| Blog series by Sam Yerardi | updated 6 days ago | 12 parts | 5943 reads | 171 comments total |
Part 1: Deciding what kind of work to do
For me, one of the hardest things to decide in starting a woodworking business was to determine specifically what type of work or product I wanted to pursue. I’ve done a lot of different styles of woodworking, ranging from kitchen ducks to Queen Anne reproductions. It seemed to me that at either end of the spectrum, there were more cons than pros if I really wanted to make a living at it. I remember driving by a home where the owner made his living by making all sorts of wood craft objects....
Part 2: Getting my shop in shape for my business
I have been getting a lot of great input and comments from everyone ranging from business suggestions to telling me I have a very messy shop. I take no offense at that as my wife will also agree with you 110%... :)Again, thanks… I guess to some extent I come from the old school (and I know I need to change and I am) in that my shop has been like one of the old-time shops where mounds of sawdust, tools, etc. are everywhere. Not a good practice, and in fact is a fire hazard. So, I hav...
Part 3: Still working at it
Recently I finished up an enclosure for a cuistomer that wanted something to cover the rear side of his fireplace. I had installed a new oak floor a couple of weeks before and he asked me to look at the patio and see if I had any suggestions for how to deal with the read of the fireplace. The rear of the fireplace extended into the patio. I posted the result (along with oak woodfloor job) in my projects section. I am still hanging in here, working on remodeling/cabinetry jobs as they co...
Part 4: Home Alone
Well, Friday was my last day at my day job. I got a good severance and have insurance for almost a year so I’ve got that going for me to help out. I have to admit I’m a bit numb as in 30 years I’ve never been out of work, but I’m still focused on woodworking. Right now I’m working on my dishwasher, moving furniture, and remodeling my living room so I will try to post some progress pictures soon. Since my woodworking is focusing on Greene & Greene, that is...
Part 5: Got some advice & help today
I met with the SBA (Small Business Administration) this morning and discussed my business startup. She gave me a lot of good advice and is going to help me with my business plan. She looked over everything I had put together so far and the direction I told her I am planning to go in. She said I was doing things the right way and suggested at first finding either a bookkeeper or an accountant and let them take care of what they’re good at, and me take care of what I’m good at. ...
Part 6: Kitchen remodel prospect
Visited a home this morning to talk to the home owners about remodeling their kitchen. The actual remodel job, if I get it, won’t start until after the first of the year. I scoped out the job and it looks like a good project. The owners stopped by our house last night and looked at what I’ve been doing. They also asked me to repair some furniture for them which i did later in the morning. Tomorrow I’m going to an all-day business seminar on internet marketing.
Part 7: Internet seminar
I went to an all-day ebusiness seminar today at Rio Grande University in southern Ohio (35 dollars). It was put on by the Ohio State University business development centers and WesBanco and as a result I now have a business internet domain name and email address!!! I got the name I wanted. I am going to start working on my web page over the next month or so. My short term goal is to have my business on line by the end of the year. I don’t want to reveal the business name just yet a...
Part 8: solitude
Well, I’m still at it. I’ve almost finished another item to go on my webpage when it is done. My webpage is still under construction, so there’s nothing on there yet. I have to admit it feels strange getting up every morning and walking out into the solitude of the shop. I thoroughly enjoy it, and I don’t miss meetings after endless meetings… still I am apprehensive about my insurance in the long run, as everyone else is. I’d like to hear from you guy...
Part 9: My first refinishing job
Today the weather was wonderful… sunny, about 65-70… I picked up a truck load of cherry today and loaded that into my shop. I finished up sanding on a refinishing job that I started Tuesday. Earlier in the week a friend dropped off a set of dining room chairs (Colonial, maple) that he wants refinished. I’m about ready to start on matching the original finish, but I will need to order some dyes and glazing. I’m still working on the stained glass for a chandelier ...
Part 10: A Good Start This Week
I picked up about 400 bdft of cherry this past week for some tables & items I am building, and I’m still working on my stained glass lamps. I’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time studying business & marketing in my ‘spare’ time, but this week things sort of exploded a bit. I’m starting to get calls for remodeling work, so I’m trying to be selective about what I will take on. As far as remodeling jobs, I hope to focus on interior remodeli...
Part 11: A very good week for me
My dreams are slowly coming true as I am starting to get a lot of work and prospects. Surprisingly, I’ve got a custom furniture job as well. This week I finished up the vinyl siding on the room addition I’ve been working on. This coming week I will be finishing the fascia board, doing the plumbing for the bathroom, and insulation. It isn’t custom cabinetry or furniture but it has certainly opened some doors… Thursday evening I went across the highway to scope out...
Part 12: More work & I'M A GRANDPA!!!
This past weekend was amazing! I’d been busy all week and Friday my mom calls me (she’s 86) and said her dog had been hit by a car. The local vet didn’t feel comfortable doing the operation it needed so I drove it to the Ohio State University vet hospital 2 hours away. They operated, and the dog is going to be ok. I was up all night and when I got home at 7:30 in the morning, I went to bed. My wife called me from work and said our daughter and son in law were on their w...
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