Built to spec. Run like a business.
I'm a German-trained metalworker turned woodworker. I've made parts for aerospace and oil, and since 2014 I've run my own woodworking business. Now I teach small woodworking shops how to produce faster, cut waste and cut material costs.
No cost, no obligation. Let's see if it's a fit.
- Training
- German metalworker3.5-year apprenticeship program
- Germany
- 11 yearsIncluding the apprenticeship
- Aerospace
- F-35, Gulfstream, BoeingIncluding the F-35 prototype phase
- Energy
- CNC programmerOil business
- CNC software
- VCarve ProExpert level
- Laser software
- LightBurnProficient
- Own shop
- Since 201425.5k Etsy sales · 5.0★ from 5.5k reviews
- Shops
- Etsycustom-wood-design.comweihmue.com
No influencer tricks. Just a better shop.
- How to become a social media influencer to get sales
- How to get followers on social media platforms
- How to become a YouTube star
- ProductionHow to work faster in your small woodworking shop.
- Cut the wasteFind and remove waste from your production line.
- Cut material costsSourcing and negotiating your raw materials.
Raw material in. Finished product out.
Even a small woodworking shop is a mini production line, and every step on it can be made faster, leaner or cheaper. Tap a station to see where.
Source Materials
Raw materials are one of the biggest costs in a small shop. Savings start before the first cut.
− COST- Compare suppliers and buy in the right quantities
- Negotiate price, terms and delivery
- Buy stock sizes that fit your parts, so less ends up as offcuts
Let's find the slow spots in your line.
On a live phone call, we walk through your production line station by station and pick the changes that save you the most time, waste and material. Start with a free 15-minute intro call.
The work nobody sees.
A shop runs on more than sawdust. The office side keeps the money straight and the orders coming in.
Keep the books clean and current.
- What bookkeeping software to use for a small shop
- How to keep your bookkeeping organized and optimized
- Simple routines so the paperwork never piles up
Disclaimer: I'm not a CPA. For tax and accounting decisions, talk to a licensed CPA.
Listings that perform.
- Etsy listing setup, done right
- Keyword research
- How to get a listing to perform
- Website listings and blog posts
From click to cut.
How an order moves through my system, and why nothing reaches the production line until the customer says yes.
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01
New orderCustom sign · online
Order comes in online
A customer places an order on Etsy or the website.
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02
OrderItemProgramRenderShip#1001Family name signDONEDONEDONE#1002Medal displayDONEDONETO DO#1003Military plaqueDONETO DOTO DO#1004Custom signTO DOTO DOTO DO
Processed into a Google Sheet
Every order gets added to the sheet, and everything is color coded.
Red = to doGreen = done -
03
3D RENDER SENT ✓
Programmed & 3D render emailed
The order gets programmed, and a 3D render gets emailed to the customer.
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04
APPROVEDby the customer
Customer approves
Only once the customer approves a custom order does it move to production.
Happy customers are the business.
Customer service is a big part of a company's success. It's where repeat orders and 5-star reviews come from. Want to talk it through? Book a free 15-minute call →
Day-to-day communication
How to handle customer messages every day: fast, clear and friendly.
Turn inquiries into orders
How to convert people who reach out into paying customers.
Angry to happy
How to problem-solve and turn an angry customer into a happy one.
5-star reviews
How to earn the 5-star reviews that sell your next order.
“I've ordered this for three different retirements. The quality still remains outstanding and the customer service is excellent. 2 out of the 3 times the seller was able to accommodate an earlier delivery time and was gracious enough to do it without charging extra. … if you're on the fence, you will NOT go wrong with this seller.”
“Custom Wood Design was great to work with. They helped me customize my vision, had great communication, and had a quick turn around. I would 100% use them again!!”
“Excellent, quick communication from the artist. Was able to slightly customize the product and I love the way it turned out. Super fast shipping too”
“It's perfect! … this feels like such a meaningful way to honor him! It's beautifully made, sturdy, and engraved deep, and was packaged with care. I'm sure this will last for years!”
Shop floor to small business.
Every stop taught me something I now pass on: precision, process, and how to actually sell what you make.
- 01
Germany
Apprenticeship
3.5 years learning metalworking from the ground up.
- 02
Germany
Metalworker
11 years in Germany in all, apprenticeship included.
- 03
USA
Aerospace
The F-35 prototype phase, Gulfstream and Boeing.
- 04
USA
CNC programmer
Programming CNC machines in the oil business.
- 05
Since 2014
My own shop
Woodworking business, selling on Etsy, custom-wood-design.com and weihmue.com.
I don't just advise. I sell.
CustomWoodDesignLLC, my shop on Etsy, run from Oklahoma City.
See the shop on EtsyThe tools I work in daily.
CNC routing and laser work, from design file to finished piece.
Where are you right now?
Straightforward advice from someone who runs a small business too. Pick the one that fits.
You have the skill and the idea. I'll help you turn it into a small business that's set up right from day one, based on what worked when I started my own in 2014.
Free 15-min call: let's talk about starting- Get organizedSet up the business the right way from the start.
- Products and pricingDecide what to sell and what to charge for it.
- Source your materialsFind suppliers and negotiate your raw material costs from day one.
Already up and running? I'll look at how your shop works today, with the eye of someone trained in German metalworking and aerospace production, and help you produce faster and cheaper.
Free 15-min call: let's talk about my shop- Work fasterSpeed up your production line, CNC and laser included (VCarve Pro, LightBurn).
- Cut the wasteFind and remove waste in your production, start to finish.
- Cut material costsSource smarter and negotiate better prices on raw materials.
German precision
Trained in Germany's 3.5-year apprenticeship system, where getting it right is the standard.
Aerospace discipline
Experience on the F-35 prototype phase, at Gulfstream and at Boeing, plus CNC programming in oil.
Real small-business experience
Running my own woodworking business since 2014: 25.5k sales and a 5.0-star rating on Etsy. See for yourself:
Start with a free 15‑minute call.
We start with a conversation about where you are and where you want to go. No cost, no obligation. All consulting is done live, one-on-one, on the phone.
- 01 Free 15-minute intro call
- 02 Book a 1-hour call or the 5-hour bundle
- 03 We work through your shop together, live on the phone