The Handcrafted Podcast: The Business of making things

Free Trial In this episode, Paul challenges one of the most common pieces of business advice: "Find your niche." While niching down is important eventually, he argues that many makers do it far too early—before they've collected enough real-world data about what customers actually want. Drawing from his own experience building Philadelphia Table Company, Paul explains how saying &qu...

Summer Special ! Start your free trial.  Summary: This episode argues that makers should stop relying only on social media or handing out business cards, and instead start collecting emails so they can “own” their audience. The main idea is to use email marketing in a luxury, story-driven way—less “buy now,” more behind-the-build narratives, project highlights, inspiration, and client/project stor...

Start your free trial! In this episode, Paul shares a recent change to Philadelphia Table Company's sales process that has dramatically improved closing rates: replacing an immediate 60% deposit with a $500 design deposit . What started as advice from another furniture maker has quickly become one of the most impactful changes to the customer journey, reducing friction, accelerating decisions...

Start your Free Trial.  Summary: Paul shares a candid update on Philadelphia Table Company's recent cash flow challenges and the practical steps he took to stabilize the business. From accelerating collections and leaning on vendor relationships to aggressively pursuing sales opportunities, he breaks down the mindset and tactics that helped pull the company out of a difficult period. The core...

Join the Network Summary In this candid episode, Paul pulls back the curtain on a real-time cash flow crisis at Philadelphia Table Company. Rather than presenting a polished success story, he shares the anxiety, decision-making, and lessons that come with running and growing a custom furniture business during a slow sales period. Paul discusses how a significant drop in May sales, combined with de...

Alex Hormozi Podcast. Join The Network.  Summary: In this episode, Paul breaks down a business framework popularized by Alex Hormozi and translates it specifically for makers, woodworkers, and custom furniture businesses. He explores the five characteristics that make businesses stronger, more scalable, and more profitable—and challenges listeners to evaluate their own businesses through that lens...

Join Us Summary: In this episode, Paul reflects on attending the ICFF design show in New York and uses the experience as a jumping-off point to explore one of the hardest questions for makers: What is your personal style, and why does it matter? He discusses the tension between inspiration and imitation, custom work versus collections, and how developing a recognizable creative identity can become...

Join the Network:  Article Here:   Paul breaks down findings from an interior designer industry survey and translates them into practical takeaways for furniture makers, woodworkers, and custom vendors. The episode focuses on where clients are willing to spend, what luxury buyers prioritize, and how makers can better position their businesses to work with interior designers and repeat clients.  Th...

Year of growth course.  Summary: In this episode, Paul dives into a powerful mindset shift that came from intentionally slowing down and creating space to think. While reflecting during quiet moments with his newborn son, he began exploring a question most business owners never ask deeply enough: not just “Why do customers choose us?” but “Why don’t they?” Using Philadelphia Table Company as a rea...

Join the Community Summary: Paul breaks down how he’s actually using AI tools inside his business—not hypothetically, but in real, practical ways that save time, improve communication, and support growth. The core takeaway: there’s no single “all-in-one” AI. Each tool has strengths, and understanding how to use them strategically is what creates leverage. He also reinforces a broader mindset shift...

Join the Network Summary: In this Office Hours episode, Paul answers real questions from listeners navigating the transition from maker to business owner. The conversation covers skepticism about the Handcrafted Network, the mental hurdles of raising prices, the struggle to step out of production, and how to attract higher-quality clients. Throughout the episode, Paul emphasizes that the hardest p...

Join the Community Seth's Blog on Pricing. Summary: In this episode, Paul reflects on a powerful blog post by Seth Godin about pricing—and why most makers get it wrong. Instead of treating pricing as a simple equation based on cost, Paul unpacks the idea that pricing is deeply tied to perception, storytelling, and the value customers believe they’re receiving. Drawing from his own experiences...

Join the Community Summary: Paul reflects on a missed opportunity that reshaped how he thinks about pricing, client perception, and value in the custom furniture world. After quoting a large table and referring the client elsewhere, he discovers the project sold for double his price—forcing him to confront how his own assumptions limited the outcome. The episode explores the idea that pricing is l...

Join the Network Summary: In this episode, Paul shifts away from theory and focuses on immediate, practical actions makers can take to generate momentum in their business. Instead of overthinking strategy, he emphasizes simple, proven moves that directly impact revenue, positioning, and opportunity—many of which are already sitting right in front of you. The core message: you don’t need a full ove...

Become a Member! Summary: In this episode, Paul reflects on a key insight from Adam Grant’s book Hidden Potential : real learning doesn’t come from comfort—it comes from struggle. He connects this idea directly to building a business, emphasizing that failure, discomfort, and setbacks aren’t signs you’re doing something wrong—they’re the exact process required for growth. Drawing from personal exp...

Join the Community Summary: In this episode, Paul reflects on a family trip that did not go as planned, using it as a reminder to keep things real rather than polished for appearances. From there, he shifts into a deeper conversation on luxury strategy and how makers can position their businesses to attract better clients, command higher prices, and create stronger brands.  Paul breaks down the id...

Join the Community Summary: In this short, journal-style episode, Paul reflects on something many makers and business owners struggle with: giving themselves permission to step away. As he prepares to leave for a family vacation, he shares why rest is not the opposite of hard work, but an important part of sustaining it. Paul pushes back on hustle culture and the idea that nonstop work should be c...

JOIN THE COMMUNITY Summary: In this Office Hours episode of The Handcrafted Podcast , Paul answers four listener questions from makers navigating the realities of running a craft business. The conversation covers practical topics ranging from using Instagram strategically to deciding whether “cool” projects are worth doing, maintaining quality as you hire, and improving efficiency in a custom shop...

Join the network.  Summary: In this reflective, journal-style episode, Paul opens up about a tough February—slow deals, internal challenges, and the emotional weight that comes with being the one ultimately responsible for everything. After a candid conversation with his wife about whether the stress is worth it, he sits down and writes out five reasons why he continues to choose the path of entre...

Join the Network In this episode, Paul challenges makers who feel stuck at $100K–$150K in revenue to confront the real barrier to growth: identity. Most craftsmen start their businesses because they love making things—not because they love running a business. But if you want to make a true living doing this work, a mindset shift is required. Drawing from his own experience building Philadelphia Ta...

Join the Network!  Summary: In this episode, Paul pulls back the curtain on why he created the Handcrafted Network and the Handcrafted Podcast in the first place. While there’s endless content about how to build furniture, there’s very little practical guidance on how to run a maker business. Paul shares how his own journey—learning through mentors, books, podcasts, and real-world experience—led h...

Invest in your growth!  Summary In this episode, Paul shares a candid story from a recent mentor meeting that reframed how he thinks about clients, pricing, and positioning. After navigating a stressful corporate project that spiraled into missed expectations and rushed timelines, a simple insight emerged: when clients see you as a commodity, they treat you like one. Through real-world examples fr...

We Want You In the Community!  Summary: As February kicks off, Paul reflects on balancing life as a new dad and a business owner before diving into four of the most common (and costly) mistakes he sees maker business owners make—including mistakes he’s made himself. This episode is a practical, honest look at why so many talented makers struggle to grow sustainably, even when their craftsmanship i...

Become a member!  Summary: In this Office Hours episode, Paul answers a wide range of listener questions pulled directly from the Handcrafted Network community. The conversation centers on realistic income expectations, especially the path to paying yourself $150K as a maker, and how different business models—custom furniture versus cabinetry or millwork—affect cash flow, scalability, and long-ter...

Join the Community Summary: In this episode, Paul breaks down why so many makers struggle to close deals—not because of their craftsmanship, but because of a weak or nonexistent sales process. Drawing directly from how he runs sales at Philadelphia Table Company, Paul walks through what actually works when it comes to qualifying leads, building trust, and closing high-ticket custom projects. Rathe...