FeaturesWoodworking Stories, Woodworker Profiles and Products
Going from craftsman to businessman
Monday, 04 February 2008 16:09
When Tony Mason's custom millwork business failed the first time around, he swallowed his pride and kept at it. That's because he has an incredible entrepreneurial spirit. Mason first established Mason Woods of Whately, Mass., in the late '80s, but closed the operation less than five years later after realizing that even though he was an excellent craftsman, he was a lousy businessman. His major flaw was charging prices that were much too low, which he finally learned how to correct after working at a commercial shop. Now, with help from his son and guidance from his 83-year-old father, the shop is back up and running with more work than it can handle.
Furniture with a purpose
Tuesday, 04 March 2008 15:47
Shaun Wilkerson refers to himself as a "flit." He owns a gallery and a custom furniture shop in New Orleans and a second gallery in Houston, and as a result he moves quickly from one location to another, the definition of flit.
Building a safer saw
Written by A.J. Hamler Tuesday, 04 March 2008 15:52
He was in a hurry. About six years ago Thomas Skaggs, a studio furniture maker in Champaign, Ill., was cutting stock on his cabinet saw and hadn't realized that he'd started the cut without locking down the fence securely.
Always a step ahead
Tuesday, 04 March 2008 15:56
Given the opportunity to perform, Rick Cunningham of RMC Wood Works in Cranston, R.I., exceeds expectations. He has a high-energy work level that helps him meet the fast-paced demands of running a one-man custom cabinet shop. Competition can be fierce, he says — not with other cabinetmakers, but commercial shops. His secret to finding success is interacting with the end-user, particularly when going through a contractor.
Corporate guy in a cabinet shop
Friday, 11 April 2008 10:00
Unlike many cabinetmakers, Tom Westra didn't start his woodworking business in a two-car garage. In fact, the owner of Vermont Custom Cabinetry knew little about the profession until he purchased the Westminster, Vt., shop about two years ago.
Page 36 of 39
