Our most listened episode on Spotify in 2025 is back. Nick Mooers rode the pandemic boom in home renovation into real growth at Maverick Sawmill, built a reputation on oversized walnut, and split the business evenly between raw and finished products.

In this throwback episode of the Woodpreneur Podcast, hosts Steve Larosiliere and Jennifer Alger sit down with Nick Mooers of Maverick Sawmill, a sawmill that specializes in oversized walnut pieces. Nick walks through how demand surged as homeowners poured money into renovations, the projects that came with it, including a massive walnut table, and why he started building a new shop to run the operation more efficiently.

You'll hear how Nick thinks about leadership, team dynamics and building relationships, and how he keeps the 50/50 balance between raw material and finished pieces. He talks through the machinery he invested in to make the sawmill more efficient, the challenges of moving into the new shop, and the trends he was watching, from epoxy projects to home and garden shows.

The conversation closes on how a sawmill markets high-end builds, and why relationships carry so much weight when you sell into the luxury market.

Chapters 00:00 Inside Maverick Sawmill 01:00 How the Pandemic Grew the Business 02:40 A Massive Walnut Table and a New Shop 05:19 What Makes the Operation Work 09:51 Leadership, Team and Industry Trends 13:12 Balancing Raw and Finished Products and Investing in Machinery 19:01 Moving, Future Plans and Marketing High-End Builds

The Woodpreneur Podcast brings stories of woodworkers, makers, and entrepreneurs turning their passion for wood into successful businesses - from inspiration to education to actionable advice. Hosted by Steve Larosiliere and Jennifer Alger

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You can connect with Nick and Maverick Sawmill at: https://www.instagram.com/mavericksawmill/