How to Build a Successful, Sustainable Fitted Furniture Business

Рет қаралды 4,971

5 ай бұрын

After over a decade growing a woodworking business from scratch - learning, failing, re-adjusting, growing - this is my advice to you:
👉 2:18 - Strong values are the best foundation for a successful business. 👈
I will share examples of what I mean by values, with advice on how to ‘embed’ them in the business and communiate them to staff; including success stories and old footage as examples.
Also:
7:27 - A powerful template for training and retaining staff, with examples.
This video was made possible by my valued members at www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird
As announced near the start of this video from 1:42, this year I will be launching polls on the membership site offering choices of video topics. Then I will edit up the video most voted-for by members, to be premiered on the member site with no ads before landing on the public KZfaq channel. The polls will typically include 2 or 3 choices of complete projects or technical subjects which I have already taken footage of but haven’t yet found the time to edit up.
As always, members will receive additional content and resources on how to design, make and install fitted furniture, including the searchable back catalogue of hundreds of existing posts which are a valuable resource to DIYers and professionals alike. Members have told me that the ongoing access to this reference library is one of their reasons for commitment to the platform.
If you are growing a business in this field and want to go deeper, remember that you can still gain access to the ‘Pro Tier’ content at a higher price, with all posts unlocked for the price of your monthly membership, which can be cancelled at any time with no tie in:
www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird...
Finally,
💻 are you eager to learn more about professional CNC manufacture for cabinetry? 💻
If you are, I want to hear from you! As part of a long term plan to create high quality training in this field. Just drop me a message to register your interest - I want to understand your needs - there are no silly questions!
You could start by trialling the software we recommend for going from SketchUp to CNC with powerful parametric cabinet templates: cabinetsense-prod.appspot.com...
…and watching this explanatory video: • SketchUp to CNC with t...
You can find me on Instagram @freebird_trade
/ freebird_trade

Пікірлер: 43

@haydenharris5506 5 ай бұрын

So nice to see Freebird back on KZfaq, that workshop is looking impressive, although your costs would make me feint! Any content you post is highly valued and we are excited to know you might start posting again. Thank you, Hayden

@Alastair_Freebird 5 ай бұрын

Thank you!

@brianoneill350 2 ай бұрын

Happy Easter, nice to hear from you again. Love the teaching squares. What a great idea.

@lukemorgan4250 3 ай бұрын

You know what, after only watching a handful of your videos I honestly think you're the most logical and inspiring person on KZfaq. Big changes for me this year, getting made redundant and looking to set up on my own, just seen that you've got a setup at the NEC this week think I'm going to have to come along for a look.

@Alastair_Freebird 3 ай бұрын

What a lovely comment thank you!! If you can make it to the NEC Sunday or Monday I will be there, you may find me near the Finsa stand

@JamieWardfurniture 3 ай бұрын

Nice to see you back on KZfaq Alastair. Great thought provoking content as usual.

@Alastair_Freebird 3 ай бұрын

Thanks Jamie!

@BADWAYTHOMAS 5 ай бұрын

Happy new year! I am big fun of you and your videos ! They are always so useful for everyone who runs a fitted furniture business. There so many times i went back to your videos to find something that i may missed at the first watch!

@Alastair_Freebird 5 ай бұрын

That’s really interesting feedback to read thank you!

@thehobbyhacker9521 5 ай бұрын

Thanks bud. Feels like far too long since one of your vids has crossed my stream. Enjoyed this on.

@Alastair_Freebird 5 ай бұрын

I’m glad to hear it, thank you

@kiwdwks 5 ай бұрын

Amazing to see the strides your business/shop has made. All the hard work from you and your staff has made the difference. Congrats...

@Alastair_Freebird 5 ай бұрын

Thank you I appreciate the comment

@harkinjames 5 ай бұрын

Another great video Alastair, very informative, thanks 👍

@Alastair_Freebird 4 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and commenting James I appreciate it

@leftwichprojects 5 ай бұрын

Great video. An important realisation to know and understand exactly what your values are. The basis of any business. Thanks for sharing Alistair 💪🏼👍🏼

@Alastair_Freebird 5 ай бұрын

Thanks 👍

@andrewprather 5 ай бұрын

Great video! Cheers!

@Alastair_Freebird 5 ай бұрын

You’re welcome thanks for commenting!

@samrix5793 5 ай бұрын

Awesome!!

@Alastair_Freebird 5 ай бұрын

Hello Sam! I was thinking about you when I uploaded this, wondering if you would still be the first to comment, you didn't let me down 😄 How has 2024 started for you?

@samrix5793 5 ай бұрын

@@Alastair_Freebird hi! Great to see you post again, so far so good! Looking forward to making some more stuff this year and it's nice to see the growth and journey from your home garage to your current workshop. Take care and wish you all the best for 2024

@chriscole1859 4 ай бұрын

Really interesting, especially the part about stage 4, where everything appears easy to those who are trained. A workshop tour video would be welcome and even the relatively mundane of how you deal with dust extraction on an industrial level. Often such videos give ideas of how to improve all setups, whatever the size.

@Alastair_Freebird 4 ай бұрын

Hi have you seen this video showing the full setup of this workshop: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/lbuAqLKA09SUmIk.htmlsi=ep4H0F5bfxnxNTvQ

@Alastair_Freebird 4 ай бұрын

And I recently did a dust extraction overview video on the member site, with a part 2 coming up in due course (showing the mistakes we made, how we fixed them, and more detailed advice on duct sizing calculations): www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird

@Alastair_Freebird 4 ай бұрын

Also on the member site you can still access the detailed workshops setup vlog series tracking every step of our setup, plus getting on for a couple of hundred posts on all aspects of fitted furniture design and prodction - members tend to stay on board to use this as a reference manual. When you sign up you get our full blueprints for designing and building alcove cabinets.

@chriscole1859 4 ай бұрын

@@Alastair_Freebird Great. Thanks for taking the time to reply and the link.

@nialstewart8263 5 ай бұрын

Very interesting as usual Alistair. Would there be any chance of a video showing how you make the drawer boxes? Material (veneered mdf?), cutting, edging sourcing (from the mdf supplier?) and application, joinery etc?

@Alastair_Freebird 5 ай бұрын

Hi, do you have a CNC machine? The Cabineo fixings used here would only be relevant for CNC manufacture. I have covered the method in content on the membership site, and also our older method for hand assembled birch plywood drawer boxes: www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird/posts/93700

@Alastair_Freebird 5 ай бұрын

You can also see a lot of detail on these cnc manufactured drawers in this Instagram story (for free): instagram.com/s/aGlnaGxpZ2h0OjE3OTc3Mzk1Nzk2OTM1MTM3?story_media_id=3009689013769492624&igsh=OHhqdXpkY3Vla2tm

@nialstewart8263 5 ай бұрын

Thanks for that feedback, I don't have a CNC machine but will check out the links. 👍

@adriandotsmall 5 ай бұрын

👍

@markhorton9020 5 ай бұрын

I hope you jump back into making videos more often, you using Mozaik now for your cnc? You're introductory system seems to be good for a school or for someone with zero experience even operating a screw gun. If a person has zero experience with even a drill at the age they can work full time I wouldnt waste time entertaining training them for the reason this would tell me they dont have a natural inclination. I also disagree with the notion of not focusing on processes, the process doesnt have to be complete in the beginning keep it simple example "the answer is where the question is" like the correct size pilot drill bit being in the box of screws or "dont touch it unless you will improve it", "dont let it go until you have finished processes". Its about constant improvement in small increments not perfection from the start, thats the most important mindset to be onboard with. I think your videos are great!

@Alastair_Freebird 5 ай бұрын

Hi Mark, no we are using CabinetSense, do you use Mozaik? I like what you are saying, it sounds like you have given a lot of thought to lean efficiency. What is your background? I agree not worth training someone with absolutely zero inclination, and perhaps the examples I gave were overly basic but I think the principle of the learning stages in ‘the square’ is sound - it can be applied to any new area of learning. I first heard it from Mike Breen but he has attributed it to Ken Blanchard, and I think it has appeared in various similar forms in different places. I do strongly agree that systems and processes are important in business! But early on when employing people I spent a lot of time creating documented processes (having read the ‘E-Myth’ book) and far too often these became like dead documents in a folder. Because maybe my apprentice was more of a visual or action based learner than a reader. So I found it much more productive to model an attitude of ongoing improvement and efficiency in the areas I am responsible for, and to encourage those values in my staff, and to empower them to systemise what they do in their own way (with my input as necessary). This leads to real ownership and pride in how things are done, and empowers my staff to teach new team members their systems rather than it all being imposed from above. Also if I model an attitude of admitting and learning from my mistakes, and avoiding guilt tripping staff if they make mistakes, then this helps ensure our systems and procedures are seen as positive tools in our ongoing improvement, rather than benchmarks to judge or condemn people against. So I believe the ‘culture’ (values) of a business needs to be right before any systems and procedures can be really effective.

@markhorton9020 5 ай бұрын

@@Alastair_Freebird Yes I use Mozaik, and am still learning it, I could not imagine using sketchup to draw cabinetry because there are too many steps. My background is carpentry and cabinet making, I am a student of LEAN or better said, The Toyota Way (book), after spending decades being inefficient, picking up items multiple times until I added any value had to come to a end so now I am restructuring implementing time saving everything within the small budget. I hear what you are saying with becoming a operation manual with processes, keeep it simple! there is a great book 'The Checklist Manifesto', much is learned from a emergency flight manual, it has to be honed to the most direct to the point instruction possible with zero waste. E.g. if an emergency were to happen in flight, page one line one 'Fly the plane', in a panic this is good instruction. I agree with your ownership statements, its better all around and Toyota mindset is if the person makes a mistake the process isnt defined well enough. A good supervisor defines the task, gives ownership and asks the employee what is needed to accomplish this, this then becomes the supervisors job, get them what they need, recognizing mistakes and correcting as needed, defining the process as you go. Employees definitely have to be on board with this mindset. I joined a couple of FB cabinet making groups and have learned much more efficient ways in the past couple years including Mozaik, one piece hdf doors, and Frost CNC makes downloads for Mozaik, beaded inset, cabineo drawers, a face frame scribe system that saves lots of time on site. We are on the same journey.

@Alastair_Freebird 5 ай бұрын

Isn’t Mozaik based in sketchup too?

@markhorton9020 5 ай бұрын

@@Alastair_Freebird Its stand alone but can be used with sketchup, when I said I wouldnt attempt drawing cabinetry in sketchup I meant in it alone from scratch, I will have to look into cabinet sense, mosaik was bought out by 20/20 and raised the monthly fee from 125 to 200 next yr.

@Alastair_Freebird 4 ай бұрын

@@markhorton9020 Yeah it looks like Mozaik has become more professional looking lately, it started off looking a bit home made (as did CabineSense). I get the impression Mozaik is better for standardised kitchens, dragging and dropping cabinets into a plan layout. I like CabinetSense for how intuitively you can reposition shelves and edit components whilst in the 3D sketchup view. It is very powerful, however quite complex to fully get to grips with.

@abdullahk8691 7 күн бұрын

Haven't uou thought of franchising to teaching courses?

@Alastair_Freebird 6 күн бұрын

Yes I would like to transition to doing this. I would prefer to have a self reliant manufacturing business alongside that. So for now I have to focus on that.

@abdullahk8691 6 күн бұрын

@@Alastair_Freebird do you offer services to fitters? Where they give you the measurements and design and you prepare for them at wholesale price?

@Alastair_Freebird 6 күн бұрын

@@abdullahk8691 Yes please try our brand new shaker door ordering service: uk.customspace.shop/#/page/freebird-interiors