Bernardo Urbina: Costa Rica Mill

Today on the show, we have the pleasure of speaking with Bernardo Urbina, the owner and founder of Costa Rica Sawmill. Bernardo has been a furniture designer for over ten years. He started his studies at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, focusing on industrial design and furniture design. His journey continued to Italy, where he proceeded to do a master's program in industrial design and architecture.

After that, he spent three years in the Philippines before moving home to Costa Rica and opening a furniture shop and design studio. Having worked with extremely high-quality products throughout his journey, Bernardo found he was having difficulty sourcing kiln-dried wood in Costa Rica as the standard is air drying.

This demand for high quality, kiln-dried lumber and slabs is what drove Bernardo to start milling and drying his own supplies. From there, he realized there was a market for exotic Costa Rican wood that was being sold for ridiculous prices to woodworkers in the United States. Bernardo knew he had the logistics and ability to help counteract this problem. He decided to increase his inventory and start sending high-quality wood abroad.

"If I wouldn't use it in my shop, I wouldn't offer it to you for yours."

Now he runs two sister companies, his mill, and his furniture business. Bernardo keeps the two separate in his mind, even though they are interrelated in some aspects. The way he sees it, the lumber supply wouldn't exist without the woodshop because of the risk involved. As he has his own woodshop and can use all the products he mills, there is less risk associated with sitting on inventory. If nobody else has a use for the wood, that's fine because he and his team will use it eventually. If they do, then he has quality materials he can provide. 

One of the biggest focuses for Bernardo is sustainability. He doesn't waste any material and believes that it isn't right to use trees without giving back and replenishing them. For every $100 that Bernardo makes, he donates it back to make sure a tree is planted. 

The entire design company actually started based on this concept of sustainability. Bernardo would make art from overlooked materials, like slabs with holes that were rejected by sawmills or other debris and fallen trees he could upcycle and repurpose. 

Discussing the concept of Urban Wood, Bernardo says transparency is critical. The first two things he always asks for when he sources wood is to see the permits and a receipt. It is crucial to keep everything above board, pay the proper taxes, and not try and get around the system.

The goal for Costa Rica Sawmill is to eventually be able to offer single slabs to woodworkers in the United States. Currently, shipping is done in large orders, but he would like to be the "Amazon" of Urban Costa Rican wood one day. Staying connected and working with other woodpreneurs keeps Bernardo inspired and motivated. He loves hearing about the projects he can help source wood for.

As for business advice, Bernardo wonders how to remind clients or potential clients that he's out there and can help them with their urban wood or furniture needs without being too pushy.

Steve's advice is to implement a monthly newsletter where Bernardo can compile all of the stories from the lumber supply part of things and the furniture making side. He can have an avenue to talk about his sustainability efforts and feature other woodpreneurs to continue networking while simultaneously giving his customers content and a gentle nudge to remind them he's there.

Also, Steve suggests to send a follow-up DM once in a while to previous customers and check in with how they're doing.

To see some of Bernardo's beautiful work and his user-friendly website system, check him out here:

Instagram: @costaricamill

Website: https://costaricamill.com/

Email: [email protected]