My Woodworking Journey: From $0.20 Etsy Listing to Nationwide Custom Furniture
Thirteen years ago, I wasn’t thinking about running one of the largest woodworking businesses on Etsy or delivering handcrafted furniture nationwide. I was simply a woodworker with a dream to create custom, solid wood furniture that would outlast me and bring joy to homes across America.
It started in a small garage in Massachusetts. Nothing fancy, just enough space for a table saw, a workbench, and an unshakable belief that I could figure it out as I went. My earliest projects were custom handcrafted trash bins and other small crafty pieces of furniture that was crafted one piece at a time. In those early days, I made mistakes that cost me money I didn’t have, stayed up far too late finishing orders, and wrestled with the constant question: Will this actually work?
From a $0.20 Etsy Listing to a Thriving Furniture Business
Etsy became my launchpad. My very first listing, a custom wood trash bin posted for just twenty cents and that changed everything. That first sale wasn’t just income; it was validation that people valued artisan woodworking and the story behind it.
With each new order, I learned more about building not just furniture, but a brand rooted in craftsmanship, customer trust, and personalized service. Our custom wood furniture began to range from solid wood kitchen islands with storage to farmhouse dining tables and built-to-order coffee tables, not to mention various types of dog food stations, all handcrafted and delivered with care.
Building Wood You Build It: American-Made Furniture, Delivered Nationwide
Today, Wood You Build It is a thriving American-made furniture company designing, building, and personally delivering every order nationwide. We focus on heirloom quality craftsmanship, using premium hardwoods and time-honored woodworking techniques to create pieces that last for generations.
Unlike mass-produced furniture, every piece we build is custom, tailored to fit a client’s style, space, and needs. From custom butcher block kitchen islands to exquisite kitchen furniture, our goal is to create functional art that becomes part of a family’s daily life.
Lessons Learned Along the Way
There were years I thought about walking away. Cash flow got tight, machinery broke at the worst times, and the line between work and life blurred. But each obstacle was met with grit, resourcefulness, and a commitment to never compromise on quality.
I’ve learned that custom woodworking isn’t just about cutting and joining wood, it’s about listening to customers, honoring their vision, and crafting something that will be part of their life story.
A Message for Fellow Dreamers
If you’re standing at the beginning of your own journey, wondering if your dream is worth the risk, I’m here to tell you…it is. You’ll stumble. You’ll fail. You’ll question yourself more than you’d like to admit. But if you keep showing up, if you keep doing the work when no one’s watching, you might just wake up one day to see you’ve built something far bigger than you imagined.
For me, it all started with a twenty-cent Etsy listing, a workshop full of sawdust, and a stubborn belief that handcrafted furniture still matters.
Most of all, having the support system of my loving family is the entire reason behind this all. Not the fame. Not the fortune. Just the idea of being a role model for my children is worth more than any amount of money. This is why I do this. The caveat is that I also have the ability to help transform a customer’s house…into a home.
