For this month’s Young Wood Pro, we are continuing with our endeavor to gain the perspective and experience of other woodworkers, hoping it might help as a guiding map for you. This month I had the privilege of interviewing Andrew Morris. Andrew won the Young Wood Pro contest back in 2020 for his walnut credenza. The piece was beautiful and very well executed. I really enjoyed the chance to talk with and get to know Andrew. The experience was unique and almost shocking how much he sounded like me 10 years ago.

Shortly after winning the Young Wood Pro in 2020, Andrew decided to open up his own woodworking business. He had already logged hours as an apprentice and taken a few months in a trade program for woodworking. 

Today his business is still going and he is a busy guy. He now has the luxury of growing pains, having enough work to require needing a little help and trying to make deadlines, and just trying to be home at a decent hour. Andrew mentioned several lessons he has learned since winning the contest in 2020 and a little bit about his thinking for business for moving forward.

Long days
Andrew runs AM Wood, his woodshop. He also has a full-time apprentice. From the look on his face and the tone in his voice, I already knew he had logged at least a 10-hour day by the time we sat down to chat. It’s a look I know well because I have a mirror, and, man, I’ve had many of those days!

Being in that position as a business is an absolute blessing, but also presents some challenges. Andrew and I discussed some of those challenges such as the villain of time in a woodshop and how to make sure you are charging enough to pay for that time. 
Andrew talked about hard lesson learned in under-bidding jobs only to find out in the middle of them. I found great hope in his comments about learning that lesson and only wanting to learn it once. 

Even better was in the action he took following the difficult experience to ensure he would not have that problem again. Andrew stated that he sought solutions in online groups of professional woodworkers, asking them for their suggestions. He also went back and looked at how he was calculating his bids and made adjustments to ensure that that problem would not be a problem again.

Mistakes happen
As simple as it seems, that is the best way to grow as a Young Wood Pro. Mistakes are going to happen in everything from the build, client relations, to pricing. They only start to become unrecoverable mistakes when we keep repeating them. 

I found a sense of relief in hearing how Andrew goes head on at finding a solution the first time a problem is recognized. The pain of learning that lesson is usually the greatest motivator to change, and Andrew took his bid problem head on. Not only does that tell me he’s a pretty smart guy, but he also has the humility and grit that he’s going to need to be successful.

Labor of love
In a quite humorous and relatable moment during our conversation, I asked him what his favorite piece that he’s built in recent memory would be. After a moment or two of thought, he easily decided it was a bed he made for his 2-year-old daughter. Another very relatable comment in my opinion by Andrew. 

The reason for that is I completely understand what it’s like to be building furniture for everybody else because it’s my job, while I look at or am reminded of all the projects for my loved ones I can’t get to. So, not only is the labor of love the accomplishment, but also it’s a prideful moment to be able to actually get to something that seemingly has a lot of financially contracted obstacles.

It was a wonderful moment of levity in the conversation, and we both had a pretty good laugh at the fact that we are the personification of “the cobbler, whose kids have no shoes.” After a decade and a half of doing my job there are still ideas and personal projects that I have not been able to get to. Fortunately, I’ve learned to stop beating myself up for it because I’m busy making a living and making sure my business succeeds. That is the goal, here right? 

Usually, the time I need to get to the personal projects presents itself, or as Andrew found out, outside factors like a spouse can be the spurring I need to knock it out. I’m sure most professionals can relate.

More than furniture
Another really amazing thing Andrew has done was realizing that where he is located in Washington state, sticking strictly to furniture can sometimes have more downtime between jobs than he was comfortable with, and he would rather be working instead of having that downtime. To alleviate that issue, Andrew decided to be flexible and begin doing cabinetry work as well. 

Any experienced woodworker in our profession knows that cabinetry is going to be a more regular income in many regions of the country due to home building demand. Andrew figured that out at a much younger age and was able to capitalize on it. 

The coolest part about it is that by doing cabinet work, it got him connected with architects and interior designers and, most importantly, in the client’s homes. Andrew stated many of those homes that he has gotten into from cabinetry have yielded a good deal of furniture work as well. 

I’m glad it worked out that way for him and it seems that being flexible actually rewarded him double. A smart choice and useful perspective for Young Wood Pros to consider.

New products
With flexibility in mind, Andrew’s next comments came as no surprise. I asked Andrew what direction or changes he’s looking at in his business moving forward. Andrew discussed some ideas about a small simple streamlined product that he can offer that is repeatable and that his apprentice and wife (who is also about to start working for him) can handle while he tackles more furniture work. 

I think this is incredibly smart because what he’s really doing is diversifying his income stream to get more flexibility and give himself a better chance to create time. Time for him to dial-in on parts of the work that he wants to do and that he’s most qualified to do. 

It’s also wise to add income streams that help pay for your employees. I have found when I’ve got help in the shop working on things, it’s also just nice to have them around to help me lift or set up stuff that I’m doing, and having that additional stream of income allows him that benefit. I feel very confident that no matter what direction he tries to go it will work out just fine because he seems to know how to be flexible and adapt.

I had never met or spoken with Andrew before our chat and I have to be honest and say that I got up and walked away from it very impressed. Not only is Andrew a very genuine and sincere guy, he’s also a very smart and talented woodworker. I have met many people who took a shot at this line of work, and it didn’t work out. It is a difficult line of work to sustain. 

It always makes my day to meet a guy like Andrew and know he is putting up a heck of an effort while being rewarded successfully. If you get a chance, go on the Woodworking Network YouTube channel and check out our chat. I think you’ll enjoy it and you might even learn something, I know I did. 

Be sure to tune in next month, I have a special guest I’m going to be interviewing that should be quite entertaining. 

#YoungWoodPro is a contest and an educational program sponsored by Grizzly Industrial to help novice professionals improve their skills in business and woodworking. Entries opened March 10 for the 2025 contest. Learn more about the contest.