Hi Alistair Thanks for your encouraging journey, i can see you have a passion in this area of Carpentry Ive just over the last 2 years been getting clients on and off for mdf work Alcoves, book cases etc, i been making them up in my front room, prepriming in my passage area, and would love to grow and get to where you are as a business thanks for all the tips. Keith.
More people in the industry means more competition but it also means that the industry grows as a whole. Customers are scared to enquire about bespoke or detailed furniture because of the idea of it being really expensive. When there is more players in the industry it means more innovations in tools such as the festool domino which allows you to produce faster and better priced work which in turn will attract more customers.
I'm very much wandering in the foothills with my fledgling fitted furniture business but want to thank you for all the free help that you've made available to me and others starting out. My hat is off to you and if I ever get the opportunity I'll buy you a pint. Thank you Alastair
Thanks for messaging Steve! A pint would be nice... or if you get to the end of the public content on CZcams and want to go deeper you could explore the content on www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird - that's where I'm still active producing regular content - it started off as a place for people to 'buy me a coffee' in return for free content, and grew into a membership site. You can also find us on Instagram @freebirdinteriors (main business) @freebird_trade (shaker doors and other trade components, and some build videos on the stories) and @alastair_freebird (just me)
Great video Alastair, really appreciate the bare-naked look at your shop and process (most are not willing to show such an honest look)....very impressive how organized you can be and efficient the work you've put into the organization of the business end of the business, especially in a tight space.....very humbling as well. Gives me more impetus to move things along with my business in a more streamlined way. I've been running a more or less one man shop for over 15 years now and more or less full time for at least 13 of that, and it's amazing how much there is to learn not only about the craft but running it as well. I'd be more than happy to share and learn ideas and stories and wish you and your business the best....reach out any time!
Thanks, it’s all changed since this video we are in a big new workshop but you are right about the sticky note planning board - we abandoned it to try and find a computer system that everyone could refer to due to remote working during covid but you can’t beat the sticky notes and white board!!
@@Alastair_Freebird I worked with large project teams for years and we always had a similar system to this in place. Normally on the wall where everyone is working so it is easy for everyone to see how things are going. I always found that seemed to get everyone more invested in the project end to end and crucially more focused on delivery.
Thanks Alastair, that was a great tour of your facility. I found out about your youtube channel after seeing it mentioned in a post on Facebook. I am enjoying watching your videos about production and Sketchup. I really like your honest warts and all approach to showing the rest of us what you do. Thank you
Mark Dalton interesting points ,if anyone else trying to find out money making woodworking projects try Bablim Woodwork Cash Booster (should be on google have a look ) ? Ive heard some awesome things about it and my neighbor got cool success with it.
Hi really happy to see a Sheffield lad improved his business from home to this peak stage I am from Darnell I just some diy small things in my home thanks Mr Moody
You prompted me to have a quick watch of this old video again and, wow, I really used to wave that camera around! Anyway, thanks for the comment local lad!
Really interesting, honest and straight forward approach which i really like, the set looks very impressive, your videos are very informative, wish you well for the future
Michael Ford interesting perspective, as others watch this and wish they had as much space as this!! What sort of space do you have and what sort of work are you doing? Thanks.
Freebird Interiors I have a shop that is in the basement of my home. Approximately 1200 square feet (112 square meters). I build furniture, some built ins, like your alcove pieces, and build windows and doors, and historic preservation. I have a lot of large machines, I just need more space. Thank you for your reply and I really enjoy your videos, I’ve learned much from them.
Very interesting and some very solid business and project management processes being employed, that and some great work, wish you and the team success 👍
Thank you for the video, I feel good that I'm on the same track as you, learning as I go, luckily I got the work and more coming, getting better at it, but I do it all alone sometimes my dad helps me
Really enjoyed this video, nice to see how you run your office, i have run a decorating / spraying business for 40 years, love making things out of wood for my home,
Hi, how big is your business, do you have many staff? It’s a difficult transition taking more people on. Here’s where we are now: czcams.com/video/_UPuOOnn0hU/video.html
@@Alastair_Freebird Hi Alastair, I feel i have been on a journey, my dad started the business in 1961, i started with him 1982, just the 2 of us for many years, than i started looking for more and more work good old yellow pages back then, made a lot of contacts and built up to 26 sub contractors working most of the time with me, but around 2007 reduced the amount of work i was taking on due to quality issues, newer people was not turning up,, i right headache, 2 years ago i went back to just me and most of the time my dad now 86, had covid in march but still helps me most days, now most of my work is spraying kitchens, bedroom furniture and just high quality decorating, we have some good clients, still do smaller commercial work, in the end it was like a treadmill, just had to keep getting more and more work to cover the expenses but i never seemed any better off,, now i hardly ever have a snag doing the work myself...
@@adriandeb2710 this story is so similar to so many I have heard - growth - stress - shrink back to a happier smaller size. Very impressive to run so many subcontractors... I would hate to have that many people to be responsible for! I can understand scaling it back. Is your dad fully recovered then? Risky age to catch it
@@Alastair_Freebird hi, dad 80% ok, it has affected his memory a bit though, he was fine before, he fell in the garden on March the 26 he did not want the ambulance so we got him in doors, we live next door to each other, the next morning i knew it was more than just bruised, they took him and found his was broken, that day was the last day i could go in the hospital due to the lock down, when he came out he was fine for 3 days but then was acting strange not eating, not talking,, then he said he lost his taste and smell, he was really bad for 3 weeks i moved in and looked after him, he lost 2 stone, so he has done really well, I have just down loaded the service m8 app it looks very good..
Cracking set up, iv moved into my house last year and also have a garage which I’m converting into a shop to make furniture and kitchens ect, your a good inspiration 👍👍👍
niftap a we just use a 5mm diameter lip and spur router bit within a 10mm bushing in the router base, using slightly larger than 10mm diameter CNC cut guide holes in a birch ply template.
Hi Alistair, Recently come across your videos, I like your methods of working and the way that you share them with others. I’m a Carpenter and joiner by trade with 36 years experience under my belt. Most of that has been as self employed , sub contracting to kitchen and bedroom companies fitting their products. I would like to do more of my own fitted furniture as I know that I can produce a better quality product with better customer service, more of what they actually want rather than what standard furniture will fit in their space. At the moment I’m using Avanquest Architect 3D software to produce drawings, this produces great visuals for a cheap price. It’s great to see that you are working from home, I have a garage that I would like to use, but I’m concerned about planning, and what the neighbours would say if I started machining projects on a regular basis.
Tim The Constructor hi Tim, I’ve never heard of Avanquest but if it’s working for you that’s great. Maybe I have been lucky with my neighbours but my workshop is not too close to the houses and I don’t work late evenings or weekends and I’ve been ok here. Just as the board deliveries got bigger and more frequent its occasionally been a problem having the big lorries on the street.
Hi Alastair I’m in the process of building a workshop in the garden and buying tools when I get paid on a monthly basis. Hopefully start making a few trial pieces in a couple of months Your set up looks great , well done getting to where you are at present Regards Paul
Really interesting, I have a similar setup and it reassuring to see successful businesses run from home. Very professional setup, I'm going to start using some of your procedures (hope you don't mind!). Many thanks for the insight, Hal
great video . i would love to see a more indeth video on that colour coded wall organiser. it looks great. i thinking about doing something similar but not decided on how yet. your system looks very organised and easy to follow at a glance. what works great and what could do with a tune up to improve it.
MelbourneAlan I went into a bit more detail in this Instagram post (as much as I could pack into an Instagram 1 minute video!) instagram.com/p/Bt4CSwlAfKy/?igshid=usre9pbjs6qd
Freebird Interiors I know what you mean. I have loads of work for me but not enough to take someone on full time. I find painting is the real time eater in a small space but am just waiting for a small unit to become available. I’m on Facebook and Instagram “ creations by Ian”
Hello mate. Really interesting insight into your business. It looks like you run a tight ship👍🏻 I'm a boat builder by trade who recently moved to Edinburgh from Australia. Unfortunately the lack of boats has led me to change carrier. I'm now starting up as a one man band doing very similar work to yourself and I've found your videos very helpful. I also really like your Web page, that's somthing I need to get sorted soon. Keep up the good work 👍🏻
Kestelle thanks I appreciate the comment. I know a boat builder on a Facebook woodworkers forum called Empatika Affiliates. He specialise in canoes I believe (or is that kayaks??) and seems to be making a good go if it, would you like me to put you in touch? Interested you think I run a tight ship. I owe what I do business-wise to the book ‘The E-myth’ by Michael Gerber. And to the advice and group coaching from Craig Wilkinson at the Elite Business Academy. I recommend googling both and you can join the EBA Facebook group for free!
Thanks very much for those links, I'll definitely look into them. I've got so much to learn about running the business. The workshop stuff is the easy bit, It's the work on the office that that I need to tune up on. I am enjoying my career change though. Houses and workshops are much warmer than boats in the winter.
Hi Chester, apologies I seem to have missed this comment first time around. The building is actually a fair distance from surrounding houses and we keep the shutter and door closed when doing anything noisy, and luckily it has simply never been an issue for neighbours (so far as I’m aware!). Also we don’t work evenings or weekends. Anyway, we have now moved to a proper industrial premises (see recent video on my channel)
Great insight! Not sure if you still operate from that workshop but interested to know if the neighbour's and council had an issue with a reasonably big commercial business operating in what looks like a residential area?
Hi, it was weighing on our minds that it could become an increasing problem. Actually I had no specific complaints from neighbours but knew that I might do soon. Large delivery wagons on a narrow street weren’t really practical!
Great insight into your business 👌🏼 Thanks - I am along the same lines, on my own .... and loving it.... more mobile with workshop as back up. From my own experience - when you think your security is enough- then double it 🤔 hopefully you have this covered 👍 especially now you’ve put this out there - Best of luck with the future 🤩 Looking fwd to your updates. Rgds Gaz.
Gary Coulson thanks for commenting Gaz. Can you explain that sentence about security and doubling it I’m not sure I understood!! Are you talking about pricing?
Freebird Interiors simply double your security- ie: Thieves breaking into your place and stealing your livelihood- it’s happened round here an awful lot. It is heart breaking
Gary Coulson ah of course, literally security! I was aware of the risks putting this out there, but enterprising thieves with their eyes open in my area would already know a lot anyway. I have an alarm, good locks and CCTV pointing down the driveway, and also the last break-in I was aware of on my street ended up with the local Pakistani gang rallying their troops and beating the offender within an inch of his life. (I was woken up by the noise at 3am to see this happening across the street.). I’m not exactly comfortable with this sort of rough justice however I see their logic. The police are fairly impotent, and I can’t help thinking the community is safer in some ways for word getting round in the criminal community that this kind of consequence is likely in this area. Still, it’s not the area I want to live in long term, which is one of many reasons for seeking to relocate the business, and in due course our home.
I'm thinking of starting up the same thing, really appreciated the honesty. I'm a carpenter and joiner, any tips how to get started? Thanks for the video.
Good morning Alistair, an impressive setup, also your approach to business. I have a small shop at the bottom of my garden. How do you get on with neighbours and noise etc?
jerry moffat hi, I must have missed this comment when you posted it! The distance from houses is enough that I’ve never had complaints about noise. I think I’ve Ben fortunate with the neighbours either side being relaxed (and also neither really uses the lower end of their gardens). It became apparent that the neighbours backing onto the end of the garden had a pre-existing grumble about the large garage that was built by previous owner (with planning permission) - understandable really because it looms pretty large, with their gardens stepping down to a lower ground level. So I think one of them reported me to building control when I put up the side shelter, but the building control officer who came out was amazingly laid back and seemed to be on my side. We had kept within the rules for the part visible from that neighbour’s house, in terms of proximity to boundary and height of roof. Down the side however I was aware we were closer than we should be to the boundary, for a structure built of combustible material. Knowing it’s a temporary structure, easily changed, I haven’t fretted about it so long as the neighbours there aren’t bothered. And the building control office never sent me a letter or anything instructing me to make a change. Despite me suggesting to him maybe he should!
Hi Alistair thanks for showing us round your workshop very inspiring. Mine is much smaller but I'm on my own working from home. How do you deal with noise levels being so close to residential?
Dave B apologies for delayed reply. Perhaps I’ve been fortunate with neighbours but noise hasn’t been a problem (as far as I’m aware!), and the workshop is fairly well removed from any of the surrounding houses. Board deliveries in large trucks have occasionally been an inconvenience for neighbours. For this and other reasons we are now moving to a larger industrial unit.
Old School Carpentry it’s mostly been ok. More detail in some of my other replies below. It’s all change now though, we have nearly completed the set up of our new much larger premises! And the shelter on the side of this home workshop has now been torn down! We are selling up and moving house early next year.
Thanks Alistair very interesting, I am running a small independent business myself at the moment part time however since I live in a council property they have informed me that I cannot run this from home so I am now mobile and only do hobby work in my shed, do you understand how the regulations work in your own property? I'm taking it you own yours. Also with it being in an urban housing area? Is there any regulation covering this practice. My concern is it only takes one person to complain. Ps I will be buying my home next year so I'm really keen on getting to grips with the process. Cheers Karl
Hi Karl, I am on shakey ground to say the least, running a business from home, especially since I went Limited and employed staff. This concern is one of the reasons we are relocating to a proper industrial premises (due to make the move in February now). This is one of many areas where it is very difficult to get a small business off the ground - if you want to comply with every possible regulation right from the start and do everything by the book you would never get started (unless you already have a huge amount of capital and business experience behind you, which is not usually the case with startups!). The only way I have been able to resolve it all with my conscience is to make sure I am moving in the right direction and making realistic plans to relocate as soon as it was affordable, and do everything 'right' as soon as I can. The reality is that plenty of small businesses of this sort have a base at home, which may not always be done strictly 'by the book' regarding insurances; planning zoning regarding domestic vs industrial use, and other matters. When you try to make something like this work you have to do your best to do it right but there are grey areas, and limits on what is achievable in the early stages. I have been fortunate with understanding neighbours. I did once have a visit from a building control officer regarding the lean-to extension we built on the workshop, and he was amazingly supportive and understanding - I was actually volunteering changes I could make to the shape of the structure to avoid any potential issues with neighbours but he was very relaxed and didn't follow up with any demands. I have always tried to be on good terms with neighbours and deal with any issues, but there haven't been many issues, and we don't work late for example.
Hi Alastair, great insight into your method. I am at the start of going self employed, currently 50/50. we follow each other on instagram. I have a 5.5m x 3m workshop in my garden and a single garage for storage, I work alone but have access to help occasionally. What size unit are you think of moving into? Looks like you have maximised all the space you have at the moment. Interested in sketch up but find it takes a lot of time to master.
Leigh Millar Hi Leigh are you LM joinery on Instagram then? Thanks for checking out my CZcams channel. I am looking at places between 1500 and 2000 sq ft. Need office space too. It depends on the layout of the space. And location etc. I’m looking for a place that feels right, not found it yet.
Sketchup is surprisingly deep, it can do so much, yes it does take time. There are some good CZcams channels about it out there. I see a gap in the market for sketchup training aimed at Uk based woodworkers and I have plans to produce a training series. Can’t honestly say right now when I will find the time, as getting the business running in a new premises is priority and will be a big step to take so needs my focus!
Ed Stone hi Ed, thanks for commenting. The name came to mind after a few years of trading under a different name. I had started making those bird ornaments from offcuts, and I had ideas about the business creating freedom on lots of levels - skills for apprentices; financial freedom for my family (maybe one day! 😂); also the freedom created for customers by living in a well organised space. Freebird just fitted.
More of your gift type items so turned bowls small furniture like plant stands and stools but I’m trying to branch out a bit got a few projects planned in my own home to work the “kinks” out
ben whitfield well the last job we fitted the parts were wrapped in bubble wrap and packed in the van the same afternoon they had the final coat of paint then installed the next day instagram.com/p/B8uAc0xgnOl/?
Interesting timing you asking about noise since I've just uploaded a new video about the high levels of noise in our new workshop: czcams.com/video/K5s9nWFZvPA/video.html
But to answer your question, we only worked during reasonable hours; the garage was quite solidly built and the gardens quite long all around so we literally never had a complaint about noise.
Well now... my wife (/co-director) viewed another promising one just Friday. But I have started meeting with a business advisor and we really looked at the figures and we are just around break even with our present cost base and actually often making a loss on jobs. So although I’m under pressure to get the business out of the house (and dying to do so myself) I stil can’t do it until we improve the business model. Partly it’s about focusing more on the right kind of customer profile. Also maybe reducing some other overheads somehow before taking on new ones. And then there’s the Boardgaming table which could be the solution to creating a more profitable workshop-based business model but it’s not ready to go into production yet. Anyway... I just still don’t feel I can commit to the costs of a rental unit but I’m still working towards it. If I hadn’t taken on staff (the main overhead) and invested instead in equipment it’s quite likely it would have been affordable sooner to get a unit. Staff are so costly in so many ways that are at first hidden. However I don’t exactly regret it because I think we have a great core team who are primed and ready for the next stage of the business, when they will all be great assets for growth. We’re just still in that difficult in-between stage with no spare cash to reinvest and a slightly dubious business model.
To reduce the running costs for the short term and have you thought about selling a very small percentage of your business to your employees out of their wages, it also makes them more invested in the business and more likely to stay with you rather than move on and they will work harder. Just an idea, same as John Lewis. I keep meaning to forward your gaming table to a couple of friends who are gamers but every time I go to do it, I can’t copy the link for some reason. If I wasn’t making my own table I would seriously consider your table.
MrBishbashbosh2012 I have thought of that in the past and looked into running it as a social enterprise. I have been generous to staff in the past and become a little resentful when I am making too little. I have come class to partnering with a couple of people and always been glad in retrospect that I didn’t tie myself to them because we would have pulled in different directions. I am still interested in a business model that rewards staff and maybe even gives them a degree of ownership but right now providing for my immediate family’s future is top priority.
Hi Alistair
Thanks for your encouraging journey, i can see you have a passion in this area of Carpentry
Ive just over the last 2 years been getting clients on and off for mdf work Alcoves, book cases etc, i been making them up in my front room, prepriming in my passage area, and would love to grow and get to where you are as a business thanks for all the tips.
Keith.
Thanks for commenting Keith and you’re welcome
Great video - I know this is an older video but thanks for showing how you have set up and produce work.
Glad it was helpful!
So generous of you to share all this info … most grateful
You're welcome
More people in the industry means more competition but it also means that the industry grows as a whole. Customers are scared to enquire about bespoke or detailed furniture because of the idea of it being really expensive.
When there is more players in the industry it means more innovations in tools such as the festool domino which allows you to produce faster and better priced work which in turn will attract more customers.
I'm very much wandering in the foothills with my fledgling fitted furniture business but want to thank you for all the free help that you've made available to me and others starting out.
My hat is off to you and if I ever get the opportunity I'll buy you a pint. Thank you Alastair
Thanks for messaging Steve! A pint would be nice... or if you get to the end of the public content on CZcams and want to go deeper you could explore the content on www.buymeacoffee.com/freebird - that's where I'm still active producing regular content - it started off as a place for people to 'buy me a coffee' in return for free content, and grew into a membership site. You can also find us on Instagram @freebirdinteriors (main business) @freebird_trade (shaker doors and other trade components, and some build videos on the stories) and @alastair_freebird (just me)
Great video Alastair, really appreciate the bare-naked look at your shop and process (most are not willing to show such an honest look)....very impressive how organized you can be and efficient the work you've put into the organization of the business end of the business, especially in a tight space.....very humbling as well. Gives me more impetus to move things along with my business in a more streamlined way. I've been running a more or less one man shop for over 15 years now and more or less full time for at least 13 of that, and it's amazing how much there is to learn not only about the craft but running it as well. I'd be more than happy to share and learn ideas and stories and wish you and your business the best....reach out any time!
KW Cabs thanks for commenting and I look forward to hearing more from you. Are you on instagram?
Absolutely love the idea of a free bird ....genius. Wish I did the same 😊
Really nice little setup you have there, your job planning system is genius, everything visible at a glance and no computer needed 👍
Thanks, it’s all changed since this video we are in a big new workshop but you are right about the sticky note planning board - we abandoned it to try and find a computer system that everyone could refer to due to remote working during covid but you can’t beat the sticky notes and white board!!
@@Alastair_Freebird I worked with large project teams for years and we always had a similar system to this in place. Normally on the wall where everyone is working so it is easy for everyone to see how things are going. I always found that seemed to get everyone more invested in the project end to end and crucially more focused on delivery.
Thanks Alastair, that was a great tour of your facility. I found out about your youtube channel after seeing it mentioned in a post on Facebook. I am enjoying watching your videos about production and Sketchup. I really like your honest warts and all approach to showing the rest of us what you do. Thank you
Mark Dalton interesting points ,if anyone else trying to find out money making woodworking projects try Bablim Woodwork Cash Booster (should be on google have a look ) ? Ive heard some awesome things about it and my neighbor got cool success with it.
Hi really happy to see a Sheffield lad improved his business from home to this peak stage I am from Darnell I just some diy small things in my home thanks
Mr Moody
You prompted me to have a quick watch of this old video again and, wow, I really used to wave that camera around! Anyway, thanks for the comment local lad!
Really interesting, honest and straight forward approach which i really like, the set looks very impressive, your videos are very informative, wish you well for the future
Ron Atherton thanks for commenting Ron!
Absolutely amazed at how small your spaces are. You do so much with so little. I need to make my spaces more efficient. Thank you for sharing!!
Michael Ford interesting perspective, as others watch this and wish they had as much space as this!! What sort of space do you have and what sort of work are you doing? Thanks.
Freebird Interiors I have a shop that is in the basement of my home. Approximately 1200 square feet (112 square meters). I build furniture, some built ins, like your alcove pieces, and build windows and doors, and historic preservation. I have a lot of large machines, I just need more space. Thank you for your reply and I really enjoy your videos, I’ve learned much from them.
@@michaelford4894 sounds great! Are you in America? Whereabouts?
Freebird Interiors yes, Albany, NY area. About 2-1/2 hours north of New York City. Not a bad area.
Very interesting and some very solid business and project management processes being employed, that and some great work, wish you and the team success 👍
Thanks Richard
Thank you for the video, I feel good that I'm on the same track as you, learning as I go, luckily I got the work and more coming, getting better at it, but I do it all alone sometimes my dad helps me
Henry V Palomeque it’s encouraging just to connect with others doing the same things isn’t it?
🇺🇸 here. Good channel. Enjoying the videos. Keep up the great work👍
Thankyou!
thanks Alistair, I'm very interested and yes often I do feel like giving up! Thanks for the tour
michael burton thanks for letting me know! And don’t give up 🤜🏼 🤛🏼
Really enjoyed this video, nice to see how you run your office, i have run a decorating / spraying business for 40 years, love making things out of wood for my home,
Hi, how big is your business, do you have many staff? It’s a difficult transition taking more people on. Here’s where we are now: czcams.com/video/_UPuOOnn0hU/video.html
@@Alastair_Freebird Hi Alastair, I feel i have been on a journey, my dad started the business in 1961, i started with him 1982, just the 2 of us for many years, than i started looking for more and more work good old yellow pages back then, made a lot of contacts and built up to 26 sub contractors working most of the time with me, but around 2007 reduced the amount of work i was taking on due to quality issues, newer people was not turning up,, i right headache, 2 years ago i went back to just me and most of the time my dad now 86, had covid in march but still helps me most days, now most of my work is spraying kitchens, bedroom furniture and just high quality decorating, we have some good clients, still do smaller commercial work, in the end it was like a treadmill, just had to keep getting more and more work to cover the expenses but i never seemed any better off,, now i hardly ever have a snag doing the work myself...
@@adriandeb2710 this story is so similar to so many I have heard - growth - stress - shrink back to a happier smaller size. Very impressive to run so many subcontractors... I would hate to have that many people to be responsible for! I can understand scaling it back. Is your dad fully recovered then? Risky age to catch it
@@Alastair_Freebird hi, dad 80% ok, it has affected his memory a bit though, he was fine before, he fell in the garden on March the 26 he did not want the ambulance so we got him in doors, we live next door to each other, the next morning i knew it was more than just bruised, they took him and found his was broken, that day was the last day i could go in the hospital due to the lock down, when he came out he was fine for 3 days but then was acting strange not eating, not talking,, then he said he lost his taste and smell, he was really bad for 3 weeks i moved in and looked after him, he lost 2 stone, so he has done really well, I have just down loaded the service m8 app it looks very good..
Cracking set up, iv moved into my house last year and also have a garage which I’m converting into a shop to make furniture and kitchens ect, your a good inspiration 👍👍👍
Ben Thompson thanks for commenting and best wishes for your setup!
Hi Alistair. Great tour and a Nice set up too. Would it be possible to do a video on the router shelf pin process and jig. Great work. 👍👍
niftap a we just use a 5mm diameter lip and spur router bit within a 10mm bushing in the router base, using slightly larger than 10mm diameter CNC cut guide holes in a birch ply template.
Hi Alistair, Recently come across your videos, I like your methods of working and the way that you share them with others.
I’m a Carpenter and joiner by trade with 36 years experience under my belt. Most of that has been as self employed , sub contracting to kitchen and bedroom companies fitting their products. I would like to do more of my own fitted furniture as I know that I can produce a better quality product with better customer service, more of what they actually want rather than what standard furniture will fit in their space. At the moment I’m using Avanquest Architect 3D software to produce drawings, this produces great visuals for a cheap price. It’s great to see that you are working from home, I have a garage that I would like to use, but I’m concerned about planning, and what the neighbours would say if I started machining projects on a regular basis.
Tim The Constructor hi Tim, I’ve never heard of Avanquest but if it’s working for you that’s great. Maybe I have been lucky with my neighbours but my workshop is not too close to the houses and I don’t work late evenings or weekends and I’ve been ok here. Just as the board deliveries got bigger and more frequent its occasionally been a problem having the big lorries on the street.
Hi Alastair
I’m in the process of building a workshop in the garden and buying tools when I get paid on a monthly basis. Hopefully start making a few trial pieces in a couple of months
Your set up looks great , well done getting to where you are at present
Regards
Paul
Hi Paul best of luck with it all! We have actually made a big move this past year, to a new industrial unit.
czcams.com/video/_UPuOOnn0hU/video.html
Really interesting, I have a similar setup and it reassuring to see successful businesses run from home. Very professional setup, I'm going to start using some of your procedures (hope you don't mind!). Many thanks for the insight, Hal
Hal Eccles I share it in the hope it helps - go ahead 😁
great video .
i would love to see a more indeth video on that colour coded wall organiser. it looks great. i thinking about doing something similar but not decided on how yet. your system looks very organised and easy to follow at a glance.
what works great and what could do with a tune up to improve it.
MelbourneAlan I went into a bit more detail in this Instagram post (as much as I could pack into an Instagram 1 minute video!) instagram.com/p/Bt4CSwlAfKy/?igshid=usre9pbjs6qd
Great video, in my second year started from scratch
spudian65 Hi! What kind of stuff do you make?
Much the same as you, alcoves, wardrobes etc but still out of my single garage which is a struggle
spudian65 I think it can be a struggle at any level. I love simply making things but growth complicates it all!
Freebird Interiors I know what you mean. I have loads of work for me but not enough to take someone on full time. I find painting is the real time eater in a small space but am just waiting for a small unit to become available. I’m on Facebook and Instagram “ creations by Ian”
spudian65 found and followed you! Really nice work 👍
Don't move and increase cost would be my comment. You will get a bigger business more cost same profit more hassle.
Brian O Neill I think you are right
Hello mate. Really interesting insight into your business. It looks like you run a tight ship👍🏻 I'm a boat builder by trade who recently moved to Edinburgh from Australia. Unfortunately the lack of boats has led me to change carrier. I'm now starting up as a one man band doing very similar work to yourself and I've found your videos very helpful. I also really like your Web page, that's somthing I need to get sorted soon. Keep up the good work 👍🏻
Kestelle thanks I appreciate the comment. I know a boat builder on a Facebook woodworkers forum called Empatika Affiliates. He specialise in canoes I believe (or is that kayaks??) and seems to be making a good go if it, would you like me to put you in touch? Interested you think I run a tight ship. I owe what I do business-wise to the book ‘The E-myth’ by Michael Gerber. And to the advice and group coaching from Craig Wilkinson at the Elite Business Academy. I recommend googling both and you can join the EBA Facebook group for free!
Thanks very much for those links, I'll definitely look into them. I've got so much to learn about running the business. The workshop stuff is the easy bit, It's the work on the office that that I need to tune up on. I am enjoying my career change though. Houses and workshops are much warmer than boats in the winter.
Thanks Alistair very encouraging, just curious though, how do you manage noise levels to ensure neighbors are not disturbed?
Hi Chester, apologies I seem to have missed this comment first time around. The building is actually a fair distance from surrounding houses and we keep the shutter and door closed when doing anything noisy, and luckily it has simply never been an issue for neighbours (so far as I’m aware!). Also we don’t work evenings or weekends. Anyway, we have now moved to a proper industrial premises (see recent video on my channel)
@@Alastair_Freebird Thanks Alastair, great to hear you got an industrial place, wishing you the best. Will check the vids.
Good video
Very innovative,.How do the neighbours feel about all the noise and activity?
We’ve moved on from here last year , but neighbours were always fine with it, maybe I was lucky
Great insight!
Not sure if you still operate from that workshop but interested to know if the neighbour's and council had an issue with a reasonably big commercial business operating in what looks like a residential area?
Hi, it was weighing on our minds that it could become an increasing problem. Actually I had no specific complaints from neighbours but knew that I might do soon. Large delivery wagons on a narrow street weren’t really practical!
Great insight into your business 👌🏼
Thanks -
I am along the same lines, on my own .... and loving it.... more mobile with workshop as back up.
From my own experience - when you think your security is enough- then double it 🤔 hopefully you have this covered 👍 especially now you’ve put this out there -
Best of luck with the future 🤩
Looking fwd to your updates.
Rgds
Gaz.
Gary Coulson thanks for commenting Gaz. Can you explain that sentence about security and doubling it I’m not sure I understood!! Are you talking about pricing?
Freebird Interiors simply double your security- ie: Thieves breaking into your place and stealing your livelihood- it’s happened round here an awful lot. It is heart breaking
Gary Coulson ah of course, literally security! I was aware of the risks putting this out there, but enterprising thieves with their eyes open in my area would already know a lot anyway. I have an alarm, good locks and CCTV pointing down the driveway, and also the last break-in I was aware of on my street ended up with the local Pakistani gang rallying their troops and beating the offender within an inch of his life. (I was woken up by the noise at 3am to see this happening across the street.). I’m not exactly comfortable with this sort of rough justice however I see their logic. The police are fairly impotent, and I can’t help thinking the community is safer in some ways for word getting round in the criminal community that this kind of consequence is likely in this area. Still, it’s not the area I want to live in long term, which is one of many reasons for seeking to relocate the business, and in due course our home.
Freebird Interiors good to hear - 👍
I'm thinking of starting up the same thing, really appreciated the honesty. I'm a carpenter and joiner, any tips how to get started? Thanks for the video.
Good morning Alistair, an impressive setup, also your approach to business. I have a small shop at the bottom of my garden. How do you get on with neighbours and noise etc?
jerry moffat hi, I must have missed this comment when you posted it! The distance from houses is enough that I’ve never had complaints about noise. I think I’ve Ben fortunate with the neighbours either side being relaxed (and also neither really uses the lower end of their gardens). It became apparent that the neighbours backing onto the end of the garden had a pre-existing grumble about the large garage that was built by previous owner (with planning permission) - understandable really because it looms pretty large, with their gardens stepping down to a lower ground level. So I think one of them reported me to building control when I put up the side shelter, but the building control officer who came out was amazingly laid back and seemed to be on my side. We had kept within the rules for the part visible from that neighbour’s house, in terms of proximity to boundary and height of roof. Down the side however I was aware we were closer than we should be to the boundary, for a structure built of combustible material. Knowing it’s a temporary structure, easily changed, I haven’t fretted about it so long as the neighbours there aren’t bothered. And the building control office never sent me a letter or anything instructing me to make a change. Despite me suggesting to him maybe he should!
Hi Alistair thanks for showing us round your workshop very inspiring. Mine is much smaller but I'm on my own working from home. How do you deal with noise levels being so close to residential?
Dave B apologies for delayed reply. Perhaps I’ve been fortunate with neighbours but noise hasn’t been a problem (as far as I’m aware!), and the workshop is fairly well removed from any of the surrounding houses. Board deliveries in large trucks have occasionally been an inconvenience for neighbours. For this and other reasons we are now moving to a larger industrial unit.
What did you find that was a good thing to make that sold really well
This isn’t another one of those bot comments to advertise Woodglut is it? 😆
Great! The neighbors don’t whinge though?
Old School Carpentry it’s mostly been ok. More detail in some of my other replies below. It’s all change now though, we have nearly completed the set up of our new much larger premises! And the shelter on the side of this home workshop has now been torn down! We are selling up and moving house early next year.
Thanks Alistair very interesting, I am running a small independent business myself at the moment part time however since I live in a council property they have informed me that I cannot run this from home so I am now mobile and only do hobby work in my shed, do you understand how the regulations work in your own property? I'm taking it you own yours. Also with it being in an urban housing area? Is there any regulation covering this practice. My concern is it only takes one person to complain. Ps I will be buying my home next year so I'm really keen on getting to grips with the process.
Cheers Karl
Hi Karl, I am on shakey ground to say the least, running a business from home, especially since I went Limited and employed staff. This concern is one of the reasons we are relocating to a proper industrial premises (due to make the move in February now). This is one of many areas where it is very difficult to get a small business off the ground - if you want to comply with every possible regulation right from the start and do everything by the book you would never get started (unless you already have a huge amount of capital and business experience behind you, which is not usually the case with startups!). The only way I have been able to resolve it all with my conscience is to make sure I am moving in the right direction and making realistic plans to relocate as soon as it was affordable, and do everything 'right' as soon as I can. The reality is that plenty of small businesses of this sort have a base at home, which may not always be done strictly 'by the book' regarding insurances; planning zoning regarding domestic vs industrial use, and other matters. When you try to make something like this work you have to do your best to do it right but there are grey areas, and limits on what is achievable in the early stages. I have been fortunate with understanding neighbours. I did once have a visit from a building control officer regarding the lean-to extension we built on the workshop, and he was amazingly supportive and understanding - I was actually volunteering changes I could make to the shape of the structure to avoid any potential issues with neighbours but he was very relaxed and didn't follow up with any demands. I have always tried to be on good terms with neighbours and deal with any issues, but there haven't been many issues, and we don't work late for example.
@@Alastair_Freebird Thanks, guess this answers my question too.
Hi Alastair, great insight into your method. I am at the start of going self employed, currently 50/50. we follow each other on instagram. I have a 5.5m x 3m workshop in my garden and a single garage for storage, I work alone but have access to help occasionally. What size unit are you think of moving into? Looks like you have maximised all the space you have at the moment. Interested in sketch up but find it takes a lot of time to master.
Leigh Millar Hi Leigh are you LM joinery on Instagram then? Thanks for checking out my CZcams channel. I am looking at places between 1500 and 2000 sq ft. Need office space too. It depends on the layout of the space. And location etc. I’m looking for a place that feels right, not found it yet.
Sketchup is surprisingly deep, it can do so much, yes it does take time. There are some good CZcams channels about it out there. I see a gap in the market for sketchup training aimed at Uk based woodworkers and I have plans to produce a training series. Can’t honestly say right now when I will find the time, as getting the business running in a new premises is priority and will be a big step to take so needs my focus!
Nice to see I’m just getting started up myself. How did you come up with your name?
Ed Stone hi Ed, thanks for commenting. The name came to mind after a few years of trading under a different name. I had started making those bird ornaments from offcuts, and I had ideas about the business creating freedom on lots of levels - skills for apprentices; financial freedom for my family (maybe one day! 😂); also the freedom created for customers by living in a well organised space. Freebird just fitted.
Ed Stone what kind of work do you do?
More of your gift type items so turned bowls small furniture like plant stands and stools but I’m trying to branch out a bit got a few projects planned in my own home to work the “kinks” out
Ed Stone I started off making craft items like lovespoons. I love carving real wood. Now I mostly make MDF boxes!!!
Hello mate. How long until you assemble in the shop or on site after spraying?
ben whitfield well the last job we fitted the parts were wrapped in bubble wrap and packed in the van the same afternoon they had the final coat of paint then installed the next day instagram.com/p/B8uAc0xgnOl/?
Hi what software do you use for design?
Sketchup
How did you deal with the noise coming from the machinery considering you were working full time in a residential area? Were there noise complaints?
Interesting timing you asking about noise since I've just uploaded a new video about the high levels of noise in our new workshop: czcams.com/video/K5s9nWFZvPA/video.html
But to answer your question, we only worked during reasonable hours; the garage was quite solidly built and the gardens quite long all around so we literally never had a complaint about noise.
How close are you to getting a unit?
Really enjoyed the video by the way lol
Well now... my wife (/co-director) viewed another promising one just Friday. But I have started meeting with a business advisor and we really looked at the figures and we are just around break even with our present cost base and actually often making a loss on jobs. So although I’m under pressure to get the business out of the house (and dying to do so myself) I stil can’t do it until we improve the business model. Partly it’s about focusing more on the right kind of customer profile. Also maybe reducing some other overheads somehow before taking on new ones. And then there’s the Boardgaming table which could be the solution to creating a more profitable workshop-based business model but it’s not ready to go into production yet. Anyway... I just still don’t feel I can commit to the costs of a rental unit but I’m still working towards it. If I hadn’t taken on staff (the main overhead) and invested instead in equipment it’s quite likely it would have been affordable sooner to get a unit. Staff are so costly in so many ways that are at first hidden. However I don’t exactly regret it because I think we have a great core team who are primed and ready for the next stage of the business, when they will all be great assets for growth. We’re just still in that difficult in-between stage with no spare cash to reinvest and a slightly dubious business model.
To reduce the running costs for the short term and have you thought about selling a very small percentage of your business to your employees out of their wages, it also makes them more invested in the business and more likely to stay with you rather than move on and they will work harder. Just an idea, same as John Lewis.
I keep meaning to forward your gaming table to a couple of friends who are gamers but every time I go to do it, I can’t copy the link for some reason. If I wasn’t making my own table I would seriously consider your table.
MrBishbashbosh2012 I have thought of that in the past and looked into running it as a social enterprise. I have been generous to staff in the past and become a little resentful when I am making too little. I have come class to partnering with a couple of people and always been glad in retrospect that I didn’t tie myself to them because we would have pulled in different directions. I am still interested in a business model that rewards staff and maybe even gives them a degree of ownership but right now providing for my immediate family’s future is top priority.
That makes total sense, it was just an idea lol
I used Stodoys instructions for this and I already did it :)