In a garage lined with planks of wood and buzzing machines, two juniors are building more than just a woodworking school project; they are creating a business from scratch. Having gotten inspiration from Mike SooHoo’s Introduction to Business class, Jack Pasquale and Wyatt Andrade created their own woodworking company specializing in incense holders. Within their “carefully planned out” business, each of their roles is “crucial” for its success. Andrade is the hands-on woodworker, shaping the products with care and precision, while Pasquale is the marketer, ensuring their creations find the right audience. They went from classmates to business partners after they both found out about their shared passion for entrepreneurship and interest in woodworking.
“We didn’t know each other before, and it was only until we had a business class together freshman year and bonded once we had to work on our first business project together,” Pasquale said.
They dedicate their free time after school from four to 10 o’clock to collaborating and working on growing their business. According to Pasquale, he is at Andrade’s house “all the time,” helping him sand wood and package products for shipping.
“I also have an interest in woodworking and entrepreneurship, so I enjoy helping [Andrade] with the physical demands of making the product, even if I’m mainly in charge of the marketing side, since it’s for the benefit and success of our company being able to work as a team,” Pasquale said.
Pasquale and Andrade didn’t come up with the idea of incense holders on their first try; it took multiple business ideas until they settled on creating incense holders. According to Andrade, they wanted to invest their time into creating something true to themselves, not just with the purpose of gaining money.
“At first, we were cleaning windows, but it felt forced and didn’t feel as authentic. Then we tried to build tables, but it wasn’t fit for a long-term business for us,” Andrade said. “With woodworking, specifically with incense holders, we understand the value we’re adding. We’re making something real and personalized for our customers.”
Even if there is enough product, Pasquale’s online marketing and in-person networking help gain customers and build rapport with their partners.
“I’m really online, marketing on Etsy, Instagram and Pinterest. I take the photos, research keywords and make sure our listings pop up when people search for gifts. I also network in person with other small businesses to collaborate with them and help to gain customers, such as going to our local farmers market by the pier and collaborating with another small business,” Pasquale said.
With his room as the packing room and his garage converted into a complete woodwork shop, Andrade makes the custom physical product. Each incense is catered to the unique demands of each customer. 20 planks of wood are required to be cut by a three-dimensional cutting machine, a CNC machine (Computer Numerical Control), which is required to start preparing the products. After the products are cut by the CNC, they have to be moistened with mineral oil, stamped with the official woodworking company logo and shipped off to the customer.
“When I was about eight or nine years old, I got into woodworking, just off a bunch of videos I saw on YouTube, which I thought were pretty cool. I’ve always loved to work on hands-on stuff, so I thought it was perfect to create a woodworking business,” Andrade said. “I’ve always wanted to turn it into a business, but I just never had the motivation or passion to push me. It was always just kind of on the side. But when I met Jack, I got more into it.”
Soohoo, Pasquale and Andrade’s former business class teacher who “sparked their creativity in creating their own business,” observed their “dedication” firsthand.
“They didn’t just follow instructions; they figured out the whole process themselves. From planning to execution, they were fully invested in making it work,” SooHoo said.
SooHoo has respect for their “commitment” to growing their company as well as their ability to evolve their business, actively bringing new ideas to improve it.
“What impressed me about Jack and Wyatt wasn’t just the business,” SooHoo said. “It’s the initiative. Most students stop after a class project, but they took that idea and turned it into something real.”
