Today’s guest is Patrick Spike of Spike’s Wood Co. a woodworking shop based out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Patrick began his Woodpreneur journey six years ago. As the years went by, he improved his skills to the point where he was commissioned by the local high school for a massive project. It was this project that truly launched his business into overdrive.
The Locker Project Formerly a high school teacher and football coach, he was given the opportunity to convert the school’s archaic metal lockers to wood. When the work was completed, the incredible improvements that it made on the school’s aesthetic, (in conjunction with the quality of the work) was so outstanding that more projects started lining up. Full-time 4 years in April, Patrick now specializes in high-end conference tables and designs.
Facing Challenges “When you have a paycheck coming in regularly from your main income source, the beauty and the romance of making something in the shop is always there. This quickly changes when your bank account fully relies on the work that comes in and out of the shop. It’s important to continue to find ways to fuel that initial passion and find the romance again in what you do.”
Reducing his overhead and debt has been a struggle
Sometimes struggling to say “no”, Patrick puts in many hours of overtime that adds to the struggle of balancing his sanity and family life
Future Goals Acquiring a larger piece of property where he can build his shop and minimize his overhead
Starting a trade school for inner-city men that focuses on all aspects of trade work
Get in touch with Spike’s Wood Co! Instagram: @spikeswoodco
Email: Patrick@spikeswoodco.com
Thanks for listening to this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast!
What exactly is a Woodpreneur? So, why the term “woodpreneur”? When Steve first started Acres of Timber three years ago, the wood community and industry wasn’t what it is now.
Slab dealers, wood designers, and more specifically at the time - sawmill users, didn’t have a community or a brand and were going largely unnoticed by potential customers who would look instead to the Home Depot and Lowe’s of this world for their products. Steve sought to change that by creating the Sawmill Business Instagram account and the #sawmillbusiness hashtag as a way to share the products and creations that these innovative makers were producing. It didn’t take long for the account to grow to over 136,000 followers and with a hashtag that has been used over 35,000 times, the Sawmill Business community grew and grew quickly!
As the Sawmill Business following grew, Steve began to notice that this community didn’t just include sawmill owners. Furniture designers, woodworkers, arborists, tree climbers, chainsaw users, slab sellers, and even treehouse makers became an integral part of the Sawmill Business family as well. It was at this point that Steve knew the business needed a new name that would truly encompass all that the wood community represents. Hence, @acresoftimber and the term “Woodprener” was born.
With the maker movement now in full swing, there are more podcasts, content creators, (like Anne of All Trades) YouTubers, and makers, (such as Matt Cremona) that are putting a spotlight on sawmill users, furniture makers, and other wood related niches. Not only has the wood community turned into a “maker movement” it’s also filled with people who now view the work that they do as a profitable business and not just a hobby. A perception that was lacking without a community behind it.
A “Woodpreneur” Is A... Sawmill User
Wood Business Owner
Furniture Designer
Hardwood Flooring Professional
Woodworker
Slab Dealer
Kiln User
Welder
Content Creator
Maker
And an overall innovative, brave, and creative entrepreneur in the wood industry!
“Woodpreneurs care about building their business as much as they care about the quality of the products they make, create, and sell. They don’t just want a job, they want a company. They invest in this company with blood, sweat, and tears and love every minute of it.”
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