Annie and Michael Murphy: Eco Relics

February 27, 2020

On the podcast, today is Annie and Michael Murphy from the Jacksonville based woodshop and sawmill, Eco Relics.
Annie and Michael Murphy originally had careers in Stock Trading and Software but came to a point in their lives where they realized it was time for a change. With Michael’s background as a wooden toy maker and Annie’s passion as an environmentalist, they took the dive and opened a woodshop and lumberyard.

Fast-forward a few years and Eco Relics is now the largest Architectural Salvage Yard in the Southeast. Customers travel from Miami, Atlanta, Charleston, Savannah, Maine, and Minnesota to shop the unlimited variety of lumber stock, reclaimed items, and antiques that Eco Relics has to offer. With a 15,000 sq. ft. woodshop and another 50,000 sq. ft. of storage, it’s not a surprise that the business was even considered for a reality show last year!

The Mission…

With 40-60% of the nation’s landfills filled with building materials, Eco Relics mission began with efforts to keep building materials out of landfills. Annie and Michael would salvage materials that they knew they could save and then started re-selling these reclaimed building materials, lumber, and even antiques that they found at their shop
Annie and Michael continue to use salvaged items and logs for their shop and also upcycle the sentimental items that their customers bring in from time to time

The Setup…

When it comes to lumber sales, Eco Relics is hard to beat. With everything from barn wood, exotic woods, dimensional stock, slabs, cookies, and reclaimed wood in their 15,000 sq ft shop, customers that visit are certain to find exactly what they’re looking for.
In addition to their woodworking and lumber offerings, Eco Relics also offers drying services with their iDRY Kiln. In fact, the kiln’s space is rented out so often that they’re currently in the process of purchasing their second iDRY!

Contact Eco Relics

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” was 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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Tags: timber, wood, Wood Business, woodpreneur, woodworking