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 copy and lead tracking to sales systems and grant discovery. You'll hear how he prompts ChatGPT to act as a strategic collaborator, even asking it to assign tasks across his team.Paul also breaks down tools like Presti.ai for product photography and Zapier for automating workflows—plus, he touches on the ethical boundaries he won’t cross, like generating fake AI images of products. Toward the end, he tackles the eco-impact of AI and how companies are shifting toward nuclear energy to power servers responsibly.Whether you're new to AI or already using it, this episode is full of practical tips, creative ideas, and a thoughtful look at where human craftsmanship meets modern technology.Join the Network
--------
25:30
--------
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 experience—from initial inquiry to white glove delivery—and emphasizes how every touchpoint can and should reflect the same level of intentionality and excellence as the finished piece. Paul shares specific strategies for elevating communication, quoting, sample delivery, branding, customer handoffs, quality control, and post-sale follow-up.This episode is a deep dive into how crafting an unforgettable client experience builds trust, increases perceived value, leads to referrals, and positions your business in the luxury space. Whether you're a solo maker or scaling with a team, this one is packed with actionable insights on how to raise your service to an 11 out of 10.Join the Network
--------
21:53
--------
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 between generic “advice” (like this podcast) and personalized “help” (like in the group).Then he dives into four listener questions:1️⃣ Burnout and time management (Jess from Asheville):Paul talks about blocking time for specific tasks, setting email hours in your signature, and establishing hard stop times to maintain work-life balance. He stresses the importance of decompression to avoid hating your own shop.2️⃣ Overlooked systems or habits (Miguel from Albuquerque):He emphasizes asking for help, not doing it all alone, and not ignoring sales and marketing. Makers often focus on the fun of building but neglect daily sales activity—so he suggests making sales the first priority each morning.3️⃣ Pricing fears and valuing your work (Emily from Portland):Paul discusses the need to move beyond low “starter” pricing and embrace charging for real value. He recommends mindset shifts (mentioning You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero), treating custom work like art, and using a pricing calculator to ensure you hit target profit.4️⃣ Quality control for growing teams (Derek from Grand Rapids):Paul describes implementing a final inspection checklist reviewed by his operations director. He explains standardizing finishing processes, encouraging accountability without micromanaging, and gradually building a culture of quality through clear expectations and systems.Throughout, Paul keeps the tone conversational, generous, and practical, repeatedly inviting listeners to email him for resources like his quality control checklist or pricing tools.Join the Network
--------
16:40
--------
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: early days working out of his dad’s garage, learning by trial and error on Etsy, juggling a music career and substitute teaching, and slowly expanding from a $400/month rented garage to owning a 16,000-square-foot workshop.Paul talks about critical turning points, like bringing on his first helper (his dad!), hiring employees, landing big jobs like the Lokal Hotel and custom pieces for Jason Kelce and other Eagles players, and opening a showroom in Old City Philadelphia.He also discusses the hard lessons learned during rapid growth—like hitting cash flow crises, finally getting serious about bookkeeping, raising prices, and hiring mentors to scale sustainably.Throughout, he emphasizes the importance of not being too precious about who builds the pieces, being willing to delegate, asking for help, and learning from mistakes.This episode offers an honest, detailed blueprint for anyone trying to turn a creative side hustle into a real business.Join the Network
--------
34:37
--------
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 “money in, money out” cycles driven by deposit-based sales, and how it can mask serious inefficiencies as you grow your team.Paul shares the critical advice he got from a fellow custom furniture maker that changed everything: measuring production goals on an accrual basis instead of relying on cash basis accounting. He breaks down how they set a clear, per-employee production target ($150k–$200k/year), switched to tracking shipped, invoiced work instead of deposits, and began sharing these metrics transparently with the entire team in weekly meetings.You’ll hear how these changes not only stabilized cash flow (finally letting them pay vendors early and reinvest in tools and pay raises), but also created a shared rallying cry in the shop for efficiency and quality. Paul also talks about the hard decision to reduce staff when it turned out the team was operating bloated, and how the focus on transparency and collective goals built morale rather than harming it.If you're a maker with a growing team or just looking to finally get on top of the cash flow rollercoaster, this episode is packed with raw, real, and immediately usable insight.Join the Network
About 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.
USA