Peter Erdei builds high-quality custom pieces. And of those pieces, many of them are very high end, unique and stunning tables.
As is most destinations in life, Peter arrived at this one after experiencing many different things in life.
We talk about some of those experiences on the show.
Matter of fact, we talk about a lot of things. I talk with Peter about the long hours he puts in, how his business actually got started (a little urgency!!), getting traction to start his business, learning more about the craft of finishing, and more in-depth knowledge about wood.
We talk about constantly learning, learning from even apprentices.
We talk about where his best employees come from.
We talk about his approach to designing a table, matching design to a customer’s visual preference and usage.
Peter tells you and me about his second business – creating slabs from trees (carefully selecting just the right wood).
One of the things that come across to me is that Peter takes the finishing of the wood very seriously. He approaches this aspect with patience and fastidiousness. He is not willing to rush this aspect and builds up a multi-layered finish with multiple components.
Hang on a second, did he just say, “Walrus Oil”?
Peter wants his pieces, his tables, to be more than just something functional – he has a strong concern for creating a great environment for his customers with his work.
I asked Peter to talk about his future business goals. One of them? “To be one of the best shops in the world that creates custom pieces.”
Peter is building an apprenticeship program that includes everything from sweeping the floors to an entire shop process for getting a product out the door – including packing it.
Peter has a couple of young kids, he brings them to the shop, they like to make things.
What is something Peter thinks you should do? Choose your own destiny!
I was curious about what impact the Internet and social media had on growing his business – Peter doesn’t hesitate to talk about effect these have had on his company growth.
I absolutely recommend checking out his Instagram account. HOLY CRAP there are some amazing projects on there!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erdeidesigns/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-erdei-30b51a134/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/erdeidesign/
Website: https://erdeidesigns.com/
The book that Peter uses as his guide when it comes to finishing:
Understanding Wood Finishing: How to Select and Apply the Right Finish – by Bob Flexner
(Amazon Link CLICK HERE if you want.)
