Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Burkhardt and Phil Leonard.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Brian and Phil. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
We began as two friends who met at Illinois State University with knack for finding a way to make some extra cash while going to school. Phil and I set up shop in the one car garage of their townhouse just off campus. Most of our products were batched out on weekend and sold on the online marketplace Etsy. Our products at the time consisted of wine racks made from recycled wine staves, beer bottles turns into juice glasses and well and some hand turned items made on our small lathe.
After I graduated, Phil continued to finish up his final classes at ISU. We both came to the realization that although we were both education majors, being in a classroom setting was not somewhere we’d like to be anytime soon. Phil soon graduated and we found ourselves with a desire to take our side business to the next level. Our small weekend projects started to develop into larger furniture and cabinetry projects requiring more space and equipment.
At the end of that years lease, we decided to make the move to Chicago. Hardwood lumber was non existent in Bloomington, IL and without driving to Peoria we were at the mercy of the big box store’s lumber selection. Chicago had the resources and the clientele we were looking for.
We moved in a co-op shop in Logan square where rent was reasonable, the larger machines were communal and we could our own workbench with storage for our hand tools. It was in this shop where we networked with other cabinet makers, finishers and contractors to begin to grown our business to a profitable and steady income.
Two years later, we had again outgrown our space. The amount of projects we had going on, having to wait to use equipment and lack of storage space for finished products began to be a hindrance to our bottom line.
Luckily, there was another cabinet maker in the Co-op who was in the same position as we were. Too big for the co-op but not large enough to be on our own. We decided we would go in together on a new space on the top floor of the same building we were in. Over the next two years, we continued to grown our business, network with builders and designers to find our niche in high-end residential woodworking. The majority of our work now consists of new kitchens, built-in units and one off furniture pieces.
However, it is now time again where we have outgrown our space, our new studio is being constructed and is set to open in Spring of 2018. it will be here where we will finally have our own space to grow into.
Has it been a smooth road?
Fortunately for us, we have had relatively few struggles in our business ventures. We have been lucky enough to have good mentors who routinely give us input when needed. With both of our families in the Chicagoland area, we were able to move in with family while we set down our roots with Jay and Burk. This allowed us to focus on the business side of things without the struggles that probably would have came with keeping a roof above our head.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
Jay and Burk prides itself on attention to detail. We enjoy working with our clients throughout the entire process, design all the way through installation. With custom work, the customers input is a crucial part of getting an end product that our clients are happy with. We enjoy taking the time to create furniture and cabinetry that our clients appreciate. Often times in our industry, people cut corners and the client in the one who suffers. We, at Jay and Burk take the time to do it right. Our job isn’t finished until our customers are happy.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Chicago is a large city with many businesses like ours. Whether you are a weekend warrior looking to turn professional or someone looking to move your business to Chicago, I think it can be done; there’s plenty of work out there. The key to success is to find your niche and be known for it. Good mentors as well and being part of network of professionals in related fields can make a enormous difference in the type and quality of referrals to your business.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1919 N. Springfield Ave Chicago, Il 60647
- Website: www.jayandburk.com
- Phone: 224-545-3693
- Email: jayandburk@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jay_and_burk_woodworking
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayandBurk/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jay-and-burk-chicago
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