We were lucky to catch up with DANNY VILLAR recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi DANNY, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I responded to a need. Allow me to explain. In March 2020, I saw an ad on Facebook Marketplace for a pallet of cutoffs from a cabinet company. I saw an opportunity to satisfy my woodworking needs but quickly realized it was more wood than I needed. I could sell some of these cutoffs and use the money to fund new tools. My plan worked out so well that in keeping a tally over two months of how many customers came in, the total was over 250 people that came through my garage. Seeing how quickly the pallet sold and how profitable it was, I bought another and then another. Most of my clientele became repeat customers, and in witnessing my growth, they repeatedly encouraged me to open up a store. I saw the need for a wood store and envisioned what it could be. It was tangible in my mind’s eye. The real test was getting my wife on board for such a risky venture. So when she said, “yes,” it was divine confirmation. We took a leap of faith and opened up a small 1500sq ft store in August of 2020, and The Wood Shed was birthed. In May 2021, I quit my day job, and we expanded to another similar-sized adjacent facility in which we added a showroom where I could display my epoxy and live edge tables. I continue to listen to my customers and work to fulfill their needs. As both a business owner and fellow woodworker, I can relate to and foresee the needs in the community and respond to them accordingly. Therefore, it is with grateful hearts that we announced our move into a 10,000sq ft building this month, where we plan to continue providing quality products for hobbyists, makers, and anyone dreaming of a hand-crafted piece. We have been blessed with a great community of woodworkers and clients, most of whom we get to call friends, and it is our pleasure and our “purpose” to serve them.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I not only sell exotic woods, but I also make custom live edge and epoxy furniture. The majority of my orders are dining and conference tables. Creating is where my passion lies. Most of my clients come in with an idea of what they want, and I can walk them thru our selection of live edge slabs and then take the creative journey of making their vision come to life. Great satisfaction comes when we deliver a finished piece and see it in its forever home. The look on our customer’s faces inspires and excites my team and me to create the next piece. We distinguish ourselves by taking a slab of wood from tree to table, beginning with the fact that we only source sustainable woods both domestically and in our imported selection. From there, it is a constant learning process as each wood slab is unique and has many variables, including species and density. The application of epoxy also depends on temperature and the effect we are trying to create, such as depth, swirls, or three-dimensional. It is truly an art that we are continually striving to master. Now that we are moving into a larger facility, we can bring in more wood species and offer an even more extensive selection. We will also have a larger showroom where we are excited to reveal our new line of finished tables, credenzas, and various organic pieces to accentuate any room.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
My most essential qualities and greatest advice are research, humility, and integrity. For me doing the research and knowing each species and the process of preparing a slab of wood before even beginning to think of the project goes a long way! I also add to that being teachable, which takes humility. One of the most extraordinary qualities of the woodworking community is the willingness to share knowledge and pro tips. Having enough humility to reach out to other makers and pick their brains when encountering a problem has saved me time and money. I, in turn, make myself available to my customers day and night in their projects and offer as much of my expertise because I sincerely want to see each one of them succeed. Lastly, and most importantly, is integrity. We only sell products I use and only purchase from sources I have deemed reliable. If we make an error or our customer is unsatisfied, we will always make it right. We create forever pieces and become personally invested in each one because we care. We care about the product, and we care about our customers. That is something that takes personal integrity, and it will show in your business.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
As I mentioned before, there are many challenges in mastering this art form, and it has taken a community to get us as far as we have gotten. Nevertheless, it has been my team who has had the patience and grace to learn with me and help me to overcome challenges and perfect the skills necessary to create quality products. As a matter of fact, it is odd to call them employees because they are fellow makers and friends. I have never been alone in this journey. My wife and children work alongside me every step of the way. My customers have been there for me as much as I hope to have been there for them. My friends have gone out of their way to help and worked into the night when necessary, and anyone I have ever hired has given me their all. I am blessed beyond measure by the one who moves mountains.
Contact Info:
- Website: thewoodshedtexas.com
- Instagram: thewoodshedtexas
- Facebook: thewoodshedtexas
Image Credits
Danny Villar
