In this episode, Steve Larosiliere interviews Derek Wyman from Cali Hardwoods. Derek shares his background in the lumber industry and the evolution of his family business. He discusses the unique wood species found in Northern California and the challenges of transitioning from custom furniture to lumber sales. Derek also talks about starting a retail lumber store and the partnerships he has formed. He highlights the underutilized wood resources in California and seeks advice on e-commerce and marketing strategies. The conversation concludes with a discussion on building a community and offering exclusive deals to customers.
Takeaways
- Transitioning from custom furniture to lumber sales can be challenging due to the complexities of custom projects and tight profit margins.
- Starting a retail lumber store requires careful planning and considering location, marketing, and e-commerce strategies.
- There are underutilized wood resources in California, and partnerships with other sawmills can help scale up operations.
- Building a community around a brand and offering exclusive deals can create a sense of urgency and customer loyalty.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Background
03:01 California Hardwoods and Unique Wood Species
06:30 Transition from Furniture to Lumber Sales
09:29 Challenges of Custom Furniture
10:28 Starting a Lumber Store Retail
19:26 Underutilized Wood Resources
21:22 Marketing and Business Advice
26:15 Building a Community and Exclusive Offers
28:12 Conclusion
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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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