Today we’d like to introduce you to Caleb Jordan.
Hi Caleb, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My woodworking journey started by accident! My wife and I were shopping one day and she saw a console table she “had to have.” Being a good husband, I said, “go buy it!” She quickly turned around and decided that the comma in the price tag wasn’t worth it so I said what any semi-overconfident husband might say….”I can make that” … Mind you, I hadn’t built a single piece of furniture in my life and at the time I only owned one broken saw, and the cheapest drill money could buy! Fast forward a few weeks (or more), a little research (a lot more) and a lot (really, A LOT) of trial and error and…Voila!
The piece really turned out well! It sits right in our entryway and leads to a few brave friends and family members putting in requests for custom furniture. Another year and a handful of projects went by and suddenly my garage was full of woodworking tools, lumber, and a little more knowledge (and a lot more trial and error). I tackled a couple of beds, a dresser, a dining room table and an assortment of other projects and then *queue the suspenseful music* COVID hit.
My career at the time was managing health clubs, and when the world screeched to a halt, I had a golden opportunity. I was able to spend the 3 months the world was locked down doing woodworking entirely. I had the time to completely immerse myself into this newfound hobby. I upgraded many of my tools, found online resources to become more efficient and welcomed more challenging techniques to my quickly evolving new side gig.
I found myself. Woodworking was something I loved to do and I was (and still am) lucky to have the support of my family while doing it. Even though I was working way harder and WAY more hours than I used to, it never felt like actual work. Our little business blossomed quickly and since then have not slowed down one bit.
I’ve now built a huge variety of furniture including dining tables (my favorite), chairs, benches, beds, vanities, and hutches. My wife and I have also have enjoyed making cutting boards, charcuterie boards, laser engraved custom projects and wedding signs! We sell our projects locally through word of mouth and as well as online on Etsy. This past holiday season we had our first experience in a local brick and mortar, participating in the Holly House Boutique in Burnsville. We learned a TON of valuable info about how to market our products and got to see and support other incredible makers doing their thing!
Woodworking had become such a huge part of my life that I left my career in the health club industry to pursue an opportunity with Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, a retail store that caters to the DIY’ers, woodworking hobbyists, professional woodworkers and everyone in between. At Rockler, I’m fortunate to put my skills and knowledge to use helping other aspiring woodworkers learn and grow, all while expanding my own skillset! I enjoy teaching classes as often as I can, and I’m eager to share my experiences with woodworking projects (even the ones that don’t work out)
I feel so incredibly lucky for woodworking to have found me and I look forward to creating custom heirloom pieces of furniture for families to enjoy for years to come!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Woodworking is not about not making mistakes, it’s about how well you can fix them. Of course, I make errors, but each one leads me to become better prepared in the future and helps me think ahead! There is a wealth of online resources and makers willing to share their knowledge so it’s easy to find some help or some inspiration when I’m feeling stuck. The good news, even if I choose not to follow the “measure twice, cut once” advice, it’s just woodworking and most times it can be fixed!
My current challenge is more on the technology side. I am eager to learn digital design software, create more online content and spread my brand as much as I’m able!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I specialize in 100% custom woodworking furniture. I work closely with the clients to ensure the piece is exactly what they want. If the client can imagine it, I can find a way to make it. I pride myself on being responsive and personal, making sure I communicate as much as the client needs! I won’t deliver a project unless I’m proud of the results!
How do you define success?
Supporting my family is my number one priority. I feel successful when they are happy and have what they need and want. Throughout this process, I’ve been able to meet some incredible people and have been lucky to have many repeat customers. Most all of my business has been from referrals, and the fact that people are happy enough with their purchase to share with their friends is by far the biggest reward!
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/upnorthmnshop
- Instagram: UpNorthMNshop
