The Lumber Jills: A Gritty Family Business

TLDRIn this video, Eric Brusi shares the story of how he started Lumber Jills premium firewood business and the challenges he faced along the way. With determination and hard work, Eric built a successful business and taught his three daughters the value of hard work. From using chainsaws to operating a log splitter, Eric shares the ins and outs of his day-to-day operations and his plans for future growth.

Key insights

🌲Lumber Jills is a family business that started 2 years ago with a few chainsaws, a truck, and some property with trees.

💪Eric's motivation to start the business was to teach his daughters about hard work and provide them with a grittier family business experience.

🪓Eric initially used homeowner-level chainsaws but had to invest in better equipment, including a log splitter, to meet growing demand.

⌛️Using an ax, Eric could produce a face cord of firewood in about 2 hours. With a log splitter, the time was reduced to 1 hour, and now it only takes around 15 minutes.

🚀The Lumber Jills business has primarily focused on selling firewood to a local campground, but Eric plans to expand into the restaurant market.

Q&A

What equipment did Eric need to start Lumber Jills?

—To start the business, Eric needed chainsaws, a truck, a utility trailer for transporting logs, an ax, and eventually a log splitter.

How much wood can Eric produce with a log splitter in an hour?

—With a log splitter, Eric can produce a face cord of firewood in about 1 hour, equivalent to a truckload full of wood.

Who are Lumber Jills' primary customers?

—Currently, 75% of Lumber Jills' revenue comes from selling bundled firewood to a local campground. They also have some homeowners and a small percentage of restaurant customers.

Does Lumber Jills offer delivery?

—Yes, Lumber Jills offers delivery within a 10-mile radius for an additional fee.

What are Eric's plans for the future of Lumber Jills?

—Eric plans to grow the business and increase its revenue to meet his financial goals. He also aims to expand into the restaurant market, as they have a steady year-round demand for firewood.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Lumber Jills is a family business that started 2 years ago with a few chainsaws and a truck.

01:14Eric started using an ax to split firewood but later invested in a log splitter to increase efficiency.

03:5875% of Lumber Jills' revenue comes from selling bundled firewood to a local campground.

04:40Eric plans to expand Lumber Jills' customer base by targeting the restaurant market.

07:08Eric aims to save a specific amount of money for his daughters' college education through Lumber Jills' profits.

09:08Eric prefers to stack firewood for customers, adding an artistic touch to the business.

11:19Eric's favorite wood to cut is ash, but he enjoys a blend of oak, ash, and cherry for the perfect fire.

12:23Lumber Jills offers delivery within a 10-mile radius for an additional fee.

Browse more