Etsy Seller Interview with Jimmy of OakWoodWineBarrels

How OakWoodWineBarrels got started

Introduce your Etsy shop and tell us your story. How did you begin and decide on what to sell on Etsy, and how do you create your products?

Oak Wood Wine Barrels (OWWB) is a family-run testament to tradition, dedication to craftsmanship, and an unwavering commitment to sustainability. Founded in 2018 by four engineers, our American family business marries knowledge, passion, and innovation in the realm of high-end furniture, a journey embarked upon following successful careers in real estate development and renewable energy.

Started as a family hobby, OWWB quickly grew to a full product line and furniture business selling on Etsy.

At OWWB, we stand as a testament to the principles of upcycling, waste reduction, and reusing raw materials. Through our commitment to these ideals, we transform solid oak barrels into high-quality pieces of sustainable furniture. Each barrel is meticulously sanded, treated, and hand-finished, revealing unique character and an aged journey arriving at your home. The result is a collection of timeless pieces—from bar cabinets and coffee tables to poker sets and lounge chairs—that blend distinctive character, refined style, and the charm of handcrafted artistry.

OWWB is about more than furniture—it's about creating connections. We are a united family business, bound by shared vision and collective decision-making. The pride we feel in knowing that our handcrafted pieces grace homes and establishments across the nation is immeasurable, creating spaces of warmth, style, and sustainability. All pieces connect guests through the medium that is a barrel and its journey.

Innovation and purpose underscore our designs. We incorporate hidden storage in our pieces to optimize space. Our chairs, equipped with hidden casters and upholstered with memory foam, seamlessly blend luxury with practicality, ensuring both mobility and comfort.

True to our commitment to exceptional customer service, we offer free nationwide shipping on all orders. For us, each order represents an opportunity to form a lasting relationship, a chance to extend the warmth of our family to yours.

Welcome to OWWB, where each piece tells a story of superior craftsmanship, sustainable practices, and a family's love for creating beauty from the reclaimed. We invite you to be part of our story, to experience the exclusivity of handcrafted design, the comfort of family traditions, and the satisfaction of conscious luxury.

Favorite items

What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?

Definitely, these 2 listings, are our best sellers because they help homeowners create memories and gatherings. The game table set is the best seller for man caves and game rooms while the bar set is the best seller for home bar and living room spaces!

Getting sales on Etsy

How long did it take for you to earn your first sale and how do you currently attract customers to your Etsy shop?

Probably only a week or so on Etsy, we currently only focus on great product photos, keywords, and SEO titles to get customers into the shop. Now customers trust reviews and see our amazing quality which influences their purchase!

Managing OakWoodWineBarrels

How do you manage your shop? Are you running solo or do you have any team members? What tools or services do you use to run your shop and how do you handle fulfillment?

We run our shop in a very streamlined manner, we are a family business but Etsy is only run by one person. We used Alura for product research but currently use no apps at all. We ship out typically one day per week and manually print labels.

The future of OakWoodWineBarrels

What goals do you have for your shop in the future?

To hit 2,000 sales this year!

Advice for new sellers

What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?

Focus on having an amazing product with keywords and titles and the rest will come!