“We know our wood business is going to be great – the phone is blowing up already! We will succeed and grow, we’re just that kind of people. And we believe people with grit and guts can do something like this. If you have drive and faith, you can do anything.” – Robert & Amy Bigler
“I’ve been a woodworker my entire life. For 30 years, my wife, Amy, and I worked in the insurance industry. I was a general contractor doing insurance reconstruction. Repairing damaged houses, piecing-in flooring in water-damaged homes, restoration, rebuilding, and much more.
We grew tired of working in insurance restoration and decided to take a leap of faith. We quit 6-figure jobs and started our own business. With all those years in insurance restoration, we clearly saw there was a need for custom woodwork, trim, hardwood flooring, custom millwork, and more. Too, we saw a big need for custom-matched trim — the ability to match original trim in houses where the molding’s been damaged.
Time to start earning for ourselves
So, two years ago, we decided it was finally time to stop making money for others and start earning for ourselves. We bought a TimberKing 1220 sawmill and three Woodmaster Molder/Planers and started gearing up to start our own hardwood products business.
We already had the space and resources for it — we live on what you’d call a gentleman’s farm. It’s 40 acres in a rural area just within the Kansas City, Missouri city limits. We hay half of it and the other half is in timber. We fell and harvest our own trees selectively, mostly walnut and oak. We have a TimberKing sawmill and a big outbuilding to hold lumber.
We’ve also developed working relationships with local tree services. They bring us trees they’ve cut – nice oak, hickory, and ash — or we go and pick them up and put them on our sawmill. Between our own trees and those from the tree services, we have a steady supply of logs.
And, through the insurance rehab work we’ve done, we know all kinds of woodworkers, contractors, and subcontractors. We know exactly what they need in trim, flooring, and hardwood products.
Grit and guts – drive and faith
At first, we had some trepidation about leaving our jobs and starting a business. But we planned for it, gave notice and walked away. We’re in this together, working together. We know this is going to be great – the phone is blowing up already! We will succeed and grow in this business, we’re just that kind of people. And we believe people with grit and guts can do something like this. If you have drive and faith, you can do anything.
A friend knew people at TimberKing
My wife and I shopped together for sawmills. We searched online, and a friend knew people at TimberKing. We saw how well built and how strong their mills are – the quality and engineering is superior to other mills we looked at. Others are cheaply made and don’t have TimberKing’s quality. We went to the factory in Kansas City and into the caves where they build the mills.
TimberKing’s mills are so well made, and put out such high-quality lumber, we had confidence to go forward with our plan. Everyone at TimberKing has been extremely accommodating and friendly and they know their mill and sawing very well. I met with the president, Will Johnson. And I’m on a first-name basis with sales guys like Matt and Jake. Every time I need something or have a question they treat me very well and give me good information.
Made in Kansas City, USA
A big selling factor, of course, is they’re made right here in Kansas City, USA. For us, it’s all about Made in America. The price was right and from a size standpoint, the 1220’s right for everything we saw. If business grows, and we expect it will, we’ll upgrade and get a second sawmill – definitely a TimberKing.
We like TimberKing’s 4-post head and the sturdy, welded construction including the welded steel frame. A lot of less expensive brands don’t have nearly the same strength frame. The machine’s well- balanced and easy to run.
Amy and I work side-by-side but sometimes she cuts by herself. 5’4” and she runs the mill by herself. The way it’s engineered and built, it’s very user-friendly and simple to run.
Customer service is very important to us and TimberKing has been great. I feel like I have people in my corner. I call down to the factory and talk to Matt, Jake, or Will and I’m not talking to some big conglomerate. They’re real people. You know how it usually is; you call some company with a question and they don’t have time to talk. Maybe they’ll call you later. TimberKing is Johnny-on-the-spot. They take the time to talk you through whatever question you have.
We could have bought any mill, we chose TimberKing
All I can say is we’re very pleased. We could have bought any brand out there and we chose this one. I’d certainly recommend TimberKing to anybody. Good products, good people, and great customer service. If anybody’s looking for a sawmill, I’d certainly steer them toward a TimberKing.
We’re happy and excited. We have a lot at stake in this endeavor but we’ll make it work because that’s who we are!”
— Robert & Amy Bigler, Heartland Millworks, TimberKing and Woodmaster Owners, Independence MO
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