In this episode of The Handcrafted Podcast, Paul explores what it really takes to scale a woodworking business—whether you’re just starting out or already running a team and aiming for the next big revenue milestone. Drawing from his own experience growing Philadelphia Table Company, Paul shares how to reverse-engineer client acquisition, double down on what’s already working, and use a strategic revenue planner to break ambitious goals into realistic, actionable steps.

He highlights the importance of understanding exactly where current clients come from, leveraging word-of-mouth with incentives and reviews, and knowing when (and how) to layer on ads. Paul also unpacks the mindset shift required to move past plateaus, the role of new offerings like chairs in expanding revenue, and why scaling quickly can sometimes be smarter than slow, incremental growth.

Takeaways:

• Reverse engineer client acquisition: Identify how your past clients found you and double down on those channels.
• Don’t dismiss too quickly: If something worked once (Google Ads, word-of-mouth, outreach), refine and repeat it at scale before moving on.
• Strategic revenue planning matters: Break annual goals into monthly and weekly targets, then map out the specific actions needed to hit them.
• Add new offerings for growth: Expanding services or products (like chairs alongside tables) can increase ticket value and compound revenue.
• Stack, don’t replace: Cold outreach, ads, referrals, and reviews should all build on each other for a stronger foundation.
• Think long-term: Growth requires systems, planning, and sometimes bold moves like hiring or expanding shop space.

If you’d like Paul’s Strategic Revenue Planner worksheet, email him at [email protected]

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