companies, including BenchMade Modern, a pioneering sofa brand with revenue of 10 plus million dollars in 2020. As well as a designer for many large brands and as a hands-on builder of his own furniture, Edgar has the full view of what it takes to be successful in the furniture business.

Follow along as we talk about how to get the right kind of press, the pains of shipping furniture, what you need to know to start your company today and much more.

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On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Marina Mazza and Rocky Cappelletti co-owners of the Melbourne, Australia-based furniture company B.A. Furniture.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

B.A. Furniture is run by both Marina and her Co-owner Rocky Cappelletti. But, in a situation well known to busy furniture companies, Rocky got called away at the last minute to deal with a project, and Marina seamlessly filled in to share both of their stories.

And that right there is a perfect snapshot of Marina and Rocky’s business. Both of them working together to turn their company from what started as a simple pastime into the incredibly successful business that you see today.

Follow along as we talk about why customer service should be the core of your business, how to balance sustainable building practices in your pricing, the importance of support between co-owners, and much more.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Matt Noble owner of the Northern Georgia-based furniture company Overkill Woodcraft LLC.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

As you will soon find out, Matt started his furniture company with a haircut. An unlikely twist of fate that started him down a road that although hard, is exactly where he wants to be headed.

Because hard work isn’t something Matt turns away from. Instead, he embraces it and works out a way to overcome it using whatever he has at hand. From taking on tough clients, to understanding complex builds, to making furniture in spite of physical limitations, Matt has found a way to not only face these challenges but to go beyond them and make his business a success.

Follow along as we talk about Luck vs Preparation, how to gain the confidence of your clients, the importance of keeping your body healthy, and much more

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Rachel Bergsma, owner of the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan-based furniture company Sawdust and Smoke.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

Rachel is a self-taught furniture maker. Starting her company from nothing, to now having a year-long waiting list for clients wanting new builds. 

And yes, along her journey she learned how to make amazing furniture, but she also learned how to build a business. How to build a brand. And how to recognize her achievements and use them to turn her company from once barely holding on, into the success that it is today. 

Follow along as we talk about the importance of being the face of your business, what sustainability in the woodworking industry looks like, overcoming imposter syndrome, and much more.

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On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Tyler Shaheen, owner of the Southern Indiana-based furniture company The Southern Craftsmen.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

From borrowed tools and DIY plans off the internet, to now having a full production shop, a collection of his own furniture, and employees, it is safe to say that Tyler has fully committed to his dream of owning his own furniture business.

But it wasn’t easy, and Tyler’s struggles weren’t only about building furniture or getting clients. He also struggled with the decision to go full time and if it was right for him and his family. But once he made the jump, he never looked back.

Follow along as we talk about, building a business from the ground up, the balance of outsourcing tasks, ballpark pricing vs final pricing, and much more.

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On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Michael Wiebe, owner of the Macgregor, Manitoba-based furniture company Beaver Creek Customs.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

There are a lot of different types of companies that fall under the umbrella term of Furniture Business. Michael, as well as being a furniture builder, is also a furniture installer. Starting his job where most furniture makers leave off, Michael takes pieces built in a shop and makes them work in the real world.

Dealing with all the unfriendly truths of working in the field Michael has found a way to not only navigate the hard realities of install work, but to be successful at it. Working to perfect his trade with a mix of woodshop knowledge and on-site magic, he's made a solid career out of installing.

Follow along as we talk about where to learn your trade, how to deal with clients on job sites, building relationships vs contracts, and much more.

On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Bao Loi, owner of the Houston, Texas-based furniture company Design Craft Workshop.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

Bao is about a year into his furniture company and although he is not new to working for himself, having come from a successful architectural background, starting any new company comes with a lot of new experiences - some good and some hard. But as any business owner knows, you take the good with the bad, and you grow.

And Bao is doing just that. Expanding his business based on having a solid plan in place, being able to diversify his income, and learning to accommodate change as just another part of growth.

Follow along as we talk about expanding your client base with social media, the importance of contracts to get you paid, adding employees to your company, and much more.

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On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Ronnie Fulton, owner of the Central Kentucky-based furniture company Fulton Fine Woodworks.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

Ronnie put in his time in the corporate world before he decided that following his dream of owning a furniture company was right for him. But once he made that jump, he never looked back.

Making a name for himself as a high-end builder, who would take on the projects no one else could do, set him apart in the industry. Putting him in the enviable position to not only be able to charge for what he needs to make on each project, but be able to charge for what he wants to make on each project.

Follow along as we talk about how you move from working in the corporate world to working for yourself, the way you can check your pricing nationally, why going into the trades used to be frowned upon, and much more.

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On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Dallas Gara, owner of the Alberta, Canada based furniture company GaraWood.

This episode is brought to you by Jobber - getjobber.com/ethan

This episode, for the end of season 3, is a little different. Dallas has a furniture company, he makes truly impressive museum quality furniture that in time could reach the level of the masters that inspire him. But his story is different from the regular guests of this show. Like so many out there, he is one of those people who have a full time job, but also run a successful furniture company.

On this episode, yes, there is a focus on the business side but also one on the personal side of what one goes through as they decide if the full time furniture business is right for them.

Dallas, who should be applauded for speaking his thoughts openly and honestly in this episode, is sure to help people who hear this know that they are not alone in the personal struggles that they go through in their own furniture journey.