We recently connected with Chad Punchard and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Chad thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?
Initially I took a basic 2 year NVQ carpentry course under an apprenticeship scheme, I was then offered to take on an additional third year course in advanced crafts woodwork. These courses taught me the fundamental basic knowledge and skills of carpentry & joinery. Although I did not like general Carpentry you see on new build homes these days, i wanted to learn the more creative side to the trade.
I started watching other makers videos on Instagram and You tube and practicing in any spare time that i had.
i found myself falling further and further away from the general site carpentry and wanting to explore the world of bespoke.
I jumped both feet. No money, not much experience, no contacts but all the ambition in the world. I took the plunge and went self employed. I started very small, my first job was to box a small fuse board in and make a bespoke door to fit, then it was a custom bath panel and the ball was rolling with small jobs.
for years I would have to juggle doing jobs to just pay the bills, but still trying to make a name in the bespoke furniture world. my first “Workshop” was in my late grandfathers front living room whilst my parents were refurbishing the property.
To speed up the learning process I probably should have found a really good custom company and served a few years there learning. However still to this day, there is no one local I seem to know of that is doing exactly what I envisage.
Although the path has been extremely hard at times, i would not change it for the world because the lessons i have learnt and people i have met are incredible.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I had a lot of interest in well built and unique things from a fairly young age. once i cut my teeth into the basics of carpentry i started to play around with different ideas, techniques, patterns and ways of making stuff. spending many many hours getting lost in the creative process i would come up with samples of things that i wanted to make. However its very expensive to bring most ideas to life, so having to bide my time to find the right client to pitch my ideas and to commission a piece or design taught me to be patient. i still have most of my ideas yet to be built!
My workshop / studio is where everything is built, over the years i have invested pretty much everything i had into new machinery and equipment to help build furniture and other items.
What makes me and work different to others is that it is truly custom made and personal for each client. the service is bespoke. If im making a kitchen for a client i do not choose different items from other companies and throw them together.. everything is made to measure. Often i have clients that are local arrange a workshop visit to see how their project is coming along, this typically get them super excited and can lead to extra orders.
I spend a lot of time searching for different materials and methods how to make things. Im incredibly ambitious and want to keep pushing the boundaries on what i can achieve, I truly believe the sky is not the limit because i have seen meteor material being used on some luxury high price furniture.
I want to become a leading name in the higher end furniture making industry, so its important for me to keep finding new clients that are passionate and open minded to beautiful uniquely crafted items and fitted furniture for their homes, offices , hotels, yatch’s or whatever it might be.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
Building any business from scratch is daunting! I was 23 when i first started my business. I didn’t know too much about my trade and literally had £150 to my name. but what i did have was an absolute tonne of ambition/ energy and the best supportive parents i could have asked for!
I needed to start very very small, doing jobs and tasks that did not align with my vision. i had to build some capital to invest in equipment. Super late nights and early mornings/ weekends was how i managed to slowly start the progress. But doing jobs just to keep the doors open on business doesn’t leave much time to practice and learn new ideas and skills, so i constantly would second guess which route i needed to pursue.. this battle happened over 10 years! do i stop chasing the dream of making amazing high end things and try to find my lane or do i just chase the money and offer a basic service ?
Every time that i would chase my passion, i would financially fall behind. Every time i chased the money to keep the business running i would become unhappy and find myself being pulled back to being creative.
if you truly have a passion for something, you will find a way! no matter how long it takes you. Just remember if it were easy.. everyone would be doing it.
Also on your pursuit for your chosen goals, its most important to realise its not so much about what you get but who you become along the way. The people you meet, the lessons you learn and places you visit. Just remember to enjoy the view and take a breath every now and then.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
From imagination to creation!
knowing something that i have spent time designing, practicing discussing is being brought to life. Most of the time the things i make can have a massive impression on how people live their day to day lives.
Building a dining table that can sit 14-16 people on, this will give the whole family chance to sit together and share good meals and stories. knowing that i have helped bring this to life is warming, and also knowing the table will be passed down from generation to generation along with the memories.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Studio Punchard
- Facebook: chad punchard
- Linkedin: Chad Punchard
- Youtube: chad punchard
Image Credits
chad Punchard