EP# 2: Turning Adversity into Art: Jeff Stubblefield's Custom Craftsmanship Journey

What makes Jeff Stubblefield with Jeff’s Sawdust and Rust a good neighbor?

Could a pandemic spark the creation of a thriving business? Meet Jeff Stubblefield from Jeff's Sawdust and Rust, who turned adversity into opportunity amidst COVID-19's challenges. Jeff's journey is nothing short of inspiring as he discusses the roots of his custom woodworking and metalworking venture in Afton, Tennessee. You'll hear firsthand about the misconceptions surrounding handcrafted items versus mass-produced goods, and why investing in unique, custom pieces is truly worthwhile. Jeff also shares his personal trials and triumphs, shedding light on the mental resilience required to maintain a positive outlook while running a one-person operation.

As our conversation with Jeff concludes, we reflect on the significant impact of supporting local businesses and express our heartfelt thanks to Jeff for his candid insights. We encourage our listeners to champion local entrepreneurs who bring so much value to our communities. Have a beloved local shop or service you'd love to see featured? Head over to gnptry-cities.com or call the provided number to share your nominations. Let's continue to celebrate the dedication and craftsmanship of business owners like Jeff, who make our neighborhoods richer and more vibrant.

To learn more about Jeff’s Sawdust and Rust call:

423-470-4287

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Skip Monty.

Speaker 2: 0:10

All right, welcome everybody. Welcome to the Good Neighbors Podcast. Are you in need of a wood metalworking friend who can help you with designing things and for parties and businesses? Well, surprisingly, there's a source closer to you than you may think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your neighbor, jeff Stubbefield, with Jeff's Sawdust and Rust. Jeff, how are you doing? I'm doing well. I'm doing well, very good, very good. We're excited to learn all about you and your business, so why don't you start off by telling us a little bit about your company?

Speaker 3: 0:47

Okay, I'm a small business located in it's actually Afton, tennessee, but which is part of Greene County, so if you know where Greenville, greene County is, then that's where I'm at. I have a small shop where I do mainly woodworking, but I also incorporate metal work and variety materials acrylic composite materials where I do a lot of signage, and so we do a variety of materials for indoor signage, outdoor signage, and the woodworking is mainly furniture pieces or just especially pieces that people can't just go buy off the shelf.

Speaker 2: 1:29

Gotcha, gotcha. How long have you been in business?

Speaker 3: 1:34

I have been in business full time for four years. I started in 2020 during the pandemic, like most everybody else, I guess.

Speaker 2: 1:42

Yep, that's how this show got started actually. Most everybody else, I guess. Yep, that's how this show got started actually. Are there any myths or misconceptions about what you do?

Speaker 3: 1:55

about woodworking industry or crafting. Uh, I hear a few things. I guess the biggest one I hear is that some people don't think there is a huge difference between what you can go buy at a box store such as Walmart, Target, compared to what if you have a craftsman make you something. The quality of the materials, for instance, the workmanship that goes into the product. That seems to be a big misconception. They don't understand the reason for the price difference, which can be quite large depending on what you're wanting. So educating them on that, on the difference in what they're getting for their money, is probably the biggest misconception that I come across.

Speaker 2: 2:54

Yeah, well, and I, you know, I'm a big fan of handmade products, and not just furniture or crafts, but anything that's made locally. You know, I think a lot of people support local businesses and things that are made by hand rather than China. So, outside of work, what do you do for fun?

Speaker 3: 3:16

Well, on the limited time I have for fun, I actually paint a little bit. I like doing art. It's something that when you focus all day on jobs, it's nice just to relax and go into your own world and just not have to focus as much. So that kind of helps my mind relax. That is probably the number one thing I do on a regular basis. I enjoy I'm actually getting into virtual reality quite a bit, to be honest with you. Yeah, that's a good. Anything that lets my mind get occupied with something besides work. That takes me away for an hour or two hours. Then that's kind of what I go for. Got to have that break.

Speaker 2: 4:03

Got to, got to have that break.

Speaker 3: 4:05

Well, let's change gears.

Speaker 2: 4:06

Can you describe one hardship or life challenge that you've risen above and can now say because of it you're better and stronger. Does anything come to mind? Does?

Speaker 3: 4:17

anything come to mind If we're talking work-related, the biggest thing I Hold on oh well, I would say the biggest thing that is, just like most people, and like most people, overcoming what can easily be a negative mindset. And I'm trying to think of the best way to put this. It's sometimes you can get into a routine, a rut, the job that you're doing that you don't really want to do things of that nature, and so you have to. If you're going to be a, a positive person, a person who is going to pursue their goals, then you have to believe in yourself and get out of the negative mindset and push yourself.

Speaker 3: 5:24

And so there were times that I was not in a good mindset, just like everyone else. You know you're stuck in a job you don't like, you're not enjoying what you're doing, you feel like you could be doing more. So overcoming that mindset to move forward, not only just in starting a business for myself, but just going in life and moving forward and not being grounded in negativity and that's just something from my own experience, but I do know others experience the same thing. So, as far as obstacles, I think I was my biggest obstacle I had to overcome, if you understand what I'm talking about there.

Speaker 2: 6:12

I do, and I think that's great advice for pretty much anybody, not just in business either.

Speaker 3: 6:18

Yeah, yeah. A lot of people struggle with a lot of things, and if you can get out of your own way, so to speak, then I think things usually improve quite a bit.

Speaker 2: 6:32

Very good.

Speaker 3: 6:33

Great advice.

Speaker 2: 6:33

Great advice, Jeff. Please tell our listeners one thing they should remember about Jeff's Sawdust and Rust.

Speaker 3: 6:42

I guess the one thing to remember is I am Jeff's Sawdust and Rust. I am my only employee. When you call Jeff's Sawdust and Rust or you email Jeff's Sawdust, uh, you are talking to me. So if you have an issue, you're talking to the person that you need to talk to. If it's good, I did it. If it's bad, I did it. There's nobody else for me to blame. Uh, so if you have a problem or a question, then you don't get sent off to some switchboard in India. You call me. If I don't answer immediately, you just leave a message and I will get back to you. Or you can email me and I will get back to you.

Speaker 3: 7:30

So I am the company, I am in your neighborhood or your area. So it's much easier to get things resolved, get answers to your questions. As simple as can you build this, can you make this happen? It doesn't go before a committee, it just goes before me and I say, yes, I can do it. No, I can't. This is how we do it, this is what it would cost. And so the one thing about Jeff sawdust and rust is we're easy to deal with, and I say we as in me, we as in me Very good, very good.

Speaker 2: 8:10

Well, how can our listeners learn more about Jeff sawdust and rust.

Speaker 3: 8:15

Social media is probably the best way. Just like everyone else, I do have a my Facebook, jeff saw Dustin rust Instagram I don't really get on all the others cause there's just too many social media sites to try to keep up with and there again I'm a one man show. So that is the best way to see what I've done in the past. You can also just if you do have a question, you can reach me through social media. You can call the phone number. The phone number goes to this phone right here. There's, you know again, there's not a switchboard. It comes right to me. Email comes right to me. So if you have a question, even a trivial question, then I'm more than happy to answer it. Cool, and what's that number? It is Eric 423-470-4287.

Speaker 2: 9:11

423-470-4287. 423-470-4287? Yes, all right, very good. Well, jeff, I really appreciate you being on the show. We wish you and your business the best moving forward.

Speaker 3: 9:24

Thank you very much Glad to be here. All right, stick around.

Speaker 1: 9:29

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnptry-citiescom. That's gnptry-citiescom, or call 423-719-5873. Thank you.