On this latest podcast episode, we’re stoked to bring you someone who’s been passionate about carpentry since he was a young boy. For those who don’t know, he’s been playing with tools since he was 2 years old!
It’s our pleasure to introduce you to Nick Schiffer, of NS Builders! He is also an author, brand ambassador for Fine Homebuilding Magazine, and an influencer on Instagram.
Early Start!
Nick started doing carpentry work when he was just a child. Because his family owns a residential fence company, he began working for his father at age 11. Later he worked in the shop, and eventually took over the company and ran it for several years.
He did not go to a formal school; instead, he went to a vocational school. At age 15, he sold his first job. He recalls that he built a 10 x 12 shed for his art teacher with only handful of small power tools.
A lot of great opportunities came his way, which were blessings to him. While he is grateful for the opportunities, the big breaks, the programs he attended, and for gaining a college degree… He did stress that if you’re ready to start a carpentry business as a full-time career, there’s no need for a college degree because it puts someone in a 4-year delay.
You can always hire talented people who are good at other skills – for example, an accountant. But first, make your business grow and everything else will follow through.
When Did Nick Schiffer Start NSBuilders?
He was still working for a different company but owning a business is something he has been thinking about for quite some time. He didn’t want to start operating in the middle of the year as he wanted to do the full 12-months and start of a new year.
In January 1st, 2014, NS Builders was born.
With having a lot of experiences under his belt; from working with the family business to doing jobs for another company, he knew the client niche he should focus on. For Nick, the people he works for and the people he gets involved with, are most important to him. He wants to work with clients who are innovative and do not put a limit to their designs based on a budget. He does not pick a clientele where they’re going to reduce value based on a particular budget.
Nick says there’s nothing wrong in not taking every project that comes his way – so he learned to say “no” at certain projects that do not fit the company profile, even if his business was still in the beginning stage.
To a fellow carpenter who’s just starting out, this is what he says:
“Work hard. Be willing to start small. The fancy truck can come later.”
What Was Nick’s Worst Moment?
Time and money wasted on multiple jobs due to hiring sub-par employees and didn’t take time to vet out subcontractors.
His advice: Stop working on tasks that you are not good at. It’s better to hire the right people – the right talent who can deliver the work and are simply up for the challenge.
What Has Been Nick Schiffer’s Best Moment So Far?
Using Instagram to grow his business and brand. This social media platform has not only elevated his business and his peer’s business, but it has also helped cultivate a community where they help each other, as well as compete with each other in a positive way.
Nick does his best in posting three posts per day and mix it up a bit. For him, the key is to stay consistent with your content and what the business is built around. He also suggests to put out professional photographs of your work because interior designers and architects will show them to their clients.
For him, Instagram stories has given him a boost. Such as:
- Elevated everyone’s standards.
- Elevated their designs.
- Brought in at least 1 lead a week, especially in the local area.
Aside from Instagram, Nick also uses other social media platforms:
- Facebook Page: he utilizes it as a landing page, like a website. You can create full albums of completed projects and much more.
- Houzz: a great way to connect with designers.
- Youtube: an interactive way to showcase his work. He hopes to focus on this platform more in the coming years.
Parting words of inspiration and motivation!
“Understand that patience is key! Patience and hard work is going to pay off.”