Meet Joe Wegner | Carpenter and owner of Wegner Custom Furniture, LLC

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joe Wegner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joe, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
There wasn’t a big, grandiose plan behind starting my business. It sort of started on accident. Ever since high school I always wanted to have my own business. I tried many jobs and different ideas over the years and none of them panned out. In early 2015 I needed a new bed. I had taken woods class in high school and I had a few tools from my days of doing kitchen and bathroom remodels, so I built a bed. Then I built a farm table and benches. Family and friends would come over and see the bed and table and suggested that I try selling custom pieces. I put a few photos on Craigslist and the next thing I knew, I was getting orders for tables and beds and making them in my backyard, until the neighbors complained about all the noise, at which point I had to move my operation into the garage!

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
One of the things that I’m most proud of is the fact that I was able to take what started as just building a bed in my driveway into a career. I’m also proud that after less than 2 years of being in business, I was able to move back to Colorado from California, not having a shop space, the proper tools, customers or having any idea if I’d be able to sell furniture, that I am now getting my pieces in furniture stores and a successful growing, award winning business. The journey definitely has not been easy. There’s good months and there’s bad months. I’m not a 9-5 corporate kind of person so I just learn to embrace the suck sometimes and keep pushing forward and praying. The excitement of never knowing who might call or email me on any given day wanting a custom piece of furniture helps to keep me going. No day is exactly the same as any other day.
One thing that I think is a little different about me than some other furniture makers is that I wear all of the hats. When working with Wegner Custom Furniture, you’re dealing directly with me from start to finish including the delivery and install. When ordering from an online business or buying from one of the big chain furniture stores, it’s likely that, if the piece is made with solid wood, that it’s not dried to our climate in Colorado. I hear about and often see pieces in stores that show up damaged from shipping or after being in Colorado for awhile, they dry and crack. While custom furniture may be more expensive than some chain stores or online, it’s important to buy locally and make sure the wood is dried to where it needs to be to minimize movement and cracking.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m more of an outdoors person than a city person so we’d definitely be going to the mountains. Before heading up we’d catch a concert at Red Rocks and then head up to go camping, skiing, snowmobiling, golfing, hiking, and and hit up some hot springs. There’s so many amazing places to go in Colorado! If they are a motorcycle person, we’d have to ride the Harleys through the mountains too! Honestly, a week isn’t near enough time to do all the things that I’d wanna do with them and to take them every where.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My family who never discouraged me from pursuing my dream of having my own business. Despite seeing me struggle sometimes, they’ve never said ” just go get a real job”. They always encouraged me to keep going and praying.

Website: wegnercustomfurniture.com