Today we had a great time talking with Loren from Rackensack Kilns! Two years ago, after considering the local market, Rackensack was born to answer the lack of kiln space and abundance of hardwood milling in the area. The business started with a few different avenues, including cabinetry, but ultimately processing wood started to become a main focus.
What started from the necessity to get their own wood dried has now evolved into an entire tree to table business. Rackensack Kilns has the ability to process urban lumber into trim, furniture, flooring, and almost any other wood product you can think of.
What Drives Your Business?
Motivated by a desire to see less waste in the building process and the ability to use these viable wood products instead of seeing them chipped or mulched has been integral to the team. Another part of it is also the unique experience of opening up a tree and creating something entirely new that can’t just be purchased from a furniture store or even a hardware store.
After about six months in the first year, once the kiln started getting booked and the word had gotten out, the team realized that their efforts had paid off and the business was beginning to be viable. Six months after that, they added another kiln, upgraded their shop size, and decided they were all in.
Rackensack and Their Community
Education is a big thing that Rackensack Kilns focuses on. Many people don’t realize that wood products tend to warp, splinter, or go to pieces without the drying process. Rackensack focuses on keeping an open and friendly atmosphere where they assist hobbyists and woodworkers with drying and other industry questions. They like to be considered “The Woodworkers Friend.”
Loren says this approach has given them some wonderful opportunities to network and meet people who share the same passion for woodworking in the area. He also says that any project where a tree has a story behind it or a history has a special place in this crew’s hearts. The customers’ joy seeing the transformation of raw material to a beautiful piece of furniture that will last generations is a big win for this business.
Equipment, Struggles and the Future
In terms of struggles, Loren notes the difficulty behind the instant gratification mindset. Explaining to new customers that woodworking takes time can be difficult, but the team focuses on communication and transparency with the customer to overcome the hurdle.
In addition to three iDry kilns, Rackensack also has a forklift, Wood Wizz, and contacts they outsource their milling needs to. Positioned in the heart of walnut country, there is no shortage of logs to be sourced. Word of mouth with the arborists and a community of woodworkers has been great for the business in terms of inventory.
If Loren was to start from scratch, he says he would have wanted more space. Even with three kilns and a bigger shop, the kilns are always full, and there is always more wood to be dried.
Ideally, in 2021 another kiln purchase is on the horizon. The hope is that in the spring, the shop can start hosting their Slab Saturdays again, which acts as an open house for woodworkers and artisans. Community Events and woodworkers getting the opportunity to learn from more experienced craftsmen is something this team loves to facilitate and promote.
How to Prepare for a New Market
In terms of marketing, the question is where one would find the market for a more streamlined furniture line? Currently, every piece of furniture produced is a one-off custom project. Steve suggests reaching out to designers, architects, and customers as well as researching competitors. After the research is done, it’s a good idea to do a digital mockup and then invest in marketing and press before making the physical line. 
To work with Rackensack or see their beautiful creations, please visit them on Instagram or Facebook, or give their shop a call!
@rackensackkilns
Rackensack Kilns on Facebook
+1 918-850-8003