The North Shore Entrepreneurs Podcast with Jordan Russum

Joshua Bowles grew up the son of a luthier and the grandson of a carpenter, so woodworking didn't really pick him a career — it picked him. After cutting his teeth on high-end design-build projects in Austin (think Italian travertine and Wenge floors for Texas oil money), he traded the stress and the landfill roll-offs for a pair of businesses on Oʻahu's North Shore: Lyric Woodwork, his custom furniture studio, and Snake Road Sawmill, the lumber side that keeps it fed.In this conversation, Joshua walks us through how locally-fallen trees — hauled in from arborists just miles away — get milled into slabs, dried for a year, and turned into heirloom furniture with almost zero waste. Offcuts go to raku potters, sawdust goes to mushroom and chicken farmers, and the rest becomes dining tables, headboards, and credenzas headed for homes across the islands and the mainland.Jordan and Joshua dig into the unglamorous reality of building a craft business from scratch: $40K in startup costs, demoralizing farmers market mornings, the first $12K commission that made him think "this is going to work," and the embossed business cards and pretentious magazine ads that taught him what not to do. He shares why social media (handled by Sam at Field Social) took him from 500 to 16,000 followers in 18 months, why most of his clients are women, and how shipping a 20-ft container to a Kailua-Kona project opened his eyes to the off-island opportunity.Looking ahead, Joshua talks about building a tight furniture collection — dining table, chairs, mirror, lighting — incorporating Hawaiʻi materials like Big Island abalone inlay and locally-caught fish leather from Open Seas.What you'll hear:Why woodworking on the North Shore is one of the most genuinely sustainable businesses you can runThe Austin penthouse project that pushed him out of high-end remodelsHard-won marketing lessons: keep it low-tech, knock on contractor doors, skip the fancy catalogHow to attract great employees when you can't pay top hourly ratesWhy "bigger isn't better," and the case for capping your team around five peopleListening to customers vs. building castles in the skyWhether you're a maker, a designer, or just someone thinking about starting something on the North Shore, Joshua's story is full of practical wisdom about staying small, staying honest, and letting the work speak.🎧 Find Lyric Woodwork and Snake Road Sawmill at the top of the hill on the way down to Wailua — look for the open flag.The North Shore Entrepreneurs Podcast, hosted by Jordan Russum, profiles the founders and small-business owners shaping life on the North Shore of Oʻahu — and shares the lessons every aspiring entrepreneur can use.

In this episode of the North Shore Entrepreneurs Podcast, Jordan Russum sits down with Gabe Gross, founder and owner of Hero Moving Hawaii, for a wide-ranging conversation on building a service business from the ground up in Hawaii.Gabe shares his origin story — growing up in a Christian community in Brazil, moving cities every few years, and learning the power of faith and persistence by going door-to-door asking for donations as a kid. He talks about leaving Brazil at 22, selling head massagers in a Chicago mall in the dead of winter, hanging drywall in Toronto, driving 26-foot moving trucks in LA traffic with no prior experience, and eventually landing in Hawaii through a national moving company.After 10 years working for someone else and feeling like he was always "hanging by a thread," Gabe launched Hero Moving in November 2019. Today the company runs three trucks, employs 10–12 people, and offers local, inter-island, and long-distance moving plus storage. Gabe lays out his plan to 10x the business in five years, the role of mastermind groups and coaching, and why investing in personal development has paid back many times over.We also get into the realities of moving in Hawaii — extreme summer-vs-winter seasonality, why long-distance shipping is so prone to damage, how Hero is helping flood-affected families with donation moves, and why Gabe believes food, housing, and transportation are the indestructible foundations of any economy.Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a Hawaii resident, or anyone who's ever moved more than once, this conversation is full of practical wisdom and hard-won lessons.CONNECT WITH GABE / HERO MOVING:Website: https://heromovinghi.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/heromovinghi/new

This episode features the owners of MUV CrossFit, sharing their entrepreneurial journey from Oklahoma to Hawaii, building a community-focused gym, and integrating holistic health practices. Discover insights on starting small, community building, and adapting business models in Wahiawa on the North Shore of Oahu. Key TopicsEntrepreneurship in HawaiiBuilding a community-focused gymIntegrating holistic health practices Sound bites"Built the gym with community help and trust.""We treat everyone like family at MUV CrossFit.""Start small, ask questions, and build community."Guest linksWebsite - https://www.muvcrossfit.com/aboutInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/muvcrossfit/

In this episode, Kanani Oury, the owner of Nani's Cafe in Waialua on the North Shore of Oahu shares the journey of opening a community-focused eatery, blending traditional flavors with healthy twists, and navigating the challenges of small business ownership in Hawaii.Key topicsCommunity-focused business modelChallenges of restaurant build-out in HawaiiHealthy twists on traditional local foodsTakeawaysGrit and determination are key to overcoming unexpected challenges.Prioritize high standards, people, and quality in your business.Organic growth and word-of-mouth are powerful marketing tools.

The conversation explores the journey of the North Shore Art Center, founded by Tayler and Matt, who share their artistic backgrounds and the evolution of their business. They discuss the challenges and triumphs of establishing a creative space that fosters community engagement through various art modalities, including ceramics, glass, and metalsmithing. The duo emphasizes the importance of sustainability, collaboration, and the impact of their work on the local community, while also providing insights into the entrepreneurial landscape on the North Shore of Hawaii.takeawaysThe North Shore Art Center started as a ceramics studio in 2024.Tayler and Matt both have diverse artistic backgrounds and experiences.They met through a shared interest in ceramics equipment.The business aims to offer multiple art modalities beyond ceramics.Community engagement is a core focus of their business model.They face challenges in pricing and sustainability in the arts.The duo emphasizes the importance of collaboration in their journey.They are working on grants to offer free classes for kids and seniors.The North Shore Art Center is one of the few studios offering full access to equipment.They believe in the power of manifesting opportunities and community support.

In this conversation, Guara shares valuable insights for entrepreneurs, particularly those in Hawaii's North Shore. They emphasize the importance of expanding business opportunities beyond local confines, the necessity of a growth mindset, and the value of networking and mentorship in navigating the entrepreneurial landscape.Website: HereTakeawaysMake sure you expand beyond the North Shore.Most 90% of our projects are in town.Get out of your comfort zone.Don't be afraid to grow, but grow with pace.Try to make friends and allies with other businesses.Seek mentors to teach you what you don't know.Stability is key when growing your business.Community support is vital for local entrepreneurs.Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.Networking can lead to new business opportunities.Keywordsentrepreneurship, Hawaii, North Shore, business growth, mentorship, community, expansion, challenges, opportunities, networking

The conversation explores the challenges and solutions in scaling food production for a business, focusing on the transition from a mobile kitchen to a dedicated space for efficiency and quality.TakeawaysAs an outsider, you see the volume of food being produced.Making food from scratch requires significant planning and resources.A dedicated kitchen allows for better organization and efficiency.Prepping in a separate kitchen alleviates space constraints.Tortilla production is a key part of the food offerings.Creating drinks like aguas frescas adds to the menu diversity.Transitioning from a trailer to a full kitchen was essential for growth.Quality control improves with a dedicated food prep area.The ability to make everything in-house enhances the brand's authenticity.Scaling requires adapting to the needs of the business.

In this episode of the North Shore Entrepreneurs Podcast, Jordan Russum hosts Vivienne Andre and Victor Andre to discuss the journey of starting Groove Club Hawaii, a dance program for kids. They share their backgrounds in dance, the challenges and successes of launching their business, and their teaching philosophy focused on fun and community. The conversation also touches on their growth, future plans, and advice for aspiring entrepreneurs in Hawaii.

In this episode of the North Shore Entrepreneurs Podcast, hosts Jordan Russum, Caleb Backus, and Maddie Ballew discuss the journey of starting Bird's Nest Coffee, a community-focused coffee shop in Hawaii. They share their personal backstories, the challenges of transitioning from a mobile coffee van to a brick-and-mortar location, and their commitment to quality in coffee and matcha sourcing. The conversation highlights the importance of community engagement, the significance of events, and valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

In this conversation, Nate Sisler, the owner and founder of Haleiwa Distilling Company, shares his journey from military service to establishing the first distillery on the North Shore of Oahu. He discusses the impact of the closure of the Waialua Sugar Mill on the local economy and his vision to revive the area through manufacturing. Nate highlights the challenges he faced in building the distillery, particularly with the permitting processes, and emphasizes the importance of community engagement and sourcing local ingredients. He also shares insights into the distillery's operations, future product offerings, and his advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.

In this episode, Jackie and Val, co-owners of Kuleana Physical Therapy and Wellness, share their journey of establishing a community-focused physical therapy clinic on the North Shore of Oahu. They discuss their backgrounds, the challenges of starting a business, navigating the insurance landscape, and their commitment to serving the local community. The conversation also touches on their innovative approaches to physical therapy, work-life balance, and future plans for expansion into a wellness center.

On Episode 4 Emily & Jordan sit down with Natalie Kraus, founder of Earthy Surf. Enjoy!WebsiteInstagram

On Episode 3 we sit down with Jess Kraus, a Sunset Beach resident who launched his business earlier this year and is already talking about hiring 3-4 employees to keep up with demand. WebsiteInstagram

On Episode 2 we speak with Kimzie about turning her passion of thrifting into a full time business with 6 employees. Bungalow is located next to Mele Mele Bakery at the Wailua Sugar Mill.https://www.instagram.com/bungalow.guchi/?hl=en

Russum Real Estate - Emily has scaled property management business from 0 to 30+ long term rental properties under management in under 2 years. Her business helps people buy, sell, and manage properties with a focus on the North Shore of Oahu.