The Best Woods Story
I started Best Woods over 13 years ago in my little garage. This life altering experience has been very painful, exhilarating, stressful, faith-building, and humbling─and I would not recommend it to anybody!
I didn’t want to start a company. I wasn’t looking for a business opportunity – it just happened. One day I was laid off from my cozy corporate job, and something very unique happened. Within a few hours of being laid off, I knew what I was going to be doing for the rest of my life. I knew I was supposed to start a woodworking company—and we named it Best Woods! I also realized this company would be instrumental in bringing back a lost art—beautiful woodwork in our homes. Times have changed, most schools have dropped woodworking from their course curriculum, and it is almost impossible to find an affordable skilled craftsman to do beautiful work in your home. I realized that the classic art of woodworking has been dying for many years, and it would be our mission to bring it back.
The Best Woods Mission
Within the first two weeks of starting Best Woods, I knew our mission would be “…to bring back the classic art of woodworking and beautify America's homes.” I realized that we needed to bring back this lost art to everybody—not just to the wealthy, but to make woodworking affordable to anyone.
The Good Ole Days
If you are like me, you love to watch old movies and check out the beautiful woodworking. It seems like all the homes back then had some degree of woodworking which would invariably add character and charm to their surroundings. You would see beautiful moldings sculpting the ceilings, doorways and windows trimmed with sizable mouldings and crowned with lintels, pilasters lining the walls or supporting the archways, and rooms wrapped in wainscot or beadboard—these homes were full of character and beauty!
In our day, it appears as if people are only interested in building the biggest home possible for the maximum amount they can borrow! There are two obvious problems with this statement, and I will only address the less obvious—building the largest home possible. In building such a house many will often overlook the single most important element that can create imagination, character, and environment—that is the woodworking.
It seems that many have been so caught up in “super-sizing” that they have forgotten the finer details of living. Adding a third car garage instead of wrapping the dining room walls with wainscot, or adding cozy lintels on all the doors and windows, and lining the ceiling with beautiful crown mouldings. These stunning architectural elements are what it takes to transform a house into a home. Imagine all this character sacrificed for a third garage!
When you walk into one of these “super-sized” homes it usually feels spacious, cold, and generic. However, have you ever noticed how you feel when you walk into a well designed home or room—you can actually feel a difference deep down in your soul. Yes, this is true, and this is why I started Best Woods, because it all starts with the woodworking. And it begins in the home. Our Vision states . . .
Homes can be peaceful, purposeful sanctuaries where wholesome values and human nobility are engendered in families. Well-designed homes inspire imagination, education, character, and achievement. They reflect individual tastes, values, and personalities.
~ Best Woods Vision
We have worked tirelessly for the past 13 years in fulfilling our vision, and we have enhanced the environment of thousands of homes! That part of the business has been exhilarating! However, other times, like after September 11, 2001, when our business came crashing down, I was left to ask myself, “why did I ever start this company”? Who in his right mind would willingly go through something so painful and difficult as this? However, we put our nose to grindstone, and through hard work, faith, and pure blessings from above, we were able to pull through. Then, after a short season of smooth sailing the big storm- or recession hit, and boy did it hit us hard! We took what we learned from surviving 9/11, and once again, we put our faith to work and we are still here to tell about it. And how grateful I am for that!
Principles to Work and Live By
A few years into our business I started what we call “The Best Woods University” which may sound rather pretentious, however, it is fairly simple. It is a collection of eight books that have provided light and knowledge to me and my company. They are of great value and have steered me and my company through many precarious times.
I strongly encourage all my employees to not only read each book (multiple times if necessary), but more importantly, to apply the principles taught in the books. Our Vision states . . .
“We expect all employees to read, understand, and apply the principles taught in the books from the Best Woods University . . . Employees that embrace the core values and the company vision realize enormous personal growth and accomplishments.
~ Best Woods Vision
Well that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it! I hope you enjoy your experience with us at Best Woods. It makes me so happy, when the company I started, with and idea and a prayer 13 years ago in my little garage, can help beautify and change the environment of your home – & that brings joy to my heart! When we have accomplished this, we draw a little closer to fulfilling our mission at Best Woods by “bringing back the classic art of wood working and beautifying America’s home’s”
Thank you
─Tymen Best
