Where we come from... Seattle Sound Carpentry, Inc. is founded and operated by Colin Archer and me, Shane Smith. We started the company while working for a small remodel company here in Seattle. They were focused on profit and growth. We wanted to keep expanding and refining our skills. There is a certain way we like to do things, we like to be picky and build things the best way we know how. We like taking our time to plan things out and see them through. There was a lot of pressure to rush for the sake of profits at our old company, in the end it usually cost time and money, rather than saved it. So, we decided to quit our jobs and start our own company in the midst of one of the worst recessions the country has experienced. It has worked so far. We have built a list of loyal customers that we can count on for references and referrals. We have kept the business open when we have seen many of our peers closing their companies. In the mean time we have also managed to have a lot of fun and make a little money.
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Colin Archer... A career in carpentry had never been the initial focus for me. Growing up watching my father run around the jobsite with a phone semi-permanently attached to his ear wasn’t the most appealing introduction to the field. I studied Philoshophy and Geology at Western Washington University in Bellingham. After graduating I was brought back to the city of Seattle and still in the search of what it is I wanted to do with my life and career. In order to support a girlfriends ‘eating out’ habit and give myself some degree of financial freedom, I picked up a job helping my cousin rehabilitate a 1950’s Ballard home. After realizing I had an affinity for the trade and finding myself amazed and rewarded by the newly designed product which we produced I began to think I could make this a way of life. Thinking way back it must’ve started with the children’s toys Legos and the less known building block set Kinex. This was, at an early age, the junction where creativity and logistical function met for me. From there forward has been a journey to where I am today. I love creating a product that people will love. This is what you live with; it should be created with the upmost of care. A classic quote I must mention here is borrowed from Shane: “You gotta make the sandwich”. Meaning, a product is only as good as the amount of effort put in into the making of it. In addition to that a well designed product speaks for itself. This important design element within our trade is where I see my future going, but for now it’s one piece of wood and one project at a time. |
Shane Smith... I was born into building. My dad owned a large framing company in the Spokane/Couer 'd Alene area. I grew up spending my summers on job sites. When I was 17 I decided to start framing because it was a good way to make money at the time and I already had a lot of the skills I needed. I worked for a few years framing residential homes in large sub-divisions. During that time my dad sold his company and moved around a bit, landing finally in Seattle. After a few years of framing houses I decided to go back to school. At that time my dad was doing remodels on the East-side, so I started working with him part time while I went to college. After college I knew that I wanted to be a builder, so I started working with my dad full time. After five years I knew I had gone as far as I could with him. It was a hard decision, but I knew I needed to get out and do things by myself if I was going to continue to learn and grow. I got a job with a Seattle based remodel company as their main finish carpenter. It only took me a couple years to outgrow them. Bigger and better things awaited. I love working with my hands and mind everyday. It is so satisfying running my own company. When I first meet a client and they give me that "aren't you a little young to be doing this?" look, I just sit back and listen to their ideas and look at their drawings if they have any. I work with them on the planning and walk them through the process. Then In the end, when what I have built them excedes their expectations, I have a friend for life. They tell their friends, and we keep growing. It's not easy money, but I really enjoy it, and that is worth a lot.
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