Island Economics

San Juan Islands-specific considerations for this business:

• •Local wood (madrone, maple, fruit tree) creates authentic 'island-made' story tourists love
• •Shipping finished furniture off-island is expensive — focus on local sales or small shippable items
• •Construction boom means contractors may need custom woodwork — explore B2B opportunities
• •Summer tourists buy portable items (cutting boards, small decor) as souvenirs
• •Strong maker community — tool sharing, collaboration, and referrals happen naturally

The $500 Experiment

Test this idea before investing heavily:

Getting Started

1. 1
   Start with small, repeatable items (cutting boards, shelves) before custom furniture

   • •Smaller items let you practice techniques with lower material costs
   • •Repeatable products enable batch production — more efficient than one-offs
   • •Faster to market — a cutting board takes hours, a table takes weeks
2. 2
   Talk to local restaurants and retailers about custom needs before building spec inventory

   • •Restaurants need serving boards, menu holders, table numbers — steady B2B demand
   • •Understanding what businesses need guides what to build
   • •B2B orders are often larger and more predictable than retail
3. 3
   Source and stockpile local wood when available — it's a selling point and cost saver

   • •'Made from San Juan Island madrone' tells a story tourists pay extra for
   • •Local salvaged wood is often free or cheap and connects you to the community
   • •Buying mainland lumber adds significant shipping costs to the islands

Where the Money Goes

Expected startup and operating expenses:

Don't Cheap Out On

Areas where quality investment pays off:

Smart Places to Save

Areas where cost-cutting makes sense:

• •Source local salvaged wood — fallen trees, construction scraps, orchard removals are often free
• •Buy rough lumber and mill it yourself — 50%+ cheaper than S4S (surfaced 4 sides)
• •Start with tools you have — upgrade as skills and sales justify investment
• •Use a local marketplace to sell instead of building a website — free to list, no monthly fees
• •Share workshop space with other makers — split rent, share tools, collaborate on projects
• •Buy finishes in larger quantities — gallon jugs cost far less per ounce than small bottles

Cash Flow Considerations

Financial timing and planning notes:

• •Lumber ties up cash until projects sell — start with small batch production
• •Custom furniture requires deposits (50%+) — don't buy expensive wood until you're paid
• •Summer is peak tourist buying season — build inventory through spring
• •Holiday season is strong for kitchen items and decor — stock up by October

Risk Reducers

Strategies to reduce risk and increase odds of success:

• •Start with smaller items while keeping your day job — weekend production fits around 9-5
• •All tools and equipment hold value — easy to sell on Facebook Marketplace if you stop
• •Test designs at markets before investing in batch production
• •Build relationships with lumber suppliers — they'll call when interesting wood comes in
• •Join the local woodworkers' guild — insider knowledge, shared resources, referral network
• •Consider restoration alongside new builds — steady income from repair work

Island Economics

San Juan Islands-specific considerations for this business:

• •Local wood (madrone, maple, fruit tree) creates authentic 'island-made' story tourists love
• •Shipping finished furniture off-island is expensive — focus on local sales or small shippable items
• •Construction boom means contractors may need custom woodwork — explore B2B opportunities
• •Summer tourists buy portable items (cutting boards, small decor) as souvenirs
• •Strong maker community — tool sharing, collaboration, and referrals happen naturally

The $500 Experiment

Test this idea before investing heavily:

Getting Started

1. 1
   Start with small, repeatable items (cutting boards, shelves) before custom furniture

   • •Smaller items let you practice techniques with lower material costs
   • •Repeatable products enable batch production — more efficient than one-offs
   • •Faster to market — a cutting board takes hours, a table takes weeks
2. 2
   Talk to local restaurants and retailers about custom needs before building spec inventory

   • •Restaurants need serving boards, menu holders, table numbers — steady B2B demand
   • •Understanding what businesses need guides what to build
   • •B2B orders are often larger and more predictable than retail
3. 3
   Source and stockpile local wood when available — it's a selling point and cost saver

   • •'Made from San Juan Island madrone' tells a story tourists pay extra for
   • •Local salvaged wood is often free or cheap and connects you to the community
   • •Buying mainland lumber adds significant shipping costs to the islands

Where the Money Goes

Expected startup and operating expenses:

Don't Cheap Out On

Areas where quality investment pays off:

Smart Places to Save

Areas where cost-cutting makes sense:

• •Source local salvaged wood — fallen trees, construction scraps, orchard removals are often free
• •Buy rough lumber and mill it yourself — 50%+ cheaper than S4S (surfaced 4 sides)
• •Start with tools you have — upgrade as skills and sales justify investment
• •Use a local marketplace to sell instead of building a website — free to list, no monthly fees
• •Share workshop space with other makers — split rent, share tools, collaborate on projects
• •Buy finishes in larger quantities — gallon jugs cost far less per ounce than small bottles

Cash Flow Considerations

Financial timing and planning notes:

• •Lumber ties up cash until projects sell — start with small batch production
• •Custom furniture requires deposits (50%+) — don't buy expensive wood until you're paid
• •Summer is peak tourist buying season — build inventory through spring
• •Holiday season is strong for kitchen items and decor — stock up by October

Risk Reducers

Strategies to reduce risk and increase odds of success:

• •Start with smaller items while keeping your day job — weekend production fits around 9-5
• •All tools and equipment hold value — easy to sell on Facebook Marketplace if you stop
• •Test designs at markets before investing in batch production
• •Build relationships with lumber suppliers — they'll call when interesting wood comes in
• •Join the local woodworkers' guild — insider knowledge, shared resources, referral network
• •Consider restoration alongside new builds — steady income from repair work