WinonaRail's Wood Yard

Thats great Gary. Holiday weekends boost sales for sure. When covid started back in 2020 did your sales go up?

 

Most certainly! Although that's because I started selling in May 2021. I do think it was a good time to get into the business.

 

I came home for lunch to find this present from a tree service. The big rounds look fairly punky but I think there's still some good meat. The logs are straight and solid. So glad I don't have to wait for Christmas to get gifts!

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You are living the dream!

 

Maybe so but it doesn't live much time to sleep!

 

Sleep - over rated

 

My wholesale was booming at that time. Bundles of course. I dont wholesale bulk wood, only bundles.

 

They forgot to gift wrap them!

Nice pleasant surprise to come home to for sure.

 

I feel like I need to have a little talk with them about "presentation" but I suppose beggars can't be choosers.

 

Probably so but I like to indulge in a bit of sleep occasionally. I already average 6 days a week doing something firewood related on top of my full time job. I think that's enough for now.

 

I started off just doing bundles in an IBC tote by the road. Humble beginnings for sure but I actually like making bundles.

 

Had a busy evening yesterday. I needed to make up some bundles for the roadside stand as my supply was down to 6 and a holiday weekend is approaching. I split some seasoned maple and ash I had on hand and got the stand filled up. I just finished dinner and went back out to find a truck pulling into the driveway. I helped them load a $40 stack. Noticed 6 mini bundles were also gone so I made more from splits I had stored in the barn and filled everything up. I try to keep the stand full every day when holidays are coming up. I'd really hate to run out of wood and lose a customer. And I believe I'm at about $160 for the first 3 days of the week, which is pretty good for the early part of the week. Fingers crossed for a big weekend!

 

Thats a lot. If i put in a full day im beat and dont wanna touch anything firewood related. Of course not having a PA at home adds to the PITA factor. I spend a lot of time at my friends working on firewood.

 

Holiday weekend means $$$. Hope its a good one for you.

I have a 60 bundle order to finish off today. $220 sale. Drove by another store i sell to and he is low. He'll probably get a 30 bundle order this weekend.

Had a quarter cord of seasoned red maple nuggets hanging around and with the score i just cut (18 month old logs) it made a half cord of ready to go chunkies. Posted it up on CL. Doubting it will sell soon and will keep it up until it goes.

 

You'll notice I didn't say I WANTED to work 6 days a week. I'm really looking forward to retirement so I can cut back to 5 days, 35-40 hours per week just doing firewood. That's why I'm building my business now. I'm hoping to need a helper by then (to handle the heavy stuff!).

 

It's nice to have those big orders but I think I'll stick with $5 per bundle at the roadside stand for now. I already think I'm too cheap on prices!

 

Sometimes i wish i didnt do the wholesale bundles, especially when i dont have time and an order comes in. I dont keep bundles on hand and pull loads of splits as needed for assembly.
Compare your quality with the competition and their pricing and go from there. My wholesale is $3.67 and i have to deliver. Let us know how the stand does this weekend.

 

Well here's one nobody may believe. I was about to go run some errands. I took today off and worked in the wood yard. I got a message on Google Maps asking for my location. Guy says he has a tractor and trailer. I'm thinking small cab and pup trailer maybe. I was just coming home and see a trailer with flashing lights in front of my driveway. Turned out to be an OTR driver with a 53' trailer and possibly the biggest cab I've ever seen. Easily 100' of truck. He was deadheading back from Chicago and needed firewood for the campground this weekend. I helped him load a $40 stack in the side door of the trailer and found him some larger splits at his request. He tipped me $20. I got a quick pic as he was pulling away.

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I can honestly say that the wholesale game just isn't worth it for me. Of course I don't scrounge daily like some people so my inventory is limited. But I want the most profit I can get to make it worth my time. And I try to avoid delivery like the plague, but charge well when I have to do it. I'm thinking about offering bundles with an extra split plus kindling inside the wrap and charging $7 instead of $5. That's one of my projects for after Labor Day. Along with oak and hickory smoking wood.

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How were your sales over the holiday weekend Gary?

I did sell a 200 split 1/4 cord ill be delivering tomorrow night. Still up on FBM/CL. Got gas ($3.45 gallon) today where i wholesale bundles and he needs another 30 order which ill do Saturday.