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In this episode I am joined by a Starting Small alum from 2021, Edgar Blazona, with his new venture Maderight CA, luxurious, audacious, contemporary furniture, made right in the heart of California. Make sure to check out Maderight at: https://maderightca.com/ Visit Starting Small Media: https://startingsmallmedia.org/ Subscribe to exclusive Starting Small emails: https://startingsmallmedia.org/newsletter-signup Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle
“It's all about marketing. I think that's the most valuable thing that anyone could do no matter what size business that they're doing.” In Season 6, Episode 09 of the Boss Uncaged Podcast, S.A. Grant sits down with the Founder of Benchmade Modern, Edgar Blazona.
Edgar Blazona, the Furniture Designer and Serial Entrepreneur, joins the show to share his journey from graffiti artist to building and selling BenchMade Modern. Hear how to differentiate your product, prepare for due diligence when selling your company, bust out of a creative slump, how far he can spit, and the one thing you must do at Burning Man. Connect with Edgar on LinkedIn and Twitter @EdgarBlazona
Edgar Blazona is a modernist American furniture designer and founder of the wildly popular DTC sofa brand BenchMade Modern. A high school dropout turned graffiti artist turned serial entrepreneur, Edgar got his start in the furniture industry because of need: he was young and broke, and his first apartment didn't have any furniture. Thus, he taught himself how to build some. Along with starting several (!) of his own companies, including Modular Dwellings – a prefab backyard shelter company, Edgar also sharpened his skills in the corporate world at Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. As he saw customers accustomed to waiting three months (and more!) for sofas and sectionals that realistically take only a few weeks to make, he realized there must be a better way and founded BenchMade Modern in 2015 to disrupt this norm. Guest Links Website: https://benchmademodern.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edgar-blazona-9484351 Instagram: @benchmademodern Twitter: @edgarblazona SJS Website: Thesuccessjourneyshow.com Facebook: @successjourneyshow Instagram: @successjourneyshow Twitter: @success_show TikTok: @thesuccessjourneyshow
Edgar Blazona is a modernist American furniture designer and founder of wildly popular DTC sofa brand BenchMade Modern. A high school dropout, turned graffiti artist, turned serial entrepreneur, Edgar got his start in the furniture industry because of need: he was young and broke, and his first apartment didn't have any furniture. Thus, he taught himself how to build some.Along with starting several (!) of his own companies, including Modular Dwellings – a prefab backyard shelter company, Edgar also sharpened his skills in the corporate world at Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. As he saw customers accustomed to waiting three months (and more!) for sofas and sectionals that realistically take only a few weeks to make, he realized there must be a better way and founded BenchMade Modern in 2015 to disrupt this norm.BenchMade Modern offers sofas and sectionals in 5” increments and custom configurations, depths, fabrics and more. Custom furniture arrives at your doorstep within weeks, not months.Where to find Edgar BlazonaWebsite: benchmademodern.comFacebook: BenchMade ModernLinkedIn: Edgar BlazonaSPONSORThis episode is sponsored by Entire Productions- Creating events (both in-person and virtual) that don't suck! and Entire Productions Marketing- carefully curated premium gifting and branded promo items. PLEASE RATE, REVIEW, & SUBSCRIBE on APPLE PODCASTS“I love Natasha and the Fascinating Entrepreneurs Podcast!”
In today's episode, Allan welcomes Edgar Blazona. Edgar is the Founder of BenchMade Modern. He inspires people to think differently, solve difficult problems, and follow their entrepreneurial dreams, even when all odds are against them. All successful entrepreneurs have failed at one time or another. It is important to keep betting on yourself and look at those failures as your greatest learning opportunities.
From building his own furniture as a teenager because his first apartment had none, to founding one of the most popular sofa brands in the world, Edgar Blazona is no stranger to building a business successfully — on his own terms. And the lessons he's taken from that journey can be applied to any business, in any industry. Edgar is a modernist American furniture designer and founder of DTC sofa brand BenchMade Modern, which he sold to furniture powerhouse American Leather. He's a high school dropout, turned graffiti artist, turned serial entrepreneur. Listen to the full conversation for more on Edgar's background, the business lessons he's learned from his unconventional experiences, and how he's ensured success in the long-term, not just the short-term. Here's a Glimpse of What You'll Learn: More of Edgar's backstory, including his struggles in school, what happened after he dropped out of high school, and how his first apartment at age 16 inspired his future company How Edgar scaled his business from selling solo pieces of furniture outside a bar over the weekends, to a much larger enterprise What Edgar's “furniture college” was, and how that experience changed the course of his life Edgar's experience with the “fake it ‘til you make it” philosophy What it's meant to Edgar to have his “eye on the prize” and how that's helped guide his business development The difference between a short-term and long-term business mindset, and some of the biggest lessons Edgar learned throughout his own experience The genesis of the “Ask Edgar” program that Edgar started as a way to add value to his customers—and what other companies can learn from that concept How Edgar measures success in his business (beyond the finances) The chip on Edgar's shoulder that has driven much of his success Edgar's “COVID slump,” how that period of time affected his creativity, and how he got himself out of the rut Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Edgar Blazona on LinkedIn Edgar Blazona on Twitter BenchMade Modern Furniture 40 Strategy Contact 40 Strategy Carl J. Cox on LinkedIn
"The Real Sofa King", serial entrepreneur Edgar Blazona has a no-BS take on building brands — it's all about HUSTLE, social engineering, and providing the BEST service possible. After working at Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware, he saw customers waiting MONTHS for sofas. So he went away, harnessed his entrepreneurial mind, and solved this problem in 2015 when he launched BenchMade Modern — a way to create custom hand-crafted furniture in DAYS - not months. He also previously founded Modular Dwellings and TrueModern (and has attended Burning Man 23+ times). In this jam-packed chat, the boys talk about how to sell sensory products online (without touch and feel), how to run such a cash-intensive business, and some of the biggest lessons from over 25 years in the industry. You won't want to miss this one. Want to join the discussion? Message Evan or Edgar on LinkedIn.
How a skate punk built a furniture empire with Edgar Blazona Edgar Blazona is a modernist American furniture designer and founder of wildly popular DTC sofa brand BenchMade Modern. A high school dropout, turned graffiti artist, turned serial entrepreneur, Edgar got his start in the furniture industry because of need: he was young and broke, and his first apartment didn't have any furniture. And, necessity became invention. Along with starting several (!) of his own companies, including Modular Dwellings – a prefab backyard shelter company, Edgar also sharpened his skills in the corporate world at Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. As he saw customers accustomed to waiting three months (and more!) for sofas and sectionals that realistically take only a few weeks to make, he realized there must be a better way and founded BenchMade Modern in 2015 to disrupt this norm. BenchMade Modern offers sofas and sectionals in 5” increments and custom configurations, depths, fabrics and more. Custom furniture arrives at your doorstep within weeks, not months.
In this episode, Susan Sly interviews Edgar Blazona, a serial entrepreneur and 8-figure furniture business success story. Edgar identified his passion for building furniture when he couldn't afford furniture for his first apartment, so he built his own. Edgar knew he was born to be an entrepreneur, but he embraced his time in entry-level retail jobs to learn everything he could about business while making amazing connections. During his time in retail, he identified some opportunities that were not being met with customers looking for custom furniture. Doors continued to open for him because he constantly looked for opportunities to gain proximity to the people who could help him with his business. He learned the art of “give to get” where he focused on how he could offer value before asking for favours. With time, Edgar was able to get investors to provide him with the capital he needed to build his dream business, BenchMade Modern. In this interview, Edgar shares his advice for pitching a business to investors by using a phased roll-out to sharpen your skills and tighten your offer. Edgar believes in having a backup plan to help provide you with stability when building a business. It will allow you to mentally “bet the farm” in building the business of your dreams. There are highs and lows in being an entrepreneur and it takes a lot of focus to keep yourself balanced while riding the waves. He recommends you find a community of like-minded people to connect with to help you during your entrepreneurial journey! Bio Edgar Blazona is a modernist American furniture designer and founder of wildly popular DTC sofa brand BenchMade Modern. A high school dropout, turned graffiti artist, turned serial entrepreneur, Edgar got his start in the furniture industry because of need: he was young and broke, and his first apartment didn't have any furniture. Thus, he taught himself how to build some. Along with starting several (!) of his own companies, including Modular Dwellings – a prefab backyard shelter company, Edgar also sharpened his skills in the corporate world at Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. As he saw customers accustomed to waiting three months (and more!) for sofas and sectionals that realistically take only a few weeks to make, he realized there must be a better way and founded BenchMade Modern in 2015 to disrupt this norm. Connect with Edgar: Website https://benchmademodern.com/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/benchmademodern/ Twitter https://twitter.com/BenchMadeModern Twitter https://twitter.com/EdgarBlazona Connect With Susan: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SusanSlyLive Instagram https://www.instagram.com/susansly/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Susan_sly LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/susansly
The Third Growth Option with Benno Duenkelsbuehler and Guests
Edgar Blazona is the real deal: he grew and learned as a punk-ass kid designer and furniture rebel, went to college in corporate America, continued as a serial entrepreneur and founded several successful companies, including Benchmade Modern, the folks who make and sell Rebellious Luxury by the inch. We talked about Edgar's journey, changes in 21st century manufacturing and branding, and the importance of finding your own way.3:31 – “I kept pushing buttons and finding my way into the room… and kept growing.”5:04 – on the game vs. the work “it's more important to play the game than do the work… while the work is very important… if no one likes you, no one's going to want to work with you.” 6:57 – on changes manufacturers should or must address: “Dropship. How do we change our business model to handle that? From credit card swipe to the machine?” 9:00 – “The industrial revolution or Henry Ford's assembly line is about the process from raw material to finished good, as efficiently as possible – vs. today, starting from the customer and go backwards into the factory: which parts of the process are superfluous, from the customer perspective?” 9:50 – “The DTC/direct-to-consumer dropship model is going to take over, and retailers are pushing that more.” 12:35 – “As a manufacturer, do we have our own brand? Do we build a brand? Or do I sell it thru a wholesaler… you're seeing manufacturers creating brands and going direct, that is going to change the landscape… that's disruption.” 16:01 – we started digging deeper on branding. Two definitions emerged: “Compelling promise, delivered. Also: What do you see, and what do you feel? 19:30 – “No one wants to be a used car salesman… how do we pitch our brands in an authentic way? If you can't connect to the authentic side, I don't think you can connect to the feeling side.” 20:54 – “I'm gonna dig it, I'm gonna have fun… if you're not having fun, you shouldn't do it.” 26:01 – on aspects of growing a business: “your secret sauce is not just sitting in a dark room designing (or making) stuff…your flywheel is the curiosity and the love for branding that allows you to think of ways to make your ideas come alive.”
On today's episode of the Entrepreneur Evolution Podcast, we are joined by Edgar Blazona, Founder and President of BenchMade Modern and a serial entrepreneur (and also a DJ on the side!). Edgar Blazona is a modernist American furniture designer and founder of wildly popular direct-to-consumer sofa brand BenchMade Modern. A high school dropout, turned graffiti artist, turned serial entrepreneur, Edgar got his start in the furniture industry because of need: he was young and broke, and his first apartment didn't have any furniture. And, necessity became invention. Along with starting several (!) of his own companies, including Modular Dwellings – a prefab backyard shelter company, Edgar also sharpened his skills in the corporate world at Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. As he saw customers accustomed to waiting three months (and more!) for sofas and sectionals that realistically take only a few weeks to make, he realized there must be a better way and founded BenchMade Modern in 2015 to disrupt this norm. BenchMade Modern offers sofas and sectionals in 5” increments and custom configurations, depths, fabrics and more. Custom furniture arrives at your doorstep within weeks, not months. To learn more about BenchMade Modern, visit https://benchmademodern.com/ We would love to hear from you, and it would be awesome if you left us a 5-star review. Your feedback means the world to us, and we will be sure to send you a special thank you for your kind words. Don't forget to hit “subscribe” to automatically be notified when guest interviews and Express Tips drop every Tuesday and Friday. Interested in joining our monthly entrepreneur membership? Email Annette directly at yourock@ievolveconsulting.com to learn more. Ready to invest in yourself? Book your free session with Annette HERE. Keep evolving, entrepreneur. We are SO proud of you! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/annette-walter/support
Edgar Blazona is a modernist American furniture designer and founder of the wildly popular DTC sofa brand BenchMade Modern. A high school dropout, turned graffiti artist, turned serial entrepreneur, Edgar got his start in the furniture industry because of need: he was young and broke, and his first apartment didn't have any furniture. Thus, he taught himself how to build some. Along with starting several of his own companies, including Modular Dwellings – a prefab backyard shelter company, Edgar also sharpened his skills in the corporate world at Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. As he saw customers accustomed to waiting three months (and more!) for sofas and sectionals that realistically take only a few weeks to make, he realized there must be a better way and founded BenchMade Modern in 2015 to disrupt this norm. BenchMade Modern offers sofas and sectionals in 5 foot increments and custom configurations, depths, fabrics and more. Custom furniture arrives at your doorstep within weeks, not months. Here's a discount code special for our listeners! Use accidental15 to 15% off your purchase. Link to robotic machine mentioned in the episode: https://youtu.be/a97mvt3ORrQ In addition to listening to the episode, you can watch a video of their discussion on our YouTube Channel. And be sure to subscribe to support the podcast! For general information about the podcast, send an email to info@beinhakerlaw.com To follow Mitch and the podcast, go to linktr.ee/beinhakerlaw. You can subscribe and listen to episodes on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify and most other directories. Please review us whenever possible and thanks for your continued support! Sponsorships and paid guest appearances are available. Connect with us by email or on social media. The Accidental Entrepreneur is brought to you by Beinhaker Law, a boutique business & estates legal practice in Clark, NJ. To learn about shared outside general counsel services and how to better protect your business, visit https://beinhakerlaw.com/fractional-gen-counsel/ Please support our affiliate sponsors (https://beinhakerlaw.com/podcast-affiliates/). Also, support the show and get your own podcast merch! (https://beinhakerlaw.com/podcast-store/) One of One Productions - a New Jersey-based studio, just over the George Washington bridge, that caters to the booming business of podcasting. Be sure to check out the guesting kit that they've created exclusively for our listeners! https://one-of-one-productions.myshopify.com/products/mitchell-beinhakers-guesting-kit North Authentic - NorthAuthentic.com is a conscious hair care marketplace offering the cleanest brands from around the world. Their pro stylists curate only the most fabulous non-toxic hair products. Use our affiliate link for all your purchases! https://shrsl.com/38heu The Healthy Place - Findyourhealthyplace.com has thousands of supplements to help you live a better quality of life; as well as natural solutions for chronic pain, stress, anxiety, depression, sleep and much, much more. Need guidance? Use their Live Chat feature and talk to a Wellness Consultant right on their website. The Accidental Entrepreneur is a trademark of Mitchell C. Beinhaker. Copyright 2018-2022. All rights reserved.
Edgar Blazona is a modernist American furniture designer and founder of wildly popular DTC sofa brand BenchMade Modern. A high school dropout, turned graffiti artist, turned serial entrepreneur, Edgar got his start in the furniture industry because of need: he was young and broke, and his first apartment didn't have any furniture, so he taught himself how to build some. Along with starting several of his own companies, including Modular Dwellings – a prefab backyard shelter company, Edgar also sharpened his skills in the corporate world through working at the furniture manufacturers and retailers Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. He saw customers accustomed to waiting months for sofas and sectionals that realistically take only a few weeks to make, and realised there must be a better way. He founded BenchMade Modern in 2015 to disrupt this norm. What is your niche? And what are you doing to disrupt the norm? ABOUT THE HOST: Jane Bayler is a serial entrepreneur, investor, speaker, event host and business scale up expert. She had a 20 year history in global media and advertising, before becoming a serial entrepreneur herself, with multiple businesses in real estate, marketing and education. Having grown and sold a £6M brand identity business to US communications group Interpublic, today she is most passionate about and committed to serving other entrepreneurs – helping them grow their businesses and achieve their best lives. Enquire about working 1:1 with Jane, book a call here: https://bit.ly/2Z07DML Join Jane's free Masterclass to discover her Triple C HyperGrowth system - to scale up your business and attract your ideal clients, here: https://idealclientsuccess.com/masterclass
In this episode of Startup Hustle, Matt Watson and Edgar Blazona, President & Founder of BenchMade Modern talk about how to survive and thrive in a crowded industry. Gain key insights into how to create value for your customers, in turn creating brand advocates. Find Startup Hustle Everywhere: https://linktr.ee/startuphustle This episode is sponsored by Canva: https://www.canva.com/ Learn more about BenchMade Modern: http://www.benchmademmodern.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Edgar Blazona is the Founder of BenchMade Modern. Edgar inspires people to think differently, solve difficult problems, and follow their entrepreneurial dreams, even when all odds are against them. He started his first furniture company at the age of 17, after being kicked out of high school. He earned his first $400 by selling a self-made table and is now the founder of an 8-figure company. In 2020, when the pandemic hit the entire economy, his company's revenue went up by 100% year-over-year (now $10M+). His secret? Being resourceful and rebellious. What you will learn Why tapping into your “creator” is important for entrepreneurs How Edgar doubled his sales during the pandemic If the “Direct to Customer” model works well What “Rebellious Luxury” is and why you should care The secrets of Edgar's journey from his first $400 sale to a business that today turns over 8 figures Why Edgar values Reviews of his product as his top marketing tactic and not Facebook advertising or SEO
In this podcast episode, Edgar discusses his journey as an entrepreneur and reflects on the personal qualities that have helped him succeed. He talks about the importance of being older and wiser, as well as focusing on quality and customer service over simply surviving day to day. He also emphasizes the need for a rebellious spirit in order to truly stand out in today's business world. Ultimately, Edgar's story is one of finding success by staying true to oneself and one's values. By remaining authentic and focused on what is important, he has been able to build a successful company that is respected by its customers. Additionally, his team's rebellious luxury aesthetic sets them apart from other luxury retailers, and their focus on authenticity allows them to connect with their customers on a deeper level. Whether through unique product names or marketing messaging, Edgar and his team are constantly striving to capture the essence of rebellion in everything they do. This podcast episode provides insight into the mind of a successful entrepreneur and offers valuable lessons for anyone seeking to create their own business.
797: The Magic Couch , Edgar Blazona, BenchMade Modern The Magic Couch Edgar Blazona, BenchMade Modern – The Sharkpreneur podcast with Seth Greene Episode 797 Edgar Blazona Edgar Blazona is a modernist American furniture designer and founder of wildly popular DTC sofa brand BenchMade Modern. A high school dropout, turned graffiti artist, turned serial entrepreneur, Edgar got his start in the furniture industry because of need: he was young and broke, and his first apartment didn't have any furniture. Necessity became invention. Along with starting several (!) of his own companies, including Modular Dwellings – a prefab backyard shelter company, Edgar also sharpened his skills in the corporate world at Pottery Barn and Restoration Hardware. As he saw customers accustomed to waiting three months (and more!) for sofas and sectionals that realistically take only a few weeks to make, he realized there must be a better way and founded BenchMade Modern in 2015 to disrupt this norm. BenchMade Modern offers sofas and sectionals in 5” increments and custom configurations, depths, fabrics and more. Custom furniture arrives at your doorstep within weeks, not months. Listen to this illuminating Sharkpreneur episode with Edgar Blazona about creating magic sofas. Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week's show: - How it's smart to work for a business that is like the one you want to start. - Why the traditional way of selling and storing furniture has become archaic. - How most people don't want a sofa that can be made faster than it can be delivered. - Why 10 days is the sweet spot for manufacturing, trucking, and delivery. - How the pandemic caused people to want to go buy more furniture. Connect with Edgar: Guest Contact Info Twitter @benchmademodern Instagram @benchmademodern Facebook facebook.com/benchmademodern Links Mentioned: benchmademodern.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On today's podcast I have special guest, Edgar Blazona Edgar is a modernist American furniture designer and founder of wildly popular DTC sofa brand BenchMade Modern. A high school dropout, turned graffiti artist, turned serial entrepreneur, Edgar got his start in the furniture industry because of need: he was young and broke, and his first apartment didn't have any furniture. He now runs BenchMade Modern which offers custom furniture that arrives at your doorstep within weeks, not months. Have a listen. Where to find BenchMade Modern:https://benchmademodern.com/ https://www.instagram.com/benchmademodern/ https://www.facebook.com/benchmademodern/
Edgar Blazona takes us on a ride with his story of going from a high school drop out to the founder of an EIGHT figure company. His company, BenchMade Modern, increased its revenue by 100% during the pandemic (2020) and he's going to give us the scoop on how he made it happen!------------------------------------------------------Interested in hiring Michelle as a coach, educator, or speaker? Click HERE. ------------------------------------------------------Visit BenchMade Modern to receive 15% off - https://benchmademodern.com/Receive 15% off your purchase by using the coupon code RESILIENT15Learn more about our incredible guest, Edgar Blazona, by visiting his website. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn, Twitter or Instagram.
Edgar Blazona shares on trusting yourself, how the experience shouldn't suck, easing out of norms, showing them you mean business, its not about being the best its about... https://DarkHorseSchooling.com
LifeBlood: We talked about disrupting the furniture industry, why it takes so long to get a couch, the challenges of delivery, and how to make the entire process better, with Edgar Blazona, Founder and President of BenchMadeModern. Listen to learn what to ask for if you want money! You can learn more about Edgar at BenchMadeModern.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. Thanks, as always for listening! If you got some value and enjoyed the show, please leave us a review wherever you listen and subscribe as well. You can learn more about us at LifeBlood.Live, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube and Facebook or you'd like to be a guest on the show, contact us at contact@LifeBlood.Live.
Today's guest is a modernist American furniture designer and founder of DTC sofa brand BenchMade Modern. As he saw customers accustomed to waiting 5+ months for sofas and sectionals that really only take a few weeks to make, he realized there must be a better way and founded BenchMade Modern. Please welcome today's guest, Edgar Blazona! Top 3 Amplifiers: 1. How to get people comfortable buying sofas online without seeing them in person first 2. The importance of understanding your buyers' journey to build profit 3. Why segmenting your buyers straight from your ads creates more profit To listen, find other episodes, access the show notes, and find out more go to www.amplifyto7figures.com Connect with today's guest: Website: benchmademodern.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/benchmademodern Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benchmademodern/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/benchmademodern/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/benchmademodern
Edgar Blazona (BenchMade Modern, Founder) started his first furniture company at the age of 17, earned his first $400 by selling a self-made table and is now the founder of an 8-figure company. Edgar believes that the combination of passion and executing your products at the highest level is the key to elevating yourself and your business. Edgar's love for design and willingness to solve people's real problems was what allowed him to deliver the impossible and succeed even in a particularly oversaturated industry. As a result, his company (BenchMade Modern) is reaching solid 100% growth rates year over year.
Ep #126 - In today's podcast episode, I'm joined by Edgar Blazona, a serial entrepreneur and 25-year furniture industry veteran who founded the company BenchMade Modern in an effort to make the sofa buying experience more user-friendly. Beyond BenchMade Modern, this self-taught furniture designer also founded the companies True Modern, a national furniture wholesaler, and Modular Dwellings, the first modern prefab backyard structure business. Learn More About Edgar Blazona: Visit the Bench Made Mordern company website at: https://benchmademodern.com/ Connect with Edgar Blazona on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edgar-blazona-9484351/ Also, please remember to subscribe, rate, and leave a written review for the show if you find value in it. Your reviews help this show to reach a wider audience and I appreciate everyone that has been leaving them. FOLLOW CHARLES GAUDET ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Follow Charles Gaudet on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/charlesgaudet Follow Charles Gaudet on Facebook: https://facebook.com/charlesgaudet Follow Charles Gaudet on Twitter: https://twitter.com/charlesgaudet VISIT THE PREDICTABLE PROFITS WEBSITE: https://PredictableProfits.com
How A High-School Dropout Disrupted The Whole IndustryEdgar's life is anything but ordinary. When he was about 17, he got kicked out of a challenging catholic school and started his first company. He taught himself to weld furniture and shortly sold his first table for $400. At that moment, he realized that he can make money from being creative and his life took a whole new direction. During this topic, Edgar can take your audience back on his journey from a very young age to becoming the successful serial entrepreneur he is today. He'll talk about overcoming adversities, following his instinct, living life to the fullest, and eventually shaking up the whole industry. Your listeners will leave with not only actionable strategies but also tons of inspiration and confidence to keep building, even if all odds are stacked against them. Connect w/Edgar: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edgar-blazona-9484351/ (LinkedIn) https://twitter.com/edgarblazona?lang=fr (twitter) https://www.instagram.com/accounts/login/?next=/benchmademodern/ (IG) Let's connect: https://open.acast.com/shows/5e759e3195fa07a414c9afe8/episodes/60ed28a18c0c31001917b838/www.yourultimateplaybook.com (My book (The Ultimate Playbook for High Achievement) ) https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-molden-9693431b/ (LinkedIn) https://www.instagram.com/alexmolden/ (IG) https://www.facebook.com/alex.molden1/ (Facebook) https://open.acast.com/shows/5e759e3195fa07a414c9afe8/episodes/www.alexmoldenspeaks.com (website) https://thehaacademy.com/get-full-access (High Achievers Academy) *Get you a https://www.uv-brite.com/ (UV Brite water bottle)!! Use coupon code Sharkeffect15 for 15% off!! **Get stronger w/https://frogfuel.com/ (Frog Fuel)!! Use coupon code Sharkeffect20 for 20% off of your 1st order! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
February 28, 2022 Furniture Entrepreneur Edgar Blazona and SavvyProWeb Sean Rosensteel on Intentional Living
On this episode, host Ethan Abramson sits down with Edgar Blazona, founder of the furniture company BenchMade Modern. This episode is brought to you by Jobber- getjobber.com/ethan It is an understatement to say that Edgar, with his 25 years of furniture experience, knows a thing or two about selling furniture. Having worked in the industry as a founder of multiple companies, including BenchMade Modern, a pioneering sofa brand with revenue of 10 plus million dollars in 2020. As well as a designer for many large brands and as a hands-on builder of his own furniture, Edgar has the full view of what it takes to be successful in the furniture business. Follow along as we talk about how to get the right kind of press, the pains of shipping furniture, what you need to know to start your company today and much more. Read More
It's time for some real talk! Have you ever wondered what it's like to run a factory owned DTC company? In today's episode Chris talks with Edgar Blazona, Founder and President of BenchMade Modern, a new technology-driven custom sofa company on a mission to change the way people shop.
Thank you for tuning into "Starting Small", a podcast about brand development, entrepreneurship, and innovation in the modern world. In this episode, I am joined by Edgar Blazona, Founder of BenchMade Modern, custom sofas and sectionals, without the typical extensive build time. Edgar grew up into a family surrounded by construction, which ultimately had a direct impact on his future endeavors into design. Not following the tratidtional education route, he then ended up dropping out of high school and pursuing his passion at the time... graffiti art. Edgar went on to create multiple companies such as Modular Dwellings (prefab buildings for the DIY consumer) and True Modern (a wholesale furniture model). Realizing the issue of custom furniture having extensive build to delivery times, he continued his passion for modernism by creating BenchMade Modern, custom sofas delivered within one month. Choose your desired size, design, and material, and expect a custom sofa to be delivered to your doorstep in no time. Make sure to check out BenchMade Modern at: https://benchmademodern.com/ Follow Starting Small: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/startingsmallpod/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Startingsmallpod/?modal=admin_todo_tour LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/cameronnagle Support for Starting Small comes from Humanscale, the leading designer and manufacturer of high-performance ergonomic products that help create a healthier work life. All of their products, from chairs to standing desks and more, are comfortable, easy to use, and sustainable. And great for either the office or the work from home environment. With an increase in shifting workplaces, comfort can be especially hard to find. As I run the podcast, I am in front of my desk for hours a day; from scheduling, researching, interviewing, and more. Humanscale allows me to remain productive, without the consequence of body stress to follow. Make sure to check out Humanscale at humanscale.com, and use code: STARTINGSMALL at checkout to save 20% on your purchase.
ICFF show 1: Ethnicraft Founder and ICFF On this episode of The Lounge, Nick joins us from ICFF New York! He speaks with Heather Wood, the marketing manager for ICFF, and Ethnicraft CEO and founder Benoit Loos. Nick welcomes back Benjamin Moore as our sponsor. He has almost exclusively used their paints for his painting businesses since the 90s. Also joining the team as one of our sponsors is Benchmade Modern! Edgar Blazona joins us to tell about his efficient, online, custom furniture company...that's affordable too! Marketing ICFF with Heather Wood This year ICFF NYC is over 155 square feet filled with international exhibitors (750+) from Spain, the Philippines, Scandinavia, to Austrailia and Belgium. It is their 29th year in New York and 2nd year in Miami. ICFF Miami runs from October 3rd to October 4th at the Miami Beach Convention Center, and is currently 200 exhibitors and growing. There are many challenges that Heather faces running an international furniture and design show. International shipping and setting up exhibition spaces are among the most difficult, most problems and questions have to do with logistics. There is a LOT to take care of in making sure everything runs smoothly for each exhibitor, such as managing press and media, shipping policies, language barriers, and networking. A large role Heather also plays is managing the attendee database, ensuring that all the high profile designers, architectures, manufacturers, and buyers attend. Being in marketing can be a catch-all position but Heather's primary focus is to deliver rich content to the attendees. ICFF is a huge investment so she needs to make sure everything runs smoothly for both the exhibitors and the attendees, and that they all get everything they need/want out of the event. New York has approximately 40-55,000 interior designers residing in the city, making it the largest concentration of designers in the world, so the main attendee market for the show is New York designers. Heather's main marketing focus is print, digital, advertising, and social media (which is #1). This day in age (in the millennial era), Instagram is a very popular marketing source -everyone uses it- so it's a great way for ICFF to receive gratification and respect. They can do sneak peaks and Instagram takeovers like they've done with Dorothy Mack and Jefferey Johnson. Check out their mix of contemporary meets classic at their handle @icff_nyc. Learn more at www.icff.com and www.icffmiami.com Getting to know Edgar Blazona and Benchmade Modern Edgar joins us from his Mission District showroom in San Fransisco. He got started in the furniture business right out of high school, growing his own company. Edgar didn't have enough money to buy furniture so he decided he would make it himself. A woman at a local gallery like a piece he made and wanted to sell it for him so he dropped it off on Friday... and voilá! It was sold by Monday. Edgar realized that it would be a long road ahead of him making furniture at a small scale so he stopped to work for The Pottery Barn. Here he learned about manufacturing on a much larger scale which helped kickstart his brand and his career. Edgar then started his company True Modern which grew to its current size today and is sold through brick and mortar and online retailers. Then 3 years ago, he decided he was tired of hearing stories about how it took 15 weeks for customers to get furniture and by the time it arrived, they didn't even like it. Thus, Benchmade Modern was born! Made to order, custom furniture in every shape and size that arrives in 7-10 days with 75 styles, including limited run fabrics at a great value. They make everything from 35 inches to 10 feet and you can use a sliding scale on their website to pick your size and see the price. And it's all made right in California. Their aesthetic is no more modern than a boutique like Design Within Reach but they also want a mass appeal similar Crate and Barrel.