Jesse Born is a 23-year-old puzzle box Woodpreneur from New York. Jesse creates these puzzle boxes with different hidden compartments and sneaky latches!
A full-time puzzle box maker before he even left high school, Jesse is a serious Woodpreneur, and we were so excited when Jesse reached out to us about coming onto the podcast!
A Woodworker from 7 years old…
- Jesse started woodworking with his father when he was only 7 years old.
- At 16, Jesse was watching a YouTube video where someone was making a Ukulele. Inspired by the build, Jesse decided he would try to make one as well and did. Once he finished this project, he realized he could create anything.
- He started a shop on Etsy, and the puzzle boxes started flying off of the shelves. The more he made, the faster they sold.
- The goal is to create a better puzzle each time (and scaling his profits with each box)
- He’s currently working on a limited edition box for his Etsy Shop
Sourcing Puzzle Box Wood
- Jesse sources his wood from Keim Lumber Company
- Keim provides Jesse with high-quality wood free of bows, cuffing, and warping
- Keim is also able to provide Jesse with Mahogany, Purple Heart, Pekote, and other exotic lumber types
- Jesse’s dad was also a local sawyer for a long time, and he was able to source wood from his as well
Marketing Tactics
- Facebook has been a huge part of Jesse’s marketing and all he focused on in the beginning
- His Facebook strategy was to start a puzzle box page, friend others interested in puzzle boxes, and then start posting pictures of his work and works in progress. Things took off from there
- Jesse also markets through Instagram and YouTube videos
- He also sends out newsletters through Mailchimp
Instagram: @jesseborn
Facebook: @jessebornwooddesign
YouTube: Jesse Born
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/people/jesseborn
The World Meeting
- Curious about what went on behind the scenes at the Logosol World Meeting? Go on Instagram and use the hashtag #logosolwm2019
What exactly is a Woodpreneur?
So, why the term “woodpreneur”? When Steve first started Acres of Timber three years ago, the wood community and industry wasn’t what it is now.
Slab dealers, wood designers, and more specifically at the time – sawmill users, didn’t have a community or a brand and were going largely unnoticed by potential customers who would look instead to the Home Depot and Lowe’s of this world for their products. Steve sought to change that by creating the Sawmill Business Instagram account and the #sawmillbusiness hashtag as a way to share the products and creations that these innovative makers were producing. It didn’t take long for the account to grow to over 136,000 followers, and with a hashtag that has been used over 35,000 times, the Sawmill Business community grew and grew quickly!
As the Sawmill Business following grew, Steve began to notice that this community didn’t just include sawmill owners. Furniture designers, woodworkers, arborists, tree climbers, chainsaw users, slab sellers, and even treehouse makers became an integral part of the Sawmill Business family as well. It was at this point that Steve knew the business needed a new name that would truly encompass all that the wood community represents. Hence, @acresoftimber and the term “Woodprener” were born.
With the maker movement now in full swing, there are more podcasts, content creators (like Anne of All Trades), YouTubers, and makers (such as Matt Cremona), that are putting a spotlight on sawmill users, furniture makers, and other wood related niches. Not only has the wood community turned into a “maker movement”, it’s also filled with people who now view the work that they do as a profitable business and not just a hobby, a perception that was lacking without a community behind it.
A “Woodpreneur” Is A…
- Sawmill User
- Wood Business Owner
- Furniture Designer
- Hardwood Flooring Professional
- Woodworker
- Slab Dealer
- Kiln User
- Welder
- Content Creator
- Maker
And an overall innovative, brave, and creative entrepreneur in the wood industry!
“Woodpreneurs care about building their business as much as they care about the quality of the products they make, create, and sell. They don’t just want a job, they want a company. They invest in this company with blood, sweat, and tears and love every minute of it.”
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Want more?
Join our private Facebook Group and get access to our FREE marketing hacks course for Woodpreneurs! ?CLICK HERE TO JOIN
Listen to more episodes of the Woodpreneur Podcast at: ?https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/sawmill-business
Read our Free Instagram Report:? “Tools for how to turn leads into sales, grow your following, and easily create engaging content.”
Are you ready to scale your woodworking, flooring, or tree service business?
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