Notes from Chris

Episode 1052

As a teenager, California native Eric Blackwell loved the guitar. Playing gigs in bands made him realize that he wanted to spend his life around music. After finishing high school, Eric found his way into the electronics department of a custom guitar factory. This was a job that he loved—it allowed him a firsthand glance into the world of his obsession. Not only could he hear the music the strings made, but he could see how everything worked within the instrument. 

Over the years, Eric gained experience at the factory. He also paid attention. One of the things he noticed was how much wood would get thrown away. The pallets that arrived had to be sorted out and cut up into different shapes and sizes. But in this process, large batches of wood would be set aside when any imperfections, no matter how minor, were found.

While this wood was unsuitable for making quality guitars, it was perfect for almost any other endeavour—so Eric started a series of small woodworking projects on the side where he would make gifts for friends and family. He began with cutting boards and other simple items such as serving trays.

He did this for many years before realizing that he might be able to make extra money from it. It dawned on him that there were others out there who would probably enjoy his items made from wood as well. Once again, he started with the simple things—cutting boards, tap handles, and bottle openers were first on his list. These seemed like everyday items that would appeal to those who liked the aesthetic of wood.

This drove him to sell his products on Etsy (Blackwell Woodworks), the platform that specializes in handmade and vintage items. The Etsy audience tends to appreciate personalized and sustainable gifts, so he decided that this was the market he wanted to focus on. 

But a not-insignificant problem still remained. Even though Eric was sure Etsy was his platform …. he hardly had any sales at first. It turned out that because he was making simple, everyday items, there were lots of them on the market. For a newcomer who didn’t know much about marketing or have a long list of reviews, there was little chance to stand out.

So he switched to making more complicated items such as wooden clocks and guitar stands. They were practical and classy. Besides, he felt there was a real need for guitar stands in the world of music, because the ubiquitous plastic and metal ones were cold and utilitarian. 

This turned out to be the right move. Eric got his first sale on a wooden clock—and they continued to sell. His customers told him that they appreciated the vintage and retro designs. The guitar stands were also a hit.

Three years in, Eric is now earning $2,000/month in additional income. It all began by working with materials that others considered useless.

 

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  MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

• Blackwell Woodworks: Checkout Eric's beautiful guitar holderst and clocks on his Etys's page.
• Looking to sell your artwork or products? Check out market places like Etsy, Amazon's Handmade.

SEE ALSO:

• New Dad Starts Woodworking Hustle While Infant Son Naps: An ad executive and new dad pursues a creative outlet, making handcrafted ladders during his son’s naptimes.
• High School Student Earns $20,000 Making Wooden Bow Ties: When a young woodworker receives a wooden bow tie as a gift, he’s unimpressed. After making his own, he earns $20,000 while going to high school full-time.
• Rustic Wall Hangings Rack Up Worthwhile Profits: A self-taught manufacturer of home decor transitions her part-time curiosity into a full-time woodworking business.

Inspiration is good; inspiration combined with action is better. Now get back to work!

Yours in the revolution,

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