Building a Fitted Furniture Business
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- 8:34 - **'A Fitted Furniture Apprenticeship' Training Course is now available!**:
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Are you getting into woodworking, with an interested in custom designed fitted furniture? Or are you already doing this and wondering how to take the next steps of growth?
In this video I share with you some of my experience since starting a joinery business from scratch over 12 years ago, and growing it to a profitable business specialising in fitted furniture and employing staff and running a CNC machine.
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Instagram: / freebirdinteriors
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Your videos are really on point, thanks for sharing Alastair. I haven't seen anyone talking like you do about the realities of being a business owner in this industry. It really helps to hear what someone else has been experiencing and be able to relate to it. Keep it up!
I appreciate that! Really, it's so encouraging to get this sort of comment thank you
Thank you Alastair for sharing your views and experiences. It is rather informative and inspiring for the fellow small furniture business operators like myself and many other. May you have a great Christmas and a Wonderfull New Year ahed for you, your family and all of those, who are part of your business success.
Thank you!
This is great, thank you. I have a 'back-up' job on top of running my furniture business 'Plank Canvas'. I am a carer for a young lad with spinal muscular atrophy. I do 2 overnight shifts each week, and my wife is a physiotherapist. The flexibility I get from the business allows me to do most the care/school runs for our daughter. It's good to know we're not the only ones spending each week at 100mph!! I hope you can have a great Christmas, and best of luck in the new year 🙂
Hello Craig! Yes I recognise your name and business name (thought I was following you already on Instagram, seems I wasn’t, but I am now!). Interesting to hear more about your situation, best wishes with it all!
Awesome! great see another video and always love your content I have been watching and supporting for several years now and have really appreciated you sharing your video series. I wish you all the best for the future
Thank you Sam, I can always really on an early comment from you and I appreciate it!
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences, it's really valuable to hear. It's reassuring to realise that others are coming up against exactly the same challenges in growing a business...
Well done on your successes! Very inspiring.
Thanks for the video. Sizing up from “one man band” at the moment to a larger place with staff and bigger machinery.
Just started cutting through a load of offcuts before putting your video on and deciding to be more ruthless looking at pieces I’ve hoarded for 3 years 😬
Yeah, be ruthless!
I love that reordering system, I've done jobs here and there big and small but nothing constant enough to keep inventory if I go further I'll definitely put that in my shop. Thank you.
It’s a good system, not a bad idea to implement it at least partially sooner rather than later, see how you get on with it, and develop it to suit you
The heater/ wood burner is brilliant as it pays for its self, less skips and exorbitant energy costs. It really annoys me to sling materials and pay for the pleasure. Great tips. These videos make me think about how to be more efficient.👍🏻
Glad the videos make you think! True about the wood burner
So good to hear things are moving forward. Thanks for the video and all the best. May 2022 be more productive, profitable and enjoyable for you, your increasing staff and families. Cheers, David
Thanks David, Happy Christmas to you and your family too 🎄
Thank you so much for this video 1 It is great for someone like me who would like to step into a less known land. thank you. Have a nice Christmas and in 2023 ! btw I am from Ro..☺ but I leave in UK. GOD BLESS YOU !
Buna Ziua! Craciun Fericit!
Si Dumnezeu sa te binecuvinteze si tie
🙂 Multumesc! Asemeni si dv !
Thanks for the videos Alastair, great content and I love the format. Currently on a level 2 joinery apprentiship (like you pointed out, it's mostly theory).Will absolutely be taking a look at your online apprenticeship.
You’ll get a lot of benefit from the membership, and I’ll announce on there when the updated course is ready for downloading
Looking forward to it! Cheers
Very good. Really helpful and interesting. I don’t have a business at all but I do plan to set up my own “small” woodworking business this year. I say small because like freebird, I want to make things out of wood with the radio on. I have No idea about how to take help on but at the moment, I’ll be happy to be able to walk first before I can run.
Start small. And if you stay there that’s fine too!
Just watched this again
Thanks for your observations and communications Alistair. I'm still fairly edge of the seat with my business making fitted furniture , but it helps to have data such as yours to refer to.
It’s not an easy business. Do you mean on the edge financially, or in terms of your motivation to continue, or both?
@@Alastair_Freebird little of both, but I think willingness to expand the business beyond just me is senior to the money considerations
It’s potentially a slippery slope. It should only be done with good advice and strategy. After hoping I could manage this transition, I am finding myself ever more uncomfortable in the role of manager and I am seriously questioning how I can get back to being creative and actually making stuff myself which is what really lights my fire. Some people are happy to embrace the transition to business owner/manager. I’m not sure I’m wired for it. So I’d just caution thinking carefully about what direction will keep you motivated and passionate - not just what you ‘should’ do or what seems to bring the most money (which can be an illusion, or at least a high risk…)
You are absolutely spot on with the wood waste analysis. I’m as guilty as anyone for hoarding offcuts. It’s just such a psychological battle to try and be rational and measured with what to keep and what to dispose of. The price of timber at the moment is also adding another dimension to that mental equation. I’d save 30-40% of my workshop space and an immeasurable amount of time and effort if I just gave the bloody stuff away on gumtree.
It's about learning to see where the true costs lie. I still have battles over it with Brady (who pushes for even more 'lean' methods while I still sometimes just see the value of a part of a board instead of the bigger picture of production)
likewise, currently have a three bays in my rack full of large offcuts that I can't justify to throw, to the point where moving workshops, I did actually bring them with me. However, I need to find spare time, to use it for making an understair storage, entrance hallway shoe/seating unit and some units for the front room. So these will be used up.
Thankyou. Great vid. Hope the next year is good for you. I am trying to grow into a workshop at the moment. I am a sprayer not a joiner, but I came across your videos in the past when you have spoken about your spraying journey. Look forward to hearing more about your booth setup aswell, as like I said, I am on the hunt for premises and whatnot. Thanks again.
Hi thanks for commenting. What sort of spray setup do you have right now and what paints do you use? We only use water based (but that makes things difficult in some ways!)
@@Alastair_Freebird hey, I am using a couple different airless units, a gentilin and I have an aaa setup with sf23 and 4700ac but the one thing I really want right now is a heated hose. Definitely water based has its challenges for sure but the stuff has come a hell of a long way in the last few years I gotta say. I love using it now. I do spray other stuff like 2k but that has its own challenges. Just gotta stick with something you like :)
Great video as always mate! In this new year I would like to purge the shop of offcuts I have had for years waiting to be used which never happens.
Yeah do it, it will feel good!
Great video. Really helpful
Especially if you find that others have another income stream. That makes sense! Everything costs so much starting a Business
It takes a long time to build a successful business of this sort. My business coach said this to me recently and just hearing simple statements like that can be very affirming!
Great vid, Alastair, I always enjoy them. Is the fitted furniture business the hardest of all businesses, or do we just think it is, ha? I could give lots of reasons as to why it might be. IMO, finding the right clients is perhaps the key element to 'success' - and I couldn't agree more that success in this business can only be measured in free time - I've never met a wealthy furniture maker!
Hi I do like to think it’s one of the hardest businesses… but I’m sure if I got close enough to other types of business I would realise how difficult they can be too! Bruce my business coach says you tend to find more of what you choose to see… so if we get a fixed idea that it’s complicated it will always seem that way, but he says it can be made simple.
this has actually restored a little bit of faith in me. sometimes I think I'm a busy fool. but I suppose that's what happens when you constantly have to reinvest.
Do you mean you have found new confidence that you’re already on the right track and it will pay off in the end?
Thanks for this video. Very insightful
Glad you think so thanks
They need a place you can give wood waste to like a bottle recycling facility where they deal with what happens to them. I know they have pellet and wood block manufacturer's that take it in some places.
I have thought similar in the past. Having our own Woodburning heater has been the best solution! But a big investment up front
There is a business, that does, buy offcuts from Cut & edge companies, they then, resell them, to DIYers and trades who just need a ⅓ of MDF sheet for example.
There are many wood recycling social enterprises. We have a good one in Leeds
As Philip said, there generally seems to be at least one social enterprise per city, that will take offcuts and make good use of them.
Hi Alastair, I find your videos realistic, you are a very honest person, I have learnt a lot from you. now I wish to carry on learning and I tried to pay for the membership but it wouldn't go through on the buy me a coffee page. is there any other way to pay for the membership please? please help guide, many thanks
Hello thanks for letting me know, sorry about this, someone else told me this recently too. I know there have been a few successful sign ups recently so it’s not broken across the board; have you tried again or was it just a one time thing?
@@Alastair_Freebird no its not broken on your side. I spoke to my bank, now they have a new security system, that while paying online for the first time, some times the paying party is required to log in to the bank account first, because the bank will send a message, to which click "yes" and all good. so I am all set up to learn more now.
many thanks for replying.
@@darvaish4552 Oh great glad its sorted
Dear sir i m Nilakshaa 23 years old now i m living sri lanka .now i m furniture assemble compny working table bed cabinet stool study table and droo i have experience hand power tool and carpenter experience .forklift I think I can support your organization with my skills. I hope to get a job . i requuire sponsorship to work for a new employer .thank you
I have a experienced furniture installation and repair & assemble Thank you sir Only 200 customers bed room sets assemble & installation experienced
Hi Alastair,
thanks for video, I found it really insightful. I don't know if it's just the Christmas time or the fact that I'm starting considering woodworking as my next full time job, but I feel kinda connected to this.
I'm a software developer and honestly I do love my job, but slowly I'm starting loving woodwork more. I would like to make a living out of it, but I don't really know if I'm capable of. Do you think that starting small (cutting boards, coffee tables) and start maybe selling on Etsy or similar may be a good idea?
As you said, my main concern now is to keep my income flow consistent, as I have a wife and I don't want her to pay for my mistakes eventually,
Wish you all the best,
Maurizio
Hi Maurizio I seem to hear from a few software developers who want to get more into woodwork! I think starting small and selling on Etsy would absolutely be a great place to start.
Hi Alistair, who those your measure ups in clients house . This I find a crucial point to the success of the job.
I still do this. I agree this will be hard to let go of. However we have changed our front end process a lot, to free up my time and avoid wasted visits. We do not advertise an email address or a phone number, we direct customers to book a call via our website, at scheduled time slots. This initial consultation call is with our part-time office administrator Camilla (who I regret not giving a mention to in this video!). This means we don’t even deal with idle enquiries at all but effectively pre-filter the serious enquiries who really want to work with us. And because we have standardised our methods a lot, and Camilla has an itemised price list to refer to, in many cases she can give an accurate quote over the phone or by email reply after understanding the customers needs and taking dimensions (and sometimes photos and sketches sent by email). For these standard jobs (alcoves and wardrobes) it only needs to come to my attention once the customer has agreed to proceed, and paid a 25% deposit, at which point I come and do a measured survey and 3d drawing. We are only able to make this work because our existing online reputation and galleries of existing work allows people to be confident enough in what they are going to get. For more unusual jobs there may be an intermediary step of a video call with me to come up with a sketch design and price.
Does your insurance company mind the wood burner being installed? I run a woodwork shop and would like one but the insurance company wasn’t happy about it? Cheers ! Subscribed 👍
Hi yes I ran it by them (NFU Mutual) and I was anticipating problems because they are very thorough about these things. They didn’t have any strong objections but at first they said I needed to add a cage to prevent people touching it and getting burned. I had to explain to them that the main body of the heater does not get hot to the touch, only the front hatch (the heated is directed through the blowers on top). And if I added an enclosure in front of that it would be more of a hazard, limiting working area around loading the board racks and panelsaw. They accepted this and didn’t require an enclosure in the end.
@@Alastair_Freebird thank you I will try this then👍
How about formaldehyde found plentiful is boards like chipboard,mdf and ply?It is harmful for humans and can cause some types of cancer. Especially if it's being burn in fireplace. I told my staff not to trough these boards to fire and if occasionally they did it I could smell it in my workshop when coming in from outside.I would burn solid wood like pallets, studs left from some fittings on site and so on.Thanks
Hi, I had similar questions. This woodburner (WT5 From Woodwastetechnologies) works best when loaded with cardboard then real wood to get it started and up to temperature, then after that it seems to incinerate mdf and chipboard with not even any visible smoke from the external flue, and no odour inside whatsoever.
Great video Alastair. I’ve not been online in a while and was wondering what cnc machine you went for in the end? been looking for ages and still undecided .
Hi it is this one (or at least a slightly older model of it): www.vwm.co.uk/woodworking-machinery/technos-eco-3025/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAwqCOBhCdARIsAEPyW9n71gsvkMqovhphP3oE83ZrzHL4ewFISEvhkDH_ru8iw6B4b5r5XcUaAkr8EALw_wcB. I can share with you some videos from the member site where I share why I chose this over other options I looked at if you drop me a private message or email somewhere
Hi Alister. Not sure if you can advise. I’m looking to renew doors to my home. I have a quarter inch router and was looking for a jig and bit that I could use. Would you have any advise. I don’t possess the 1/2” router for standard size cutter bits.
Hi David my apologies I missed this comment until now. I would recommend contacting www.Wealdentool.com for advice they are very good
Do you accept apprenticeship
Not at the moment, maybe in future
I note several times you mention an employee having job security in comparison to the owner. I'm sure you don’t really believe that. The truth is, job security doesn't exist.. for anyone, owner or employee.
Some business owners, like employees, are better than others.
My point is that employees have a lot of legal rights - notice periods, redundancy pay, minimum wage, overtime pay etc. It's a very secure working position, due to the legal protections, relative to self employment or ownership of a small business. As an owner you have liabilities and risk. You take care of your employees financially before yourself. You do this in the hope of future reward - greater risk, greater potential reward, this is the choice you make. The tables turn in the business owner's favour when they hit profitability. I'm not saying any of this is wrong - it's entirely appropriate that employees should have protections. But it's a very common scenario for employees of struggling small businesses to earn a far better hourly rate than the business owner, with less stress and more security too.
@Alastair Johnson - Freebird I see your point but would say this.
The outcomes from employment rights aren't guaranteed. Businesses have folded, leaving employees 'high and dry'.. with wages due and redundancy payments not met, and in some cases weakened or even broken pension schemes. As they say, only taxes and death are guaranteed.
Risk to the employee isn't always apparent, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist or is in some way less for them. A poorly operated business isn't always obvious to an employee (particularly the younger ones). In most cases, it only becomes apparent when they don't get paid or the business goes into administration. In many cases, there's no prior warning; it just happens.
Liabilities exist for the employed and again are not always apparent. Contractually, they must deliver - as to not do so; will render them unemployed. Within the first 12 months of employment, it is entirely possible to fairly (legal sense) dismiss an employee without them having broken their contract. Those same employees take out loans, mortgages, and other liabilities because of their employment. A sudden withdrawal of employment can leave them facing instant problems.
My point is that being an employee isn't a gifted option... without risk, concern, stress or liability. It's just different.. but still risky, stressful, and concerning.
@@bikingmonkey1535 yes fair points. In life there is risk for us all!