The Handcrafted Podcast: The Business of making things
The Handcrafted Podcast: The Business of Making Things" is where craftsmanship meets business strategy. Hosted by Paul, founder of Philadelphia Table Co. and The Handcrafted Network, this podcast dives into the mindset, pricing, marketing, and systems that help makers turn their craft into a thriving business. Whether you're a woodworker, artisan, or creative entrepreneur, you’ll learn the strategies to build a profitable, sustainable business—because great craftsmanship deserves great business strategy.
Episodes
17 episodes
How I Actually Use AI in My Handmade Business (And What I Avoid)
In this episode, Paul dives into the real-world ways he's using AI—specifically ChatGPT—to streamline and grow his handcrafted furniture business. He shares how AI serves as a behind-the-scenes business partner, helping with everything from ad ...
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25:30
Craft at Every Touchpoint: Building a Luxury Experience from Quote to Delivery
In this episode of The Handcrafted Podcast, Paul breaks down what it truly means to deliver craft beyond just the final product. Using real examples from Philadelphia Table Company, he walks through their entire client experie...
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21:53
Office Hours: Burnout, Pricing, Sales, and Quality Control
In this “office hours”–style episode, Paul answers listener questions about the real challenges of running a small woodworking or maker business.He starts with a short pitch for the Handcrafted Network, explaining the difference b...
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16:40
From Side Hustle to 7 Figures: The Philadelphia Table Company Origin Story
In this episode, Paul shares the unfiltered origin story of Philadelphia Table Company—from building a first table for his apartment to running a nearly $2 million custom furniture business with a team of 10.He details the real timeline:...
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34:37
From Cash Chaos to Profit Clarity: My Shop’s Cash Flow Turnaround
In this episode of The Handcrafted Podcast, Paul opens up about a real, unfiltered look at the cash flow challenges his custom furniture shop faced—and the major shift that helped turn things around. He talks about the classic trap of ...
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13:47
Think Like a Luxury Brand: How to Attract High-End Clients
In this episode of The Handcrafted Podcast, Paul shares the foundational principles of luxury strategy that helped him grow Philadelphia Table Company into a high-end custom furniture brand. Fresh off a talk at the WoodPro Expo, he unp...
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20:51
The Human Touch: Why AI Will Never Replace the Artisan
In this episode, Paul explores how the rise of artificial intelligence could change not just how we work—but who we are. Drawing from a conversation with Simon Sinek, he discusses the skills AI can’t replicate—empathy, patience, imperfection—an...
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18:10
How to Talk About Price Without Flinching (Plus: Letting Go of Control in the Shop)
If quoting your price makes your stomach twist or your voice drop, this episode is for you. We’re unpacking why so many makers struggle to talk about money—and how to shift that mindset. I’ll walk you through practical ways to confidently commu...
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21:16
Selling Before Building: What a Delayed Table Taught Me About Leadership, Clients, and Risk
In this episode of The Hand Crafted Podcast, I get honest about a recent challenge—selling a custom table design before we ever built a prototype. What followed was a whirlwind of production delays, frustrated clients, and some tough-b...
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Episode 8
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12:58
Your Brand Is Not Just Your Logo: A Maker’s Guide to Real Marketing
Most makers think branding means a cool logo and a few Instagram posts. But your brand is what people say about you when you're not in the room. In this episode, we’ll unpack what branding really means for your woodworking business, ho...
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12:58
From Chaos to Clarity: Structuring Your Day as a Maker-Founder
Most makers are stuck in reactive mode—answering emails, rushing to meet deadlines, and putting out fires. But if you never create space for future-focused work like marketing, pricing, and growth, your business stays stuck. In this episode, I’...
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Episode 6
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21:49
Who’s It For? How to Find (and Talk to) Your Ideal Client
In this episode of The Hand Crafted Podcast, Paul breaks down how to identify your ideal client—or "avatar"—so you can stop guessing and start connecting. He walks you through a simple, no-fluff process to define who you really want to...
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12:32
The Flywheel Effect: Why Consistency Builds Greatness
In this episode of The Handcrafted Podcast, Paul dives into Jim Collins’ powerful Flywheel Effect from the book Good to Great—a concept that explains how sustained, consistent effort over time creates unstoppable mome...
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Episode 5
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15:51
Stop Staring at the Scoreboard: How to Play a Better Game in Business
In this episode of The Handcrafted Podcast: The Business of Making Things, Paul breaks down the true meaning of strategy for makers and business owners. Using a sports analogy, he explains why obsessing over the "scoreboard" — like sal...
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Episode 4
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13:31
Sales First: How I Broke the $1M Barrier Without Ads
In this episode of The Handcrafted Podcast, Paul dives into one of the most overlooked yet essential parts of running a successful maker business: sales. He uses the metaphor of a train needing a push to leave the station—no mat...
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Episode 2
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13:28
“Why Ads Won’t Save Your Business”
In this episode of The Handcrafted Podcast: The Business of Making Things, Paul dives deep into one of the hottest topics in the maker business world: advertising. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s time to start running ads—or if ad...
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Episode 3
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15:54
"Crafting Luxury: Why Raising Your Prices Attracts Better Clients"
"In this episode, Paul shares his journey of transforming Philadelphia Table Company into a luxury brand, revealing how raising prices attracted better clients who truly value handcrafted quality. He explores the counterintuitive strategi...
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Episode 1
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15:09