@@ohiowoodburnerHi Joe, Great video, i think I've watched this video 3 or 4 times since you've put it up and every time i couldn't agree more with you and it reminds me to charge more and encourages me to sell a better product.
Thanks for going to all the trouble to prove your point! Nice professional explanation! My recommendations have targeted: - - -"less manual effort" - - -"less time spent" - - -"quicker results to create your final product" - - -"improved efficiency" This often comes with a higher initial cost to implement. In the near future, I will propose a radical idea I have not seen in the USA, that puts new meaning to your concept of "VALUE ADDED FIREWOOD".
Another great video Joe! I think personally that a lot of “firewood guys” sell firewood to cheap. When you factor in time and money. We sell smaller quantity’s for a little more money. We sell in 1/4 cord increments for bulk firewood. Plus if we sell a cord of firewood as four different sales we also collect 4 different delivery charges. Hope this helps someone out there.
Hi Joe, I always enjoy and get a chuckle from your videos. There is another aspect of the firewood business that I think of as a great selling feature....seasoning. Educating your customers as to the importance and safety of properly dried firewood is an important selling feature. In my case, I am my own customer, producing firewood from 2 1/2 acres and heating our home for over fifty years. Side note: I don't pay for gym memberships either. My "gym" pays me! Shalom/gw
we never sell in bulk. In our area wood is sold by the face cord, and like you we keep things simple. Love to hear the way you think my friend. Thank you for sharing a great video.
I only prospect for sales with businesses; restaurants, convenience stores, campgrounds, etc. Every time I quote a prospective customer, I must handle the objection of a lower price. Usually the lower price is from a guy who is giving something away. Either it is his labor, his wood, his mileage & maintenance on his delivery vehicle or some combination of these elements. They don't last long in the business. These are the same guys that a few years later say, "... you can't make any money selling firewood." They couldn't make any money because they didn't price it correctly.
Years ago I was in the window cleaning business. I took over a small shopping strip from a window washer that has quit and gone out of business. I bid every store's windows at 3 times what he was getting. When they objected, I simply said, "That is why he is out of business. My price is what it takes to stay in business and to consistently show up to wash your windows." Only one store decided not to hire me.
I'm a well done burger kind of guy too. And I agree with you about everything in this video. I'm setting up my website now. I raised prices considerably from when I sold my first cord of wood for $180 bucks!
Wow. Great video. I’ve been trying to do this but maybe it’s time to take another look. I don’t want to completely price myself out of the game, but don’t want to leave any money on the table either. 👍
Yup it’s simple Decide what you want to make an hour. And always figure ware and Tare on your equipment. And always try and show up when you say you are going to. And always have what you said you was bringing
That was quite an interesting discussion. I think we all know that it is more expensive to buy small quantities, but you reminded us about how the system really works. Thanks!!!!
@@ohiowoodburner The is interesting to hear. I normally just buy a face cord because that is all the room I have. I have a pickup with a deep, long bed, and we just fill it up. I know it is easy to get screwed that way, but I have measured it after I stack it and it is just a bit over a face cord
Another great video Joe. I really like how your left the firewood yard to demonstrate the difference values in the same product. Great Job!! The secret is out..
Joe, without me thinking much about it, it seams that I do just what you talked about today...Just today I sold a 1/2 cord of premium firewood for $185.00, my normal price for a full cord is $285.00...the customer only wanted a 1/2 cord, and I told them the price, they were very happy to pay my price...Thank You for very nice videos.
As always, I enjoyed your video! You definitely have a point with this video, my Dad use to call it a convenience price. It’s convenient to buy just what you need and not have to worry about the extra. It’s basically a case of finding what works best for you and making it work. Oh and please keep that snow up there with y’all, I’m in mid-state area of South Carolina and I’m done with the cold!!!
Some good lessons here. This is where your past experiences in marketing and just being a wise consumer teaches us a few things on how we need to price whatever it is we are selling. These lessons can carry over to many different products.
Hey Joe! Great video! All great advice. Exactly why we do not sell firewood in bulk here. Just a side gig for my son and I so we stick with the bundles and small amounts of loose! Great examples you had of selling smalls for more.👍🏻👍🏻
The point you make is exactly why I'm not interested in selling firewood in bulk. I do sell larger bundles than most of the competition in my area, but I also charge for the little extra and better quality wood compared to them as well. I only sell locally unlike the competition that comes from another state. My goal is the replace the sub-par wood being sold in my area. Thanks for the great video as always Joe!
I do the same. I also work full time at my job. I have friends who assume I want to make big cash delivering big loads of firewood for heat. Not the case.
Great video. I call my firewood, "boutique firewood". It has to be pretty. Also it is the same reason I use a hardware vendor at the printing plant to keep all the nuts and bolts inventoried and restocked. Value added, we all can learn. Thanks Joe!
I understand everything you said here and agree with what you're saying. I just struggle with the idea that I live my life so contrary to ever paying more. Like the restaurant burger example, I just wouldn't enjoy a $15 burger bc I do not see the value there outside of special occasions like a vacation and a cool local restaurant. I dont even want a fast food burger, I want to buy the meat on sale in a 10+lb package and then make several burgers at once and freeze the rest. I have lived almost my whole life this way, and it pains me to see decisions that some people make. Like buying several 20oz bottles of soda at a gas station verse a 12 pack at the store (again watching ads to buy it on sale and then having several 12 pcs on hand) and then planning a head with a cooler when traveling. I feel like such an outlier with this ideology. Thanks for the video!
One other reason is that they don't have money to pay for a full cord. People will pay for a smaller amount, whatever, to keep their kids warm, and hope they can buy a little more later. My Yankee conscience and my Christian ethic doesn't allow me to squeeze the customer for every last penny. I wouldn't pay those prices, you wouldn't pay those prices, why use every marketing trick to make them pay those prices? Most people burn firewood to SAVE money, not to brag about the Premium fw they've scored. I think the Harvard/Wharton Business School style of pricing is one of the things that Americans dislike about this country, without knowing exactly what it is they dislike! If nothing else, I see it as inflationary, hurting your less affluent neighbors. I know, I know,...we'll have to agree to disagree.FYI, I don't EVER, ever stop at Starbuck's, or buy quarter sheets of plywood. Just sayin'.
@@heymakerphd1982 At the end of the day he doesn't want that business and I understand that. He wants those who are happy to pay for extra service. Like good delivery, stacking, and higher quality/small splits.
@@TheFabled1 Everybody wants to be Bill Gates. It all contributes to inflation, kinda, sorta linked to America's economy, and your fellow American's well-being. Thank goodness the oil corps. haven't moved to ONLY selling Premium!!
Happy to pay? OK, yeah, some people have more pennies than sense. And it's not like firewooders spend 5 yrs in an apprenticeship,... or 12 yrs in high priced schools, and then licensed by the state! We are what is classified as 'unskilled' workers. Luckily most of us love to work firewooding. It bothers me that some feel they should be rewarded like doctors, or electricians.
That was a great video Joe! I think a lot of folks in the firewood business could learn a lot from it, in my area people seem to try to sell the most wood for the least money and it makes no since because then others try to beat their price and run everyone’s down, to the point where no one makes money, when if they added a little more value to it they could all make money.
Good video.. I used to when we first started selling firewood bundle, bundle as much as I could of whatever species I could get my hands on.. . but with time ya get smarter.. now the good wood like hickory, apple and other fruit trees we buck up 11/2" rounds and chunk it up for smoking wood.. oak and cherry we bundle as a premium firewood.. ash, maple and lots of other stuff go for normal bundles to the everyday grocery store or gas station. Just gotta go for it.. another big game changer is kilns.. I now own 6 of em we keep going year round.. the sky is the limit
Good points joe!! Everyone sells firewood the same way. Selling 1/3 for $120 or so and full cords for $360 with delivery. People don’t realize that you are making less money selling 1/3 than full cords at that point. 3 separate trips to one trip. Should be selling for $180. Selling less for more. Been a home run for me doing it that way
That is totally the truth. I shoot for big numbers with 1/4s. That way I can take two deliveries in my truck. I can make more money selling two 1/4s than I can a 1/2 single delivery!
Joe, great video and great advice. Great explanation ofnthe value added to firewood. I just firgured up if i did bundles or a road side stand, that i would double almost triple the money i make. Thanks for this video!
I think a lot of firewood producers have a limiting believe on what people will pay for firewood. Trying to be the cheapest around, generally a lot of firewood producers have a do it myself attitude and don’t pay for many value added products in there life. Good customers in cities value high quality firewood delivered.
And I have found that to be very true Gage. Even in my area, the Mahoning Valley, is not a very vibrant economy but still I have found a good market of buyers.
Years ago I was in the window cleaning business. I took over a small shopping strip from a window washer that has quit and gone out of business. I bid every store's windows at 3 times what he was getting. When they objected, I simply said, "That is why he is out of business. My price is what it takes to stay in business as a window cleaner and to consistently show up to wash your windows." Only one store decided not to hire me.
that is what we tell our customers, if we don't make money we won't be around and you won't have wood to burn. There are less and less wood providers because they find out they are not making money.
@@ohiowoodburner back in the day I did fire wood as a hobby I did same thing. My regular was a mix match of stuff like ash my mid was the reg with some oak or other hotter longer burning wood and my premium was all oak or one of those hotter longer burning woods.
I’m all for videos that make this industry more valuable and profit oriented. I sold out my 40 facecords in two weeks last September when I advertised at $70/face in Michigan. This year I’m aiming for $100/facecord and continuing to have great customer service for delivered dry firewood
This certainly sounds like an opportunity to increase your prices and maybe even consider only selling quarter cords. If you only have a limited, set supply of firewood don't sell any of it cheap.
Another great video. As far as battery tools, my wife has an EGO chainsaw that she has used to cut about 20 face cords of wood with no problems. All tools in the EGO line do take the same battery. Not complicated. And, yes, my 7900 also gets the best of everything. Looking forward to the mother of all live streams on Saturday.
Great episode. I love the analogy of the quantities being sold by the major and minor companies. I am seriously Considering selling firewood in the Carolinas.
Brrr that looks cold. Fortunately we're having some decent weather nice and dry which has allowed us to press on extracting some nice firewood for the farm shop. Look forward to the live stream over the weekend. Keep the videos coming. Regards to the family from across the pond
Hi Joe - it's Big Rodders in Ireland. I always enjoy being able to accompany you on a trip, where I get a glimpse into life in the US of A. I hear complaints from you guys about the cost of your fuel. You showed gas at $2.84 for a US gallon. I just filled up my car with road diesel today and it cost $7.77 for a US gallon - it's no wonder gas guzzlers are few and far between here! Your vegetables seem to be much more costly but your US gallon of milk costs the exact same per unit as our 2 litres. All jolly interesting stuff. In recent years when I am asked to take on occasional jobs such as bucking or chain sharpening, I don't think of the price I would pay for that service but rather the benefit the recipient gets from getting me to do it. I once quoted $67 for a 2 hour bucking session as a polite way to say I wasn't interested but the chap got me back so often he financed the purchase of my new Husky Rancher 455 saw. That taught me that he valued what I did for him so I understand fully your approach to your pricing policy. Now get back to processing logs!
I always laugh at the reactions to people with fuel prices. Their opinion fluctuates between extremes depending on if they voted for the current president or not. LOL.
The grocery stores in my area sell firewood bundles, but the thing is... they aren't split small enough for a fireplace or fire pit... I always ended up having to resplit it just to get it to burn.
The fact that they have zero people for customer service makes things easy when filming. I ran into ZERO employees while there and when I was in HD. There was one lady at a check out that said high to me as I walked buy but other than that I was invisible to them.
Ive been selling firewood for 5 years, until this I sold only facecords of firewood and did well but maxed out on what one 40 year old guy can produce by myself. This fall started selling 1/2 and 1/4 facecords and bundles and the change in my business is huge. I'm selling 7-10 half face and 1/4 a week opposed to 1, or 2 full facecords a week
That is very interesing to hear. Two questions... 1. What is your name? LOL and 2. Would you give me some insight how much if any you increased your prices on the 1/4s over comparable 1/3s when you made the change?
@@ohiowoodburner Good morning Joe, I'm Cale. I tried selling my 1/4 and 1/2 face cords an odd amount $30 and $50, and a full face cord for $80 and only sold a few. I dropped it to $20 40 and 80 and it exploded. Because people had a $20 bill or a couple 20s and no change back was required. I sell retail at the chainsaw shop I work at but sell 75% after hours, so even having venmo, PayPal etc its still a cash business.
Wonderful content. Gasoline is an interesting product these days. My Forester runs best on the factory recommended 87 octane, my Honda powered lawnmower has to run no-alcohol premium to maintain the warranty and not destroy its seals, and a friend's Fiat 500 has to run on Premium. And as a matter of convenience per your examples, I buy pre-mixed 2-stroke premium for my Stihl saw, trimmer, and blower.
The conundrum is that you have part-time firewood producers with a pick-up that can deliver a third of a cord, so the competition is higher than a fellow with a big trailer who can deliver four face cords.
Hey Joe, Excellent video! Have you ever thought of teaching business at the local high school? I think you would do great! We need some un-woke teachers in our schools! Anyway, I agree with you 100%. Small, sole-proprietor firewood businesses should focus on premium firewood in small quantities! I only sell firewood thru my roadside stand in quantities of 1/20 cord bins and 1 cu ft bundles. The bin sales equate to $400/cord and the bundle sales equate to $600/cord. Sales have been so good that I am almost out of wood. Have a great day!
I think you did a Great job with that story and you were GREAT!!! VERY OPEN AND HONEST wish everyone had the BAL-- -- You just shown I think you're a Great Businessmen and I wish you the BESTEST!!! 🥂😁 🇺🇸
Good morning Joe. Great explanation on value added products. To increase price go Metric like we did in Canada. Gas in Kingsville Ontario is 1.48 a lite for regular times 4 to a US gal. is $ 6.00 a gallon now that's value added.
Corporations are like the bankers and politicians, the root cause of this inhumane society we all try to survive to... Local, smaller,single ownership,coops and so on are the core of sustainable living. Be frugal! Be simple! Be sharing! Be of service to other! Be listening to your Heart and Soul! Be a mirror of GOD! Thank God for firewood! With the unrelenting frigid temps where I live, I am grateful to have enough to stay warm. God Bless.
Good morning Joe!!😀😀 You definitely have great advice when it comes to business!! You are in the perfect area to be able to do the value added system. I'm kinda in the middle of nowhere. It's 45 minutes to a hour to any populated areas. My cost of transporting it kinda takes the profits out it. The one good thing for me though is I'm were the wood is and can get all I want for just my labor costs. Take care and stay warm my friend!! Logger Al
I have found the people who will buy small qty are the people not currently buying firewood. I would look for big houses with chimneys. Hope to see you Saturday!
Great educational. Maybe you said it and I missed it, but in the lumber store, it has put the labour and tool-use cost recovery into those smaller pieces. (Undoubtedly with markup on those costs) 😁 Cheers 🇨🇦
The lumber yards also use this technique to sell damaged or crooked lumber that would never sell. A 4x8 with a broken corner is worthless. Cut in 1/4s, up price and pitch the broken 1/4 in dumpster. So they are usually trying to sell 3 pieces and recoup cost of a whole sheet and labor...Hope that makes sense!
Hi Joe, great video, informative and lots of tips to take in board for the business. Wouldn't try filming at a gas station in the UK though, you'd be getting shouted at over the tannoy to switch your phone off😂 Ps, that burger looked delicious 😋
If you need a sheet of plywood but can't cut it to haul some of the big box stores will cut it it.Me if I needed just a 2'x4' peice of plywood have them cut it. May not need the other rite away but down the road you might. But anyway that was a super comparison. Joe you have a great day
I am logged in and can not wait for Saturday night at 9pm. I am from Upstate New York, Duanesburg area and cut my own Firewood. It's a lot of Oak and Locust, both Honey, and Black. Will we waiting and joining into your Live Cast. Thank You Joe, Ron from New York.
Being a small business person, you should be patronizing small coffee shops joe. Starbucks dont need your money. The little guy does. And they appreciate it.
Excellent video Joe. So applied to your log piles and assuming *the wood has a moisture content of 25% or less and *you sell a variety of loads from full cords down to bundles : what are your grades and is this linked to species of timber? I would like to suggest that Trash = bark, very small slivers or too small pieces from the processor and splitting machines, sawdust etc. burnt on a bonfire / buried / paid disposal / landfill Rough = the logs (all species) that you burn at home in your wood burner as unfit for sale. Good = ???? Better = ???? Premium = ???? Super Premium = Bundles Kindling ????
I have found with value added firewood that species isn't that important except that it's hardwoods. My customers don't heat with wood so they are just looking for a clean, easy to light stick
Great video!! If you sell smaller sounds, up the price!! It costs more to split up large quantities. Great way to support your customers. Have a Safe Day
Don’t forget Joe, the reason a lot of people heat with wood is to save money. If everyone raises their prices on wood people will stop using it, they aren’t going to pay more for wood than what they can get gas or electric for. So if you’re not careful you could ruin your market. Personally I would rather sell something for cheaper than sell nothing for expensive lol. Also keep in mind I only sell wood to people that heat with it, and I understand what you have going on and it’s awesome, but in my case I’m not going to raise prices. Take care
You missed the opposite case where the bigger container is priced more for the same weight. That is Tuna Fish. Look at the difference between 5 oz cans and 12 oz cans. You don't get a discount for getting the bigger package where it is more convenient to open only one can instead of 2+ cans. It gets even worse at a Warehouse store where a 65 oz (or so) large can is more expensive than a 12 pack of 5 oz cans.
Amazing video Joe! Definitely on the same page as you. You do bring the light to prospective on business marketing and relating it to firewood outstanding! 👌🏻🔥🇨🇦
Another awesome thoughtful video. Thank you. I definitely will upgrade on the hamburger, but Starbucks, I'll keep my hard earned cash. Have a great day 👍
My brother and his friend do firewood by the cord and I have been trying to get them to do small quantities. I was walking in the grocery store and they had bags .75 cu ft for 8.49, I did the math.. $860 ish for that cord they are selling for 175.
One of the best cups of coffee I ever drank came from Wendys. It was back in the early 90's in Randolph Ohio. Don't ask me why I remember... I just do. LOL. The worst cup ever came from a TA Truck stop in Erie PA. Just off I 90. LOL
Ok thanks, the only thing farmers receive down under is a 30 percent discount on vehicle registrations and diesel but they must prove it for farm use only, if their business isn't profitable bad luck no hand outs, the upside is they're all trying to out do each other which is great for the quality of the product and for the consumer 👍🇦🇺.
once again a great video i do a bit of firewood here as i have chainsaw and a kinetic splitter i make plenty from our own farm i was going to do bundles and kindling with a lighter and a firelighter do it for say $10, what do you think
bottom line is we're all selling time. How many hours do you have in your premium wood verses same size load of average heating wood, I'm talking about from the time it is delivered to you deliver it.
You speak often about “value added firewood”. If after watching this video someone still does not understand what that means, then there is no helping them.. Great video!!
Well, those were great analogies 👍👏 P.S. Do you deliver economy/bulk firewood to residents? About what percentage of businesses to residences? Thanks 👍
The video did not save and now it is lost. I cannot figure out what happened. We had a super turnout and not even I can watch it to see all the comments. Ugh. So sorry but I cannot recover it. Joe
Wish there was a market for smaller quantities in this area.. I do sell to a couple of people that just want ½ a face cord or a few bags but 99% want 5 or more.. but I do well on my camp fire bags to stores...
What I have found is the people who will buy smaller qty ARE NOT currently purchasers of firewood. Find the homes with chimneys in rich neighborhoods and go after them!!
@@ohiowoodburner I live in a small town of 5500... we do have a so called rich side but it's only a couple streets... lol... but yeah there may be about 100 people in town that never burn wood so makes for good business
Here is the link to our online store!! Check us out for your super cool, iconic OWB Tshirts and stickers!
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I learned more in 20 minutes here, than in an entire semester's college marketing class! Keep it up, Joe. Great work..
Thanks for the nice comment Cort. Hope to see you on the live stream tonight. Joe
@@ohiowoodburnerHi Joe,
Great video, i think I've watched this video 3 or 4 times since you've put it up and every time i couldn't agree more with you and it reminds me to charge more and encourages me to sell a better product.
Thanks for going to all the trouble to prove your point! Nice professional explanation!
My recommendations have targeted:
- - -"less manual effort"
- - -"less time spent"
- - -"quicker results to create your final product"
- - -"improved efficiency"
This often comes with a higher initial cost to implement.
In the near future, I will propose a radical idea I have not seen in the USA, that puts new meaning to your concept of "VALUE ADDED FIREWOOD".
Another great video Joe! I think personally that a lot of “firewood guys” sell firewood to cheap. When you factor in time and money. We sell smaller quantity’s for a little more money. We sell in 1/4 cord increments for bulk firewood. Plus if we sell a cord of firewood as four different sales we also collect 4 different delivery charges. Hope this helps someone out there.
Hi Joe, I always enjoy and get a chuckle from your videos. There is another aspect of the firewood business that I think of as a great selling feature....seasoning. Educating your customers as to the importance and safety of properly dried firewood is an important selling feature. In my case, I am my own customer, producing firewood from 2 1/2 acres and heating our home for over fifty years. Side note: I don't pay for gym memberships either. My "gym" pays me! Shalom/gw
we never sell in bulk. In our area wood is sold by the face cord, and like you we keep things simple. Love to hear the way you think my friend. Thank you for sharing a great video.
I only prospect for sales with businesses; restaurants, convenience stores, campgrounds, etc. Every time I quote a prospective customer, I must handle the objection of a lower price. Usually the lower price is from a guy who is giving something away. Either it is his labor, his wood, his mileage & maintenance on his delivery vehicle or some combination of these elements. They don't last long in the business.
These are the same guys that a few years later say, "... you can't make any money selling firewood." They couldn't make any money because they didn't price it correctly.
Years ago I was in the window cleaning business. I took over a small shopping strip from a window washer that has quit and gone out of business. I bid every store's windows at 3 times what he was getting. When they objected, I simply said, "That is why he is out of business. My price is what it takes to stay in business and to consistently show up to wash your windows." Only one store decided not to hire me.
That is my retort to price. The low ballers will be out of wood and not answering their phones by mid January!!
I'm a well done burger kind of guy too. And I agree with you about everything in this video. I'm setting up my website now. I raised prices considerably from when I sold my first cord of wood for $180 bucks!
Wow. Great video. I’ve been trying to do this but maybe it’s time to take another look. I don’t want to completely price myself out of the game, but don’t want to leave any money on the table either. 👍
I think in most cases w firewood it is impossible to set prices too high. Remember, there is a firewood shortage EVERY winter!
Yup it’s simple
Decide what you want to make an hour. And always figure ware and Tare on your equipment. And always try and show up when you say you are going to. And always have what you said you was bringing
That was quite an interesting discussion. I think we all know that it is more expensive to buy small quantities, but you reminded us about how the system really works. Thanks!!!!
It does! But I rarely see it practiced in firewood
@@ohiowoodburner The is interesting to hear. I normally just buy a face cord because that is all the room I have. I have a pickup with a deep, long bed, and we just fill it up. I know it is easy to get screwed that way, but I have measured it after I stack it and it is just a bit over a face cord
Very interesting video Joe. It really made me think about how I price my firewood. Well done Sir thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Another great video Joe. I really like how your left the firewood yard to demonstrate the difference values in the same product. Great Job!! The secret is out..
Great lesson this morning. Thank you.
Joe, without me thinking much about it, it seams that I do just what you talked about today...Just today I sold a 1/2 cord of premium firewood for $185.00, my normal price for a full cord is $285.00...the customer only wanted a 1/2 cord, and I told them the price, they were very happy to pay my price...Thank You for very nice videos.
As always, I enjoyed your video! You definitely have a point with this video, my Dad use to call it a convenience price. It’s convenient to buy just what you need and not have to worry about the extra. It’s basically a case of finding what works best for you and making it work. Oh and please keep that snow up there with y’all, I’m in mid-state area of South Carolina and I’m done with the cold!!!
LOL I am DONE with this snow!!!
Your firewood definitely made that burger all the better. I wish the more natural gas used to heat our home, the cheaper it would get.
Good morning Joe. Great video. That’s as good of an explanation of value added as you can get. And I think you are spot on with your strategy
Right on. Thanks Buddy!
Some good lessons here. This is where your past experiences in marketing and just being a wise consumer teaches us a few things on how we need to price whatever it is we are selling. These lessons can carry over to many different products.
Indeed John. I don't have a marketing background but I was paying attention when I was in the retail industry!
Hey Joe! Great video! All great advice. Exactly why we do not sell firewood in bulk here. Just a side gig for my son and I so we stick with the bundles and small amounts of loose! Great examples you had of selling smalls for more.👍🏻👍🏻
Thanks Todd
The point you make is exactly why I'm not interested in selling firewood in bulk. I do sell larger bundles than most of the competition in my area, but I also charge for the little extra and better quality wood compared to them as well. I only sell locally unlike the competition that comes from another state. My goal is the replace the sub-par wood being sold in my area. Thanks for the great video as always Joe!
Thanks for the post. The way I see it I am putting the same amount of labor into the wood so I why would I want to sell it cheap?!
I do the same. I also work full time at my job. I have friends who assume I want to make big cash delivering big loads of firewood for heat. Not the case.
Great video. I call my firewood, "boutique firewood". It has to be pretty. Also it is the same reason I use a hardware vendor at the printing plant to keep all the nuts and bolts inventoried and restocked. Value added, we all can learn. Thanks Joe!
I have heard that term before. I prefer Value Added but it's all the same!
I understand everything you said here and agree with what you're saying. I just struggle with the idea that I live my life so contrary to ever paying more. Like the restaurant burger example, I just wouldn't enjoy a $15 burger bc I do not see the value there outside of special occasions like a vacation and a cool local restaurant. I dont even want a fast food burger, I want to buy the meat on sale in a 10+lb package and then make several burgers at once and freeze the rest. I have lived almost my whole life this way, and it pains me to see decisions that some people make. Like buying several 20oz bottles of soda at a gas station verse a 12 pack at the store (again watching ads to buy it on sale and then having several 12 pcs on hand) and then planning a head with a cooler when traveling. I feel like such an outlier with this ideology. Thanks for the video!
One other reason is that they don't have money to pay for a full cord. People will pay for a smaller amount, whatever, to keep their kids warm, and hope they can buy a little more later. My Yankee conscience and my Christian ethic doesn't allow me to squeeze the customer for every last penny. I wouldn't pay those prices, you wouldn't pay those prices, why use every marketing trick to make them pay those prices? Most people burn firewood to SAVE money, not to brag about the Premium fw they've scored. I think the Harvard/Wharton Business School style of pricing is one of the things that Americans dislike about this country, without knowing exactly what it is they dislike! If nothing else, I see it as inflationary, hurting your less affluent neighbors. I know, I know,...we'll have to agree to disagree.FYI, I don't EVER, ever stop at Starbuck's, or buy quarter sheets of plywood. Just sayin'.
@@heymakerphd1982 At the end of the day he doesn't want that business and I understand that. He wants those who are happy to pay for extra service. Like good delivery, stacking, and higher quality/small splits.
@@TheFabled1 Everybody wants to be Bill Gates. It all contributes to inflation, kinda, sorta linked to America's economy, and your fellow American's well-being. Thank goodness the oil corps. haven't moved to ONLY selling Premium!!
Happy to pay? OK, yeah, some people have more pennies than sense. And it's not like firewooders spend 5 yrs in an apprenticeship,... or 12 yrs in high priced schools, and then licensed by the state! We are what is classified as 'unskilled' workers. Luckily most of us love to work firewooding. It bothers me that some feel they should be rewarded like doctors, or electricians.
That was a great video Joe! I think a lot of folks in the firewood business could learn a lot from it, in my area people seem to try to sell the most wood for the least money and it makes no since because then others try to beat their price and run everyone’s down, to the point where no one makes money, when if they added a little more value to it they could all make money.
Good video.. I used to when we first started selling firewood bundle, bundle as much as I could of whatever species I could get my hands on.. . but with time ya get smarter.. now the good wood like hickory, apple and other fruit trees we buck up 11/2" rounds and chunk it up for smoking wood.. oak and cherry we bundle as a premium firewood.. ash, maple and lots of other stuff go for normal bundles to the everyday grocery store or gas station. Just gotta go for it.. another big game changer is kilns.. I now own 6 of em we keep going year round.. the sky is the limit
Joe, That was a great analysis using relatable examples. Thanks for sharing your formula!
Glad it was helpful!
Great examples Joe. Thanks for taking me along. Now I’m hungry.
LOL... thanks Harold!
Good points joe!! Everyone sells firewood the same way. Selling 1/3 for $120 or so and full cords for $360 with delivery. People don’t realize that you are making less money selling 1/3 than full cords at that point. 3 separate trips to one trip. Should be selling for $180. Selling less for more. Been a home run for me doing it that way
That is totally the truth. I shoot for big numbers with 1/4s. That way I can take two deliveries in my truck. I can make more money selling two 1/4s than I can a 1/2 single delivery!
Joe, great video and great advice. Great explanation ofnthe value added to firewood. I just firgured up if i did bundles or a road side stand, that i would double almost triple the money i make. Thanks for this video!
Great video Joe! Thanks. Have a great day!
Thanks, you too!
I think a lot of firewood producers have a limiting believe on what people will pay for firewood. Trying to be the cheapest around, generally a lot of firewood producers have a do it myself attitude and don’t pay for many value added products in there life. Good customers in cities value high quality firewood delivered.
And I have found that to be very true Gage. Even in my area, the Mahoning Valley, is not a very vibrant economy but still I have found a good market of buyers.
Years ago I was in the window cleaning business. I took over a small shopping strip from a window washer that has quit and gone out of business. I bid every store's windows at 3 times what he was getting. When they objected, I simply said, "That is why he is out of business. My price is what it takes to stay in business as a window cleaner and to consistently show up to wash your windows." Only one store decided not to hire me.
Great post Franklin!
that is what we tell our customers, if we don't make money we won't be around and you won't have wood to burn. There are less and less wood providers because they find out they are not making money.
Best breakdown of value added! Great video joe! Thank you for your insight
Glad it was helpful!
Good point. But I can't get myself to spend 5$ for coffee or 15$ for a burger, I filled up my freezer with bambi burger for the cost of a license.
Very good explanation. There a lot of effort in smaller packages that aren’t in bigger packages. Your time is valuable.
Agreed... AND charge accordingly!
I like the way you are approaching your sales..
I appreciate that!
@@ohiowoodburner back in the day I did fire wood as a hobby I did same thing. My regular was a mix match of stuff like ash my mid was the reg with some oak or other hotter longer burning wood and my premium was all oak or one of those hotter longer burning woods.
I’m all for videos that make this industry more valuable and profit oriented. I sold out my 40 facecords in two weeks last September when I advertised at $70/face in Michigan. This year I’m aiming for $100/facecord and continuing to have great customer service for delivered dry firewood
This certainly sounds like an opportunity to increase your prices and maybe even consider only selling quarter cords. If you only have a limited, set supply of firewood don't sell any of it cheap.
Another great video. As far as battery tools, my wife has an EGO chainsaw that she has used to cut about 20 face cords of wood with no problems. All tools in the EGO line do take the same battery. Not complicated. And, yes, my 7900 also gets the best of everything. Looking forward to the mother of all live streams on Saturday.
Thanks Joe. Always an inciteful perspective.
Thanks Kyle
Hello Joe,you are the best teacher I know and moreover you are hilarious....that's an added value isn't ?
I cant argue with you on that one Ray! LOL. Hope to see you Saturday night!
Really makes me look at things different. Makes me think on how to sell animals off the homestead differently.
Good idea. There are a lot of things that can be approached like this.
Great episode. I love the analogy of the quantities being sold by the major and minor companies. I am seriously Considering selling firewood in the Carolinas.
Now is the best time to start Tony. Make a plan and get it started!
Brrr that looks cold. Fortunately we're having some decent weather nice and dry which has allowed us to press on extracting some nice firewood for the farm shop. Look forward to the live stream over the weekend. Keep the videos coming. Regards to the family from across the pond
Thanks for the nice comment Bob! I will be on the look out for you!
Hi Joe - it's Big Rodders in Ireland. I always enjoy being able to accompany you on a trip, where I get a glimpse into life in the US of A. I hear complaints from you guys about the cost of your fuel. You showed gas at $2.84 for a US gallon. I just filled up my car with road diesel today and it cost $7.77 for a US gallon - it's no wonder gas guzzlers are few and far between here! Your vegetables seem to be much more costly but your US gallon of milk costs the exact same per unit as our 2 litres. All jolly interesting stuff. In recent years when I am asked to take on occasional jobs such as bucking or chain sharpening, I don't think of the price I would pay for that service but rather the benefit the recipient gets from getting me to do it. I once quoted $67 for a 2 hour bucking session as a polite way to say I wasn't interested but the chap got me back so often he financed the purchase of my new Husky Rancher 455 saw. That taught me that he valued what I did for him so I understand fully your approach to your pricing policy. Now get back to processing logs!
I always laugh at the reactions to people with fuel prices. Their opinion fluctuates between extremes depending on if they voted for the current president or not. LOL.
That felt like a live version of an elementary school math book! 😁
If you ever see me teaching a math class my recommendation is you turn and run as fast as you can!!!
@@ohiowoodburner lol.
The grocery stores in my area sell firewood bundles, but the thing is... they aren't split small enough for a fireplace or fire pit... I always ended up having to resplit it just to get it to burn.
Seems to be the wrong type of wood for a bundle. Smaller splits are the way to go
Great info on selling/pricing wood. Thanks for making. I am surprised Walmart let you film
The fact that they have zero people for customer service makes things easy when filming. I ran into ZERO employees while there and when I was in HD. There was one lady at a check out that said high to me as I walked buy but other than that I was invisible to them.
@@ohiowoodburner
I know
Ive been selling firewood for 5 years, until this I sold only facecords of firewood and did well but maxed out on what one 40 year old guy can produce by myself. This fall started selling 1/2 and 1/4 facecords and bundles and the change in my business is huge. I'm selling 7-10 half face and 1/4 a week opposed to 1, or 2 full facecords a week
That is very interesing to hear. Two questions... 1. What is your name? LOL and 2. Would you give me some insight how much if any you increased your prices on the 1/4s over comparable 1/3s when you made the change?
@@ohiowoodburner Good morning Joe, I'm Cale. I tried selling my 1/4 and 1/2 face cords an odd amount $30 and $50, and a full face cord for $80 and only sold a few. I dropped it to $20 40 and 80 and it exploded. Because people had a $20 bill or a couple 20s and no change back was required. I sell retail at the chainsaw shop I work at but sell 75% after hours, so even having venmo, PayPal etc its still a cash business.
Wonderful content. Gasoline is an interesting product these days. My Forester runs best on the factory recommended 87 octane, my Honda powered lawnmower has to run no-alcohol premium to maintain the
warranty and not destroy its seals, and a friend's Fiat 500 has to run on Premium. And as a matter of convenience per your examples, I buy pre-mixed 2-stroke premium for my Stihl saw, trimmer, and blower.
Excellent video Joe you're applying the same marketing principles as retailers do. Attention to detail to become successful.
Retailing is detailing Gregg!
That was a great video. Even if you don't sell fire wood ,hopefully it helps people realize what retailers are doing.
I should have offered that up at the beginning. Everything we discuss applies not only to the seller but also to the customer
The conundrum is that you have part-time firewood producers with a pick-up that can deliver a third of a cord, so the competition is higher than a fellow with a big trailer who can deliver four face cords.
Hey Joe, Excellent video! Have you ever thought of teaching business at the local high school? I think you would do great! We need some un-woke teachers in our schools! Anyway, I agree with you 100%. Small, sole-proprietor firewood businesses should focus on premium firewood in small quantities! I only sell firewood thru my roadside stand in quantities of 1/20 cord bins and 1 cu ft bundles. The bin sales equate to $400/cord and the bundle sales equate to $600/cord. Sales have been so good that I am almost out of wood. Have a great day!
I think you did a Great job with that story and you were GREAT!!! VERY OPEN AND HONEST wish everyone had the BAL-- -- You just shown I think you're a Great Businessmen and I wish you the BESTEST!!! 🥂😁 🇺🇸
Thanks for the kind words Ron. Thanks for watching!
Good morning Joe. Great explanation on value added products. To increase price go Metric like we did in Canada. Gas in Kingsville Ontario is 1.48 a lite for regular times 4 to a US gal. is $ 6.00 a gallon now that's value added.
Metric system? I would never be able to figure that out!!! LOL
Verdict : Sell less firewood for more $$$... Loved this video Joe!! Like how your brain works>👍
Great lesson about selling! 👍
Thanks Arne!!
You really hit the nail on the head with this vid JOE. Have a great day Friends.
Joe, If you start selling that 2 ft schedule 40 pipe, imagine how many more fittings you will sell. Enjoyed it!
Excellent! Add on sales!
9pm is about 1am here, I'll be with you in spirit though 👌☺️
Corporations are like the bankers and politicians, the root cause of this inhumane society we all try to survive to...
Local, smaller,single ownership,coops and so on are the core of sustainable living.
Be frugal! Be simple! Be sharing! Be of service to other! Be listening to your Heart and Soul!
Be a mirror of GOD!
Thank God for firewood! With the unrelenting frigid temps where I live, I am grateful to have enough to stay warm.
God Bless.
Good morning Joe!!😀😀
You definitely have great advice when it comes to business!!
You are in the perfect area to be able to do the value added system.
I'm kinda in the middle of nowhere. It's 45 minutes to a hour to any populated areas. My cost of transporting it kinda takes the profits out it.
The one good thing for me though is I'm were the wood is and can get all I want for just my labor costs.
Take care and stay warm my friend!!
Logger Al
I’m in the same boat as you. Tim
I have found the people who will buy small qty are the people not currently buying firewood. I would look for big houses with chimneys. Hope to see you Saturday!
Great educational.
Maybe you said it and I missed it, but in the lumber store, it has put the labour and tool-use cost recovery into those smaller pieces. (Undoubtedly with markup on those costs) 😁
Cheers 🇨🇦
That is the case. Same for the vegetables etc. I am putting more labor into the firewood so that reflects in the price!
The lumber yards also use this technique to sell damaged or crooked lumber that would never sell. A 4x8 with a broken corner is worthless. Cut in 1/4s, up price and pitch the broken 1/4 in dumpster. So they are usually trying to sell 3 pieces and recoup cost of a whole sheet and labor...Hope that makes sense!
Hi Joe, great video, informative and lots of tips to take in board for the business.
Wouldn't try filming at a gas station in the UK though, you'd be getting shouted at over the tannoy to switch your phone off😂
Ps, that burger looked delicious 😋
LOL Here in the US most stations are so short staffed they would never notice.
Joe, maybe you could unionize firewood producers across the country. Call it the "woodsters" union and set standardized pricing. Great video!
Love the cantaloupe example
Look at all the bear shelf's . Coming soon Joe's drive-though wood service .See you on Sat .
Marketing 101…..Professor Joe. Great class! 👍
Thanks RG. You get an "A" for the day!
If you need a sheet of plywood but can't cut it to haul some of the big box stores will cut it it.Me if I needed just a 2'x4' peice of plywood have them cut it. May not need the other rite away but down the road you might. But anyway that was a super comparison. Joe you have a great day
I am logged in and can not wait for Saturday night at 9pm. I am from Upstate New York, Duanesburg area and cut my own Firewood. It's a lot of Oak and Locust, both Honey, and Black. Will we waiting and joining into your Live Cast. Thank You Joe, Ron from New York.
Thanks Ron. Can't wait to see you. I LOVE honey locust when it's first cut. Gorgeous!
Great analogy 👍
Thank you kindly
Great video with good points, thanks
Glad it was helpful!
Being a small business person, you should be patronizing small coffee shops joe. Starbucks dont need your money. The little guy does. And they appreciate it.
Very informative video
Excellent video Joe.
So applied to your log piles and assuming
*the wood has a moisture content of 25% or less and
*you sell a variety of loads from full cords down to bundles
: what are your grades and is this linked to species of timber?
I would like to suggest that
Trash = bark, very small slivers or too small pieces from the processor and splitting machines, sawdust etc. burnt on a bonfire / buried / paid disposal / landfill
Rough = the logs (all species) that you burn at home in your wood burner as unfit for sale.
Good = ????
Better = ????
Premium = ????
Super Premium = Bundles
Kindling ????
I have found with value added firewood that species isn't that important except that it's hardwoods. My customers don't heat with wood so they are just looking for a clean, easy to light stick
Great info!
Thanks RB!!
Great vid Joe. I was going to make virtually this same video. I agree with 98% of what you said. Starbucks tastes like $h!#
I too dont care for StarBucks.
One 50¢ Kuereg K-cup of blended coffee per day hits the taste buds just right.
THANKS JOE for this type of video...these videos are your value add for your RUclips CUSTOMERS! 😎 Tim in northern TN
LOL Thanks Tim. Good assessment.
Great discussion! Man that burger looked delicious!
It was!!! LOL
Great video!! If you sell smaller sounds, up the price!! It costs more to split up large quantities. Great way to support your customers. Have a Safe Day
Thanks for the comment Dave.
Don’t forget Joe, the reason a lot of people heat with wood is to save money. If everyone raises their prices on wood people will stop using it, they aren’t going to pay more for wood than what they can get gas or electric for. So if you’re not careful you could ruin your market. Personally I would rather sell something for cheaper than sell nothing for expensive lol. Also keep in mind I only sell wood to people that heat with it, and I understand what you have going on and it’s awesome, but in my case I’m not going to raise prices. Take care
hi again i forgot i buy good gas and oil for my car but cheep fill me up burgers , there is a butt for every seat . well done video john
LOL... Good post. I know what you mean.
You missed the opposite case where the bigger container is priced more for the same weight. That is Tuna Fish. Look at the difference between 5 oz cans and 12 oz cans. You don't get a discount for getting the bigger package where it is more convenient to open only one can instead of 2+ cans. It gets even worse at a Warehouse store where a 65 oz (or so) large can is more expensive than a 12 pack of 5 oz cans.
Small coffee! For $5.00 plus you think it would have been the large size! I’m cheap too. Coffee and 1/4# hotdog at 7-11 for $4.00. All beef too.
Buy the impact from harbor freight!
I have heard they are good units. Thanks Phil!
Amazing video Joe! Definitely on the same page as you. You do bring the light to prospective on business marketing and relating it to firewood outstanding! 👌🏻🔥🇨🇦
Thanks buddy. I hope to see you on the live stream!
Another awesome thoughtful video. Thank you. I definitely will upgrade on the hamburger, but Starbucks, I'll keep my hard earned cash. Have a great day 👍
LOL. I can't live without my Starbucks!
Good points!
Thanks!
Starbucks?? Wow I didn't see that one coming
My brother and his friend do firewood by the cord and I have been trying to get them to do small quantities. I was walking in the grocery store and they had bags .75 cu ft for 8.49, I did the math.. $860 ish for that cord they are selling for 175.
Wendy sells their good coffee for 45 cents. I order 4 SENIOR coffee & take them home. I get 2 cups of coffee from their 1 cup.
One of the best cups of coffee I ever drank came from Wendys. It was back in the early 90's in Randolph Ohio. Don't ask me why I remember... I just do. LOL. The worst cup ever came from a TA Truck stop in Erie PA. Just off I 90. LOL
Great video! Very informative!
Thanks Mike
G'day Joe, thanks for the tour that milk seems very cheap are diary farmers in the US receive subsidies?
They sure do Ish. Everyone cries about socialism but conveniently forget about the big $$ going to the farmers.
Ok thanks, the only thing farmers receive down under is a 30 percent discount on vehicle registrations and diesel but they must prove it for farm use only, if their business isn't profitable bad luck no hand outs, the upside is they're all trying to out do each other which is great for the quality of the product and for the consumer 👍🇦🇺.
once again a great video i do a bit of firewood here as i have chainsaw and a kinetic splitter i make plenty from our own farm i was going to do bundles and kindling with a lighter and a firelighter do it for say $10, what do you think
I think with just the firewood $10 is a good price Hank.
bottom line is we're all selling time. How many hours do you have in your premium wood verses same size load of average heating wood, I'm talking about from the time it is delivered to you deliver it.
You speak often about “value added firewood”. If after watching this video someone still does not understand what that means, then there is no helping them.. Great video!!
LOL Thanks Chris!
Good stuff!
Have you had many people complain about half a cord of wood is not half the price?
Well, those were great analogies 👍👏
P.S. Do you deliver economy/bulk firewood to residents? About what percentage of businesses to residences? Thanks 👍
On the same line, a well done hamburger is not done better than a medium rare burger.
LOL... I think your are right! Made me think of the quote that a 5-ounce bird cannot carry a 2 lb coconut
Due to the time difference of 7 hrs I could not see the livestream, but now I cannot find it anymore on the channel to watch the replay?
The video did not save and now it is lost. I cannot figure out what happened. We had a super turnout and not even I can watch it to see all the comments. Ugh. So sorry but I cannot recover it. Joe
Wish there was a market for smaller quantities in this area.. I do sell to a couple of people that just want ½ a face cord or a few bags but 99% want 5 or more.. but I do well on my camp fire bags to stores...
What I have found is the people who will buy smaller qty ARE NOT currently purchasers of firewood. Find the homes with chimneys in rich neighborhoods and go after them!!
@@ohiowoodburner I live in a small town of 5500... we do have a so called rich side but it's only a couple streets... lol... but yeah there may be about 100 people in town that never burn wood so makes for good business