Today we’d like to introduce you to Joshua Heyns.
Hi Joshua, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started working with my hands and building stuff with my dad as a kid. We built skateboard ramps all the time and also worked on our very old house, or more of me just watching with the house. I started this company 5 years ago when making my own furniture because I knew I could make the same stuff that was v becoming popular. I learned a ton along the way, tricks tips business in general, making sales. Taught myself how to weld and work with slabs when there wasn’t really a textbook way of doing it. I started in my mom’s backyard of a townhouse with pop-up tents. I built a handful of tables bars a 16’ long bench, shelves, drive they menu board for a local coffee shop from that backyard. I went from one townhouse with my mom to another but this one had a backyard and a covered patio that she graciously let me use. I then moved from that townhouse to my own house with my now wife. We are currently in our own house and I turned to single-car carport attached to the house into a garage and work out of there, while currently building a bigger shop in the back. My story is literally from the ground up while not taking on much or really any debt. When I first started this company, I was newly divorced working full time for a local fire department and still working at the fire department full time. At this point in the business, I work full-time fire department and full-time woodworking company.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The progress of this business has not smooth at all. Going from newly divorced and broke living with my mom to now having a house with my wife and a thriving business has not been the easiest. When I first started, I dumped a ton of my money from the fire department career into this business. Sometimes I had a ton of leads and good jobs and then I’d go months and months without jobs and wondered if I should even be doing this. Now I’m 3-6 months out with jobs fully booked. I’d say some of my biggest struggles were that the business didn’t grow overnight. It was a struggle some months to just give away my work. Very mentally taxing and depressing and hurtful at times.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in custom woodworking. I mainly do river tables or live-edge tables and custom weld metal bases for each job. I do more modern industrial-type work. I’ve also made custom wall art and other high-class items for clients. I’m proud of myself for being able to grow a company from the ground up with hard work and dedication. The coffee house I did at the beginning of my company turned out great and has been a huge anchor in the business. What sets me apart is the process, I take so much time to talk the customers through the process from picking species of wood style of legs, color of legs, and epoxy to fill cracks and voids. I’m there every step of the way and I send pics and communicate a ton along the way trying to make it an experience that they are a part of not just me doing what I think will look good.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
At first, I used YouTube and did a lot alone but I’ve had tons of mentors now. Mentors to teach me about business and or woodworking. I went into this business not knowing anything about wood and movement and different types of joinery and construction of fine furniture. I have mentors to this day. I suggest getting a mentor and or many mentors to guide you along the way. If I get stumped, I have other woodworkers to give me advice and even help me do something that’s new to me. I believe in networking with other woodworkers or professionals in your field. Bounce ideas off of and even get or give referrals if they specialize in something slightly different from you. I utilize Facebook groups and such for what I do.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/valhalla_custom_creations/
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/valhallacustomcreationsllc
