Hidden Gems: Meet Brian Hill of Brian Hill Woodworks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Hill.

Hi Brian, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My journey has been one in the making since I was 16 years old. My woodworking journey began at Timpview High School where I took my first course. It was a wood-turning class and I took it on a whim because I needed to fill a fine arts credit. Little did I know my life was about to be changed.

I instantly fell in love with every aspect of woodworking. The smell, the beauty of the wood, the fine craftsmanship, the extraordinary and unique tools to help craft incredible pieces of furniture and fine art, the list goes on. Needless to say, I quickly found my calling in life, and for the first time in my life, I actually loved going to school. I knew what I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

Following that first class, I continued to take woodworking courses for the rest of my high school education and then continued on to joining the Cabinetry and Architectural Woodworking program at Utah Valley University. Upon completing my two-year degree, I had a tough choice to make; go get a job at a local woodshop for $9-$12 an hour or continue my education through the Technology Management program at UVU. At this stage of my life, I knew I wanted to start my own woodworking business but I felt completely inadequate and unprepared.

So, I pressed on as a student trusting that my education at UVU would sufficiently prepare me for the future I wanted to achieve and I certainly wasn’t let down. Through another two years at UVU, I met many instructors and counselors and took many courses that shaped my thinking, broadened my understanding of how a business works, and that taught me how to apply my education to real-world situations. I graduated in 2017 with full confidence, but still incredibly nervous, that I could run my own woodworking business building fine furniture and home décor.

I was fortunate and incredibly blessed to graduate with no student debt, but I still lacked all the necessary tools for building furniture. I decided to work, save, and purchase tools as I was able to slowly build my own ideal woodshop, and in May of 2019, I was ready. I took the plunge, quit my job as Production Manager at a local business, and began building. I finally achieved the dream I had had since I was a teenager and I couldn’t feel more blessed to have the life I have right now.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The road to building a business is never smooth and my experience has been no exception. My greatest struggle was right at the initiation of my business in 2019. I had a wife, two children, a few thousand dollars in savings, enough tools to get by, but no idea how I was going to draw in clients.

Friends and family were very supportive and brought me some work that challenged me and grew my skills and my portfolio. But that “warm market” quickly dries up and you’re left with finding ways to attract new clients. There were many times I questioned my abilities as a woodworker and as a business owner, times when I wondered if I had made the wrong decision and if I wasn’t cut out for the work ahead.

As a business owner, you learn real quick what you don’t know and what you’re not good at. I had to become a master of finance and budgeting. I had to learn design, social media, SEO, photography, time management, resource acquisition, customer service, and many other things while, at the same time, still being a supportive and involved husband and father.

Of course, many of these tasks can be outsourced but, as a small business just starting out, oftentimes that is just not an option. The first year of my business was my most trying but I made it through and it taught me what I am capable of and equipped me with the confidence to push on.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My business is Brian Hill Woodworks LLC and you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, Etsy, Pinterest, and at brianhillwoodworks.com. The primary focus of my business is to build custom, high-end furniture, and home décor. I have built dining tables, beds, bookshelves, custom floating shelves, end tables, entry tables, bathroom vanities, large wall clocks, and even a fancy dog kennel! I have also worked with other local businesses to design and manufacture seasonal items and custom displays.

The most important goal for my business is for Brian Hill Woodworks to become synonymous with quality of craftsmanship. Every project that leaves my shop is built with great care and attention to detail and I dream of a day when my business logo is instantly recognizable as high-end, high quality, and long-lasting.

Another creative woodworking skill set I am continuously developing is an art form called a wood inlay. It is the art of burning voids (pockets) into the surface of the wood and then filling those voids with contrasting and exotic woods to create beautiful images and scenery. In some online forums, I’m known as “the inlay guy” and I bear the title with pride! I discovered this style of art in college and instantly fell in love.

I am constantly working to improve this skill and even encourage others to try it out. Many have come to me for tips and advice and I love sharing my experience with them.

So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I can be reached through any of the social media platforms mentioned above or my website has more details for contacting me directly. I believe in good communication skills and will always try to respond immediately when possible.

Many of my artistic creations end up on Etsy, so go check out @BrianHillWoodworks and see if there’s something there you enjoy. And if that sparks your creativity, reach out, and let’s create something truly unique just for you.

Contact Info:

• Email: bhwoodworksllc@gmail.com
• Website: www.brianhillwoodworks.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianhillwoodworks/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianhillwoodworks
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BrianHillWoodworks