I was fortunate enough to have recently met Ben when we both enrolled in a leadership course. During the course, Ben and I talked on several occassions and that is how I learned about Classic Door Systems. Which is a business that creates handmade works of art that just happen to take the form of wooden doors.
Make sure that you check out Classic Door Systems if you’re in the market for a 100% wood door!
PE: Tell us a little about Classic Door Systems.
Ben: We make custom handcrafted unique front entry doors. From design to completion the possibilities are endless. Typically we deal with three types of wood; solid white oak, mahogany or merbau (high quality hardwood). We also make a new line of stainless steel doors. All of the doors are one off meaning there will not be another one exactly like it anywhere else.
PE: What was the inspiration behind starting your own business?
Ben: When I was on holidays in Europe, I was intrigued by the beautiful architecture. Some of the houses there are just beautiful and lots of them have very old solid wood entry doors. Then I came home and I started looking to replace my existing door and realized there really was not so much doors that I liked. So I made one myself similar to one I had seen on a old house.
PE: I always like to talk to people about their visions. What’s your vision for Classic Door Systems? Where do you see the business in say 3-5 years from now?
Ben: My vision is to make a living out of my hobby. With that being said 75 entry doors produced per year is my goal.
PE: What do you find to be the hardest part about running your own business?
Ben: Time seems to be hardest challenge. There never seems to be enough of it. Another thing I find challenging is persuading customers to think outside the box, since the possibilities are endless when building a door. Why have a door like everyone else.
PE: If you were able to give one piece of advice to an aspiring entrepreneur what would it be?
Ben: If you have a dream there is nothing that can hold you back from that dream except yourself. So I’d say make a back up plan. Don’t risk everything and just go for it!
PE: Could you tell us about that moment in time, your “Eureka” moment, when all the ideas you had about your business just started to come together?
Ben: I guess the eureka moment came when I realized the response I was getting on the door I made for my own house. I knew at that moment that this could really work. So I started a website dedicated to my doors and started working out of my workshop, and voila, a new business was born.
PE: If you were able to change one single thing about the way in which you started your business what would it be?
Ben: I would have started sooner.
(PE: For those of you who have had the opportunity to get to know Ben, you know just how much this answer fits him to a tee. Direct, to the point, and can’t you just see him saying it!)
PE: To this point, what has been your most effective method for obtaining new customers for your business?
Ben: My website and any articles in the media have been the most effective way in obtaining new customers.
PE: Could you tell us how important “word-of-mouth” advertising is to the overall success of your business?
Ben: Word of mouth is very important for my business. If someone is happy with my work, they will spread the word. In addition, if they overhear somebody saying they need a new front door, they might give the name of my company.
PE: When you’re not busy running your company what do you like to do with you time?
Ben: I love to work on my house, spend time with my family, the outdoors and going fishing
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