We recently connected with Welborn Woodworks and have shared our conversation below.

Welborn, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you recount a story of an unexpected problem you’ve faced along the way?

One of the most consistent issues we face as a commercial woodshop is where the next job is coming from and what will it entail…? We have always strived to maintain a consistent workload and that can mean taking on many different types of projects. With each new project type, all of our metrics like cost of materials, production times and suppliers can change. This can make it difficult to maintain order and consistency in our processes. The best solution we have found to maintain order and still enjoy a diverse range of projects is to cultivate a strong company culture. It’s little things like our morning chat sessions or a monthly round of golf with the crew that can bring out the best kind of teamwork. That is, when everyone is looking out for the best interests of the group. When our team loves the fact that they get to make a living working here with us, it allows the company to be very dynamic and fast paced while at the same time maintaining efficiency.

Welborn, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

We started Welborn Woodworks in 2010 in Austin, Texas. We began with small remodeling jobs and eventually started building cabinets and custom furniture. We have developed our love for the unique and one-of-a-kind projects through growing up in the “Keep it Weird” culture of Austin. Our proudest point so far is that along with our residential clients, our work can be seen in city halls and fine restaurants all over central Texas. Our plan for the future is GROWTH!

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

We are a small manufacturing company. We did not know how to manufacture all of the products we make now when we started. Often in the beginning, we would win a bid on a project that we had not built before. There is a risk here, can we deliver…? In our experience, some of the most fruitful experiences are also the scariest. You have to be willing to jump in over your head and challenge yourself if you want to move up quickly. There will be mistakes, the question is are you willing to rise to the challenge and fix them? We stole a saying a long time ago, “It’s not a problem until we can’t fix it.” No company or project is perfect, but the best ones hang in and get the job done right. In our experience that is the best way to learn and add meaningful lessons to your skill set.

Have you ever had to pivot?

As a small business, we have had to pivot constantly within our industry to stay busy. From commercial to residential, custom to high volume, from cabinets to furniture. A small company does itself a big favor being able to pivot, slide or even jump in any direction it needs to keep the work coming in. Be open minded and always sniffing out new opportunities. When a new opportunity presents itself, you may have to jump in over your head again, that’s when you lean on your experience, your team, and your resilience.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.welbornwoodworks.com
• Instagram: @welbornwoodworks