Woodworker sees opportunity in slow economy 

Jared Alexander Patchin, 26, wanted to start a company – and wanted to give his company a name that would denote quality. Rejecting such possible names as Jared’s Furniture, he launched J. Alexander Fine Woodworking last March.

He sells home and office furniture he designs and builds himself in a corner of the Nampa business called Shutter Crafts he runs with his father. He brings to the business a knowledge of wood that allows him to look around a room and identify oak, birch, alder, basswood and others.
Patchin admits he had a slight advantage when starting his business. Shutter Crafts and J. Alexander are all part of the same corporation, Patchin Enterprises. “All the numbers go into the same books,” he said.
He was able to finance through the family corporation and to use the facilities at Shutter Crafts. “I didn’t have to quit my job, borrow money, get a space, or lease or buy equipment,” he said. So far, he has sold seven pieces, including two office reception desks, two bookcase / entertainment centers and some office furniture – all without actively pursuing sales but becoming known through word of mouth.
Also, as it turned out, the economic downturn worked in his favor. As business slowed at Shutter Crafts, Patchin approached his father with a plan: avoid laying off one of their employees and allow Patchin to cut back his hours, spending his free time building his own business. He was given the go-ahead.
Patchin learned about making furniture by studying Internet sites, reading magazines and through trial-and-error. Four years of independent study gave him the courage to work for clients. “If I’m going to charge $3,400 for something, I’d better know what I’m doing,” he said.
He discovered an interest in business while attending Boise State University. “I was an engineering major until I encountered calculus and discovered I wasn’t as good at math as I thought I was. I discovered I enjoyed business more than I thought,” he said.
He’s been working for his father, Douglas, since age 14. His father bought the custom shutter store 19 years ago. With the business’s small staff, “you really have to know how to do everything,” said Patchin.
Forty percent of the company’s sales are in Sun Valley, with the rest in Treasure Valley. “We were so busy 2-3 years ago, we were practically working overtime. Then, 7-8 months ago, we saw a noticeable drop. On the retail side, there’s not as much of a drop, but the wholesale side has practically gone away,” said Patchin.
He said his father is “of the just-wait-it-out mentality.”
The younger Patchin intends as well to weather all economic storms and stay with the business – both Shutter Crafts and J. Alexander Fine Woodworking. His plans aren’t grandiose. “I want to keep (J. Alexander) small, just four, five, six people,” he said.
“I want to take my time running the business,” he said. “I want to run Shutter Crafts and J. Alexander for the rest of my life.”

Contact info

Phone — 208.447.7081

E-mail — info@jawoodworking.com

Web site: jawoodworking.com

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