Brad Bernhart Interview: The Business of Woodworking

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I this video, woodworker Brad Bernhart of Red Lodge, Montana shares a little about his business, the importance of lean manufacturing, and where he sells his work. 

Check out Brad's website www.EarlyWoodDesigns.com to see his wonderfully designed and custom made kitchen utensils. Take note: his site is a great example of what a good website should be for a business.

When you check out his site, drop Brad a line saying "Thanks" for the great information that he has generously shared. I did not previously know Brad until I met him at SummerFair and asked him for an interview. I think it would be awesome to let him know that he has helped us out with his information and time as he shared some solid business information.

In this video I interview Brad Bernhart as part of the series about the business of woodworking. Brad shares some great insight on his strategy for manufacturing his products and how to sell. Check out Brad's website at http://www.earlywooddesigns.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlywood_designs/ Facebook: http://www.earlywooddesigns.com Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/source/earlywooddesigns.com/ Be sure to drop him a line saying "thanks for sharing" at his contact page.

This video is part of a series where we are exploring how different woodworkers run their business and sell their work.

Other videos in this series: 

Ep 34 How I Sell My Woodworking Projects

Ep 36 Scott Enloe Interview

Ep 37 Nick Pancheau Interview

I hope you enjoy the video, find it helpful, and informative.

Your friend in the shop-

Todd A. Clippinger

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How I Sell My Woodworking Projects

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In this video I answer one of the most common questions that I get from woodworkers: How do I sell my woodworking projects?

Since I can offer only one point of view and experience, I also interviewed 3 other woodworkers and will release what they share in the next videos that follow.

Even though we are all woodworkers, we all build different things and have different experiences in selling our items. This will provide a lot more information and inspiration to anybody looking to sell their woodworking projects. 

For those interested in reading woodworking business magazines I recommend WoodShop News and Cabinet Maker FDM.  These magazines directly address the business of woodworking and manufacturing. 

If you are interested in becoming part of a professional community of online woodworkers, I recommend WoodWeb. Warning: WoodWeb is very strict about members being professional woodworkers and wood shops, hobbyists are ejected and blocked. There are plenty of online communities dedicated to hobby woodworkers so WoodWeb has worked hard to keep itself the best destination for pro's to gather and support each other. 

Stay tuned for the next 3 videos in this series where each woodworker shares information about their business which will inspire and inform others looking to sell their woodworking projects.

Other Videos in this series:

Ep. 35 Brad Bernhart Interview

Ep. 36 Scott Enloe Interview

Ep 37 Nick Pancheau Interview

I hope you enjoy the video and find it helpful.

Your friend in the shop,

Todd A. Clippinger

Share the Love - Share the Knowledge


Showing in Fine Woodworking Exhibition at Museum of the Rockies

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Hittin' The Big Time!

If you follow me on Twitter or FaceBook, you probably already know the exciting news. I was invited to show at a fine woodworking exhibition at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana. The show is currently going on and running 3 months until Jan 27th.

There is a total of 25 woodworking artists showing and I am very honored to be counted among them. They are certainly a group of high-caliber artisans. 

(You can click on the images for a larger version to capture all the details.)

The curator requested that I build a prairie chandelier for the exhibition. At first it was "chandeliers" - plural - because I had originally built a set of two. At a certain point I was told there would only be room for one over the dining table where it would be displayed, but by then, I already had the parts milled and joinery cut for two units. In the end, I only needed to assemble one and the 2nd chandelier lays mostly in parts with the assembly only begun.

It was better that I only had to build one because they are more technically challenging to assemble than it looks. That means it was taking longer than I thought and I was way behind, even for assembling just one chandelier. 

Magic Mike Bails Me Out-

Being that I was running behind, I enlisted the help of a good friend, Mike Pasini. He is a pretty talented guy that I can trust and get along with in the shop. If anyone is "the chosen one" to spend time in my shop - it is Mike. He also helped me out with the bookcase for charity earlier this year. 

OK, I really am understating Mike's help - he really saved my bacon! For those that followed me on Twitter and FB, they were getting a first-hand account of the drama as I worked non-stop and ran into unexpected problems with my compressor and the finish. 

I ended up pulling a few 30 hour days in the shop and barely got done in time. But, as it stands now, I have a prairie chandelier hanging on display for a fine woodworking exhibition in a museum setting! 

Opening weekend was great for me. I got to hang out with a couple dozen high-end woodworkers and share in some great conversation. It really nourished me as an artist.

One thing that became clear is this, we all seem to share a very similar experience as we make our living offering fine woodworking projects. My experiences are not unique, they are common to those that choose this life. And we cannot help but to express ourselves in our work and try to make a living at it. 

Be Sure To Check It Out!

I highly recommend checking out the exhibition, it runs until 27 Jan 2013 at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, MT.

For now, one thing you can enjoy are the artists' audio recordings. We each tell a little bit about our background and the works that we have on display. You can hear them at the Museum of the Rockies web page, just click on each artist name to hear that person's recording.

This parking garage stairwell tower in Cleveland, Ohio is the one I reference in my audio recording.

What Is The Secret?

For those that wonder how do you get into something like that, all I can say it is a lot of hard work in the shop growing as an artist and craftsman, and never underestimate the importance of making connections. I have not lacked when for hours spent in the shop, being honest with myself in my work, and networking. 

What you are seeing, is the glamorous result of a lot of hard work. I certainly don't want to discourage anybody, that aspires to achieve the same, I am just letting you know what it takes. 

That's all for now. Until next time, be safe in your own shop. 

Your friend in the shop, 

Todd A. Clippinger

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