The Craft And Business Podcast

There's a difference between knowing how to build cabinets… and knowing how to build a business. Join The Workbench Society: https://the-workbench-society.circle.so/checkout/the-workbench-society In this episode, I sit down with Elliot and Greg from Chapel Cabinetry to talk about what actually moves a trades business forward. They started doing volume work. Competing on price. Staying busy. Then 2...

In this episode of The Craft & Business Podcast, Eric sits down with Aaron Moore of Moore's Refinishing to unpack what it actually takes to build a long-lasting, craft-based business—without shortcuts, hype, or outside funding. Aaron shares his journey from sweeping floors in a piano refinishing shop to buying his first business at 23, sleeping on a shop floor in his twenties, navigating unpaid ta...

In this in-person episode of The Craft & Business Podcast, host Eric Sirois sits down with Hammer & Bell to talk about building a high end woodworking business specializing in custom staircases and architectural millwork. Hammer & Bell share how they found a profitable niche in the high-end stair market, why they say "no" to certain jobs (even a $100,000 door package), and what it really takes to...

What happens when your entire market disappears, almost overnight? In this episode, Eric sits down with Jesse Meyer of Pergamena, a Hudson Valley tannery with family records of working animal skins going back to 1550. Jesse is one of the only commercial parchment makers in the United States, and his story is a masterclass in what it really takes to keep a legacy craft business alive. You'll hear h...

A conversation with Justin Mabie, the filmmaker behind Call Me Maybe, a documentary style series that tells the stories of makers, craftspeople, and builders. Justin shares how a single woodworking event sparked the idea to document the "why" behind handmade work, and how his path through the music industry, tool brands, and now his full-time role at TotalBoat shaped his approach to storytelling....

In this solo episode of the Craft and Business Podcast, Eric Sirois shares his personal journey from childhood tinkering with Legos to becoming a professional carpenter and woodworker. He discusses his early work experiences, the transition from being an employee to a business owner, and the challenges he faced while building his business, Rent-A-Man. Eric also explores his passion for video produ...

In this episode, we explore the business side of craftsmanship with David Green, a seasoned wood carver who has successfully navigated the challenges of building a craft-based business. David shares his journey from various trades to establishing his own wood carving enterprise, highlighting key lessons in pricing strategies, client negotiations, and the power of social media for business growth....

From Surviving to Thriving with Walt Primrose of Primrose Woodworks. In this episode of The Craft & Business Podcast, Walt Primrose shares how a broken elbow ended up being the turning point that took his Rhode Island woodworking business from survival mode to a thriving shop with three employees and a waiting list. Walt bootstrapped his way from carpentry to fine cabinetry, learned to find work t...

Running a custom car shop isn't what it looks like on TV. Chris Coffey of Coffey Fabrication has spent over 15 years building high-end custom cars and race-ready machines and just as long learning what it really takes to keep a business running behind the scenes. In this episode of The Craft & Business Podcast, we dig into the hard truths of turning passion into profit in the world of fabrication...

Everyone says "quit your job and chase your dream." But here's the truth: going full time isn't always the smart move. In this episode of The Craft & Business Podcast, I sit down with woodworker and artist Rick Basilio to explore why keeping a steady paycheck can actually give you more freedom — freedom to say no to bad clients, freedom to build slowly, and freedom to keep your passion alive. Rick...

What if your next business wasn't built on a plan—but on a pile of discarded trees nobody wanted? In this episode, I sit down with Nick from The Urban Craftsman, who turned his late-night garage projects into a full-scale operation, milling city-felled trees, building custom furniture, and running one of the most quietly respected shops in Milwaukee. Nick didn't scale fast. He didn't chase trends....

The next wave of trades businesses won't be built from scratch—they'll be bought, reworked, and revived. To access the after show for this episode, follow me on Instagram and send a message with the word CANVAS When Breena and her husband came across a small-town canvas shop that had been sitting on the market for five years, most people saw a dead end. They saw an opportunity. What followed was a...

In this episode of the Craft & Business Podcast, I sit down with Blake from Blake's Woodworking to talk about how he turned part-time projects into a full-time woodworking business. From custom cutting boards to a growing furniture line, Blake shares what it really takes to grow a workshop into a business that supports your life. Want to hear the after show? Follow me on Instagram @thecraftandbusi...

Building Boats and a Business: The Self-Employed Life of a Craftsman In this episode, I sit down with wooden boatbuilder and craftsman Mark Reuten to explore how he built a business around his craft, without giving up his values or love for simplicity. From art school to self-employment, Mark shares how he turned passion into profit through woodworking, teaching, and content creation. 🎧 Want acce...