On this episode of NS Builders Podcast, Ken and I take a trip down memory lane… back to the beginning of the NS Builders shop. If only the walls encompassing these 2,400 square feet could talk—the stories they would tell…

On a recent Revealed episode, Ken gave a tour of our shop, which generated a huge amount of interest and questions from viewers. Everyone wants to know if they can come for a tour. They want to see our flow and ask questions about the tooling. Basically, what does it take to set up a shop of their own, where do you start, and how do you take it to the next level the way we have? So I figured this would be a good time to share some of the history of the NS Builders shop.  

SMALL BEGINNINGS 

In the spring of 2017, I had been in this location for just a few months. I rented this space because it was closer to where my wife and I were living, and I think Martha was born about this time. But I knew I would eventually need a bigger space and even had some plans of converting this into a more extensive shop. NS Builders was in its infancy, so I was starting small. We changed the carpet in the office area and painted the interior and exterior for a much-needed update.   

One of my first big purchases was the Cantek planer and the edge bander. I didn't even get to break them in before Ken joined me after leaving another cabinet shop. In fact, he was the one who took off the plastic and degreased the edge bander.   

We had the basics—a Delta table saw, planer, jointer, a miter saw station, and the Paulk bench. What we lacked in tools, Ken more than made up for with his skills in creating custom cabinetry that would push NS Builders' craftsmanship even higher. This was the perfect opportunity for both of us—I was growing the business but needed to elevate the millwork. And Ken could see past the blank slate and build up the shop with the tools and machinery we would need going forward. 

Slow and steady—that's the way we expanded the shop.   

PEOPLE VERSUS TOOLS

I learned this lesson early on, and I swear by it: Surround yourself with talented, creative, and driven people like yourself, and success will follow. People are always more valuable than tools or machinery. I think back to my early days and first projects and those times I said to myself: "If only I knew what I was doing!" I didn't know anything about veneering and the finer aspects of millwork. I had to outsource a lot of the work. And then I hired Ken. At first, we didn't think there would be enough work in the cabinet shop to keep him busy full-time. But within a month, everything changed. And we've never looked back.  

GROWING PAINS

There were times when I had to rein in my enthusiasm for building up the shop; my brain said: "Yeah, you NEED the Altendorf slider," but my checking account said, "The Cantek will work just as well." And that is what you need to think about when outfitting your own shop. Where are you in relation to the price point of the tool you're considering? You can always upgrade later if you need to, once you're making the kind of money that allows you to do so without risk. And the funny thing is—the Cantek hasn't given us any problems. I went with the mid-range, not the most expensive model. No regrets; I've observed that there is often more support from the manufacturer for their mid-range, or most popular, products.  

RENT, BUY, OR BUILD

Of course, everyone wants to know: Do you rent, buy a building, or design and build your own  shop? There's no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. Because so much will depend on location, your specific needs for shop space, number of employees, and financially what makes the most sense. Personally, I have to factor in all aspects and then determine if it makes sense to stay put and make the best use of our limited space, or move, rent, or build somewhere else. I guess you'll know the answer to that question when I do. 

FINAL THOUGHTS…

In the end, a successful shop is more about the right people with the right skills versus the amount of space or the brand of tools. Great things can come from humble beginnings.   

It's time to discover what NS Builders can intentionally craft for you! Contact us today to get started on your custom dream home. Together, we can make it happen. 

—Nick Schiffer