Episode 158

158 - Matthew, Lord of Vinyl Box

Jem and Justin welcome their first-ever planned guest, Matt Swaidan of Simple Wood Goods. The Ohio-based maker discusses his decade-long journey building a modular vinyl storage business, custom CAM software called Beaver, and automated UR robot finishing lines. They explore surviving the 2022 Baltic birch crisis, intentional downsizing, digital marketing strategies, and maintaining boundaries with four kids under six while running a focused manufacturing operation.

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DISCUSSED:

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  • We have our first planned guest, Matthew Swaidan of Simple Wood Goods
  • Your business, GO
  • Your background?
  • So many boxes, did you set out to be a box lord?
  • Assembly line with UR robot
  • Software dev experience
  • https://speckle.systems/
  • Explain Beaver - Production CAM
  • Anderson Stratros Nest CNC router
  • Edge sealing experiments
  • Odoo
  • The edge bander retrofit?
  • How dig out of baltic birch?
  • Change your design or practices?
  • New products in mind? How much does the production line limit that?
  • Online marketing experience
  • Ad spends 10% of revenue
  • Epoxy floors?

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Show Info

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HOSTS

Jem Freeman

Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia

Like Butter | Instagram | More Links

Justin Brouillette

Portland, Oregon, USA

PDX CNC | Instagram | More Links

About the Podcast

Show artwork for Parts Department
Parts Department
Justin Brouillette (Portland CNC) and Jem Freeman (Like Butter) discuss CNC machines, their product design and manufacturing businesses, and every kind of tool that they fancy.

About your hosts

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Jem Freeman

Co-founder and director of Like Butter, a CNC focussed timber design and manufacturing business in their purpose-built solar-powered workshop. Castlemaine, VIC, Australia.
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Justin Brouillette

Owner of PDX CNC