Teenage Girls Make Outdoor Furniture From 2 by 4’s
One of Brooke Santl’s favorite things about making outdoor furniture is the expression on buyers’ faces when they learn it was made by a 15-year-old. Her older sister, Taylor, 18, likes the fact that she can make money working on the family’s Roseau, Minn., farm, rather than driving to town to work.
Their father, Neil Santl, got them started as entrepreneurs. In addition to growing small grain crops, Santl has made custom cabinets for 20 years. For the past 4 years, his daughters have helped him install the finished cabinets.
Neil and his daughters collaborated on a design for benches and later made some for their own firepit. When they learned they could sell furniture at local farmers markets, they decided to make a few pieces and test the market.
With a set list of measurements for each piece, the girls cut 2 by 4’s on a miter saw, run them through a planer, orbital sand them, and stain them. Working with jigs, Neil helps assemble the furniture with some glue and screws. He also shapes the bistro tops with a jigsaw, but the girls do all the rest of the work.
“I didn’t think it would be a huge business, but it’s bigger than I thought,” Neil admits, and his daughters have built and sold quite a few pieces in their first year. They have already had repeat business from Twin Cities customers.
Taylor builds benches and picnic tables and hopes to make a lounge chair in the future. Brooke makes 5-ft. bars and bistro sets (small tables with tall chairs).
“I like to sit at a bar because I’m short and I want to feel taller,” Brooke explains. “We like doing our own things, so we can’t copy each other.”
One thing they have in common is that they like most parts of building - except for the sanding. They also offer all their furniture in six colors using exterior deck stains.
That keeps it simpler, Neil says. Typically people order the color and style they want based on the display models the Santls take to farmers markets and shows. This past summer, the girls worked hard to build up inventory to have enough furniture to sell at area community festivals and did very well at one of them. The furniture sells between $140 for benches to $540 for bar sets. Most are used outside, but some are used as breakfast nooks or in entry ways of homes.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Santl’s Wood Work, 49282 Co. Rd. 12, Roseau, Minn. 56751 (ph 218 242-5118; nbsantl@yahoo.com; Facebook - Taylor’s Outdoor Furniture, Brooke’s Bars and Bistros).
Click here to download page story appeared in.
Click here to read entire issue
Teenage Girls Make Outdoor Furniture From 2 by 4’s FARM HOME Furniture One of Brooke Santl’s favorite things about making outdoor furniture is the expression on buyers’ faces when they learn it was made by a 15-year-old Her older sister Taylor 18 likes the fact that she can make money working on the family’s Roseau Minn farm rather than driving to town to work Their father Neil Santl got them started as entrepreneurs In addition to growing small grain crops Santl has made custom cabinets for 20 years For the past 4 years his daughters have helped him install the finished cabinets Neil and his daughters collaborated on a design for benches and later made some for their own firepit When they learned they could sell furniture at local farmers markets they decided to make a few pieces and test the market With a set list of measurements for each piece the girls cut 2 by 4’s on a miter saw run them through a planer orbital sand them and stain them Working with jigs Neil helps assemble the furniture with some glue and screws He also shapes the bistro tops with a jigsaw but the girls do all the rest of the work “I didn’t think it would be a huge business but it’s bigger than I thought ” Neil admits and his daughters have built and sold quite a few pieces in their first year They have already had repeat business from Twin Cities customers Taylor builds benches and picnic tables and hopes to make a lounge chair in the future Brooke makes 5-ft bars and bistro sets small tables with tall chairs “I like to sit at a bar because I’m short and I want to feel taller ” Brooke explains “We like doing our own things so we can’t copy each other ” One thing they have in common is that they like most parts of building - except for the sanding They also offer all their furniture in six colors using exterior deck stains That keeps it simpler Neil says Typically people order the color and style they want based on the display models the Santls take to farmers markets and shows This past summer the girls worked hard to build up inventory to have enough furniture to sell at area community festivals and did very well at one of them The furniture sells between $140 for benches to $540 for bar sets Most are used outside but some are used as breakfast nooks or in entry ways of homes Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Santl’s Wood Work 49282 Co Rd 12 Roseau Minn 56751 ph 218 242-5118; nbsantl@yahoo com; Facebook - Taylor’s Outdoor Furniture Brooke’s Bars and Bistros
To read the rest of this story, download this issue below or click
here to register with your account number.
