Bob Kloes & Matt Schmitz, Kloes Specialty Hardwoods
About this episode
Jennifer Alger interviews Bob Kloes and Matt Schmitz about their journey in the hardwood lumber business and the challenges they face.
In this episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, host Jennifer Alger sits down with Bob Kloes and Matt Schmitz of Kloes Specialty Hardwoods, a Wisconsin-based business specializing in curly maple, bird's eye maple, flame birch, and other figured hardwoods. What started as Bob's lifelong passion for custom furniture evolved into a lumber business when his wife suggested he start selling the stunning figured woods he had been sourcing for decades. Now, with Matt at the helm after purchasing the business, the two share a partnership built on mentorship, shared passion, and an unwavering commitment to quality. You'll hear about how Bob built relationships with sawmills over 20 years and developed an expert eye for selecting figured wood in the rough. You'll hear about the process of buying green lumber, working with a neighboring vacuum kiln operation, and sorting material by species, figure density, and customer specs for everyone from furniture makers to guitar builders and pool cue craftsmen. Bob and Matt also get honest about the challenges of marketing a niche product, navigating social media algorithms, and the real cost of shipping in today's market. You'll also hear about Matt's…
People in this episode
Host: Jennifer Alger
Guests: Bob Kloes, Matt Schmitz
Topics covered
- custom furniture
- hardwoods
- business mentorship
- marketing challenges
- lumber sourcing
Keywords
- curly maple
- bird's eye maple
- flame birch
- figured hardwoods
- lumber business
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Kloes Specialty Hardwoods
Places: Wisconsin
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- Marty Parsons, Wood-Mizer Pennsylvania
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