Brian Seitz: Urban Industrial Design artwork
The Woodpreneur Podcast

Brian Seitz: Urban Industrial Design

  • S3E295
  • 45:33
  • October 12th 2023

“ I invested in my own website. And whatever money I had left from the servers, I went out and bought as many tools that I could that I think we're going to set me up to make money down the line. You know, I can remember my very first day full time in my shop, my little one car garage. Remember, I had this customer I've been talking with, and he ended up putting a deposit down, like 2500 bucks cash that day. And I was like, wow, this is great.”


-Brian Seitz



Welcome to the Woodpreneur podcast, the ultimate show for the business and marketing side of the lumber, woodworking, hardwood flooring, and sawmill industry. With your host Steve Larosiliere today is Brian Site from Urban Industrial Design (UID). Brian takes us on a journey back to 2016 when he purchased his first home and decided to take on various renovation projects. His quest for unique furniture led him to discover the world of custom woodworking. Brian, with no prior woodworking experience but a strong mechanical background, decided to build his own furniture pieces. With basic tools, a one-car garage, and determination, he began his journey.



“I crossed paths with and worked with different companies and what's out there, what's next? And I don't know that it just, I just kept getting, you know, sidetracked with the thought of running my own business.”


-Brian Seitz


The Turning Point

Brian's woodworking skills quickly evolved, and his work garnered attention, eventually leading to a turning point in his life. But before he could go full-time into his newfound passion, he had a stable job in the alternative energy field, specifically working with solar panels. The career provided Brian with problem-solving experience and a desire to bring projects from conception to reality. However, fate had something different in store.


Brian: "I had a six-week heads up that I had to go full time with this business. And it was the next move. I remember was just, I ran wild with, you know, at the time, Craigslist, that's whoever was advertising. I put, you know, many different items, like food on Etsy, I've learned everything about, you know, sort of how to get your scene out there on Etsy."


The Beginnings of UID


Brian's transition into full-time woodworking was a leap of faith. He hustled to grow his small garage-based business, and the support of friends and family played a significant role. The early days were marked by long nights and weekends spent perfecting his craft. Brian's willingness to embrace the challenge and adapt was a defining factor.


Steve: "So how many years between from when you started to the 5,000 square foot shop? And how many employees did you have?"


Brian: "I think it was about three years in between there. When I moved into that space, I had a full-time guy and two part-time guys."


Overcoming Challenges and Growth

Brian's business steadily grew, and he acquired valuable skills along the way. The ability to identify opportunities and adapt to changing circumstances became a recurring theme in his journey. He expanded into commercial and residential furniture, and his diverse product line evolved to include floating shelves.


“The wood industry is so diverse, you know, there's so many different things you can do. Like, you know, you can kill it with floating shelves, you can kill it with slabs, you can kill it with, you know, so many different so many different things.”


-Steve Larosiliere


Want to get in touch with Brian Seitz?

Contact him through:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urban_industrial_design/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urbanindustrialdesign

The Woodpreneur Podcast

We cover the business and marketing side of the sawmill, tree service, furniture making, Urban Wood, and woodworking industry. If you're a woodworker, sawmill owner, or any other entrepreneur and/or business owner in the wood industry, you need to check out this podcast.

Each week, we interview business owners, large-scale companies, entrepreneurs, makers, and designers while also offering marketing and business advice that will help you grow your business and increase your profits. Tune in every Thursday!

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