Today we’d like to introduce you to Ian & Stephanie Orlikoff. Them and their team share their story with us below:
Ian & Stephanie Orlikoff were the owners & operators of Signature Tree Care, LLC in Naples, FL. 2002 to Oct. 2020, when they sold their tree service. Ian was the lead ISA Certified Arborist & Stephanie was the Office manager. Naples Live Edge Wood was a service of theirs since 2016.
Naples Live Edge Wood provides Live Edge Furniture and raw Live Edge Wood Slabs. They have a Kiln & Sawmill. They ship within the USA. No appointment is needed, and they are open M-F 9-5.
Products include raw Live Edge Slabs, Live Edge Tables, Live Edge Coffee Tables, Live Edge Dining Tables, Live Edge Desks, Live Edge Floating Shelves, Live Edge Countertops, Live Edge Bar tops, Live Edge Charcuterie Boards, Live Edge Benches, Wood Décor & Stumps, Wood Wall Art and Live Edge River Tables
Naples Live Edge Wood is a #Onetreeplanted business partner and plant 1 tree in Florida for every project sold.
Ian Orlikoff is the Arboricultural Board Advisor at the Gore Nature Education Center in Naples, FL.
From Ian:
Starting at a young age, watching my father build furniture and boat interiors as a hobby, smelling wood, and cleaning up the sawdust was a part of growing up. I became a Florida ISA Certified Arborist.
For 25 years, I have been performing tree care and tree removals, and I always had a special connection to the unknown of what lay inside the trees. I wanted to explore more one day the secrets waiting to be exposed. Often during a lunch break, I would take the time to dissect a portion of the tree that expressed unique growth patterns and structure as I was curious what the figure may look like inside the wood.
For years I knew that one day I would do something creative and help share the beauty that is most often hidden and hauled to the dump.
We decided to purchase a mill in 2016, and when the first slab was cut, we were fascinated instantly. We assist in translating the growth patterns and help people gain an appreciation for trees instead of it only being a piece of furniture for them.
By explaining the character and how the tree came to develop its figure and features, in a sense we are still practicing arboriculture in a different way and continuing to create a reverence for wood.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We started a new business in January 2021 with a Covid environment, so it was a bit daunting. It was an easier transition than normal since we provided this live edge wood service already along with our tree care company that we had for 18 years in Naples, Florida so we already had a small presence in the market.
We were able to stay in the same workshop, so that made the transition easier as well. After we sold the tree service in October 2020 and took a 2-month break, we started slowly to build the business from there. January 2021, we officially launched our website & social media pages.
Ian then broke his arm on a one-wheel electric board In March of 2021. Clients were very understanding during his recovery period, and Stephanie worked more in the woodshop, which she enjoyed (getting out of the office:)
Our first-year startup costs were more than anticipated but manageable, and building clientele took time of course as the local area got to learn more about us by word of mouth and online via our website and social media pages.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Having an arborist eye, we select trunks of trees to mill that may express high figure and unique character. This is unique as many wood furniture vendors do not have arborist/ tree work experience.
We have our own sawmill and mill local wood from urban tree removals of value that we have collected over the years, as well as source from domestic and foreign vendors that we research before doing business with them.
Clients also contact us for milling trees they want to turn into a piece of art.
We also like to provide a way for clients that have a special tree of sentimental value that may need to come down to then turn that tree into a piece of furniture they can value in its functionality and continue to appreciate the tree for generations. Of course, we always recommend to only take a tree down if it is necessary.
We try to highlight the unique features the wood has to offer. As an Arborist, Ian can understand how growth patterns, response growth, the decay process, and how a tree can seal develops a piece that has the features waiting somewhere inside the wood.
We can translate the history of the tree from when it was a small sprout to the hard times and good times such as when the land was cleared around it or when it may have suffered from a disease, or how a section of wood walled of a section of decay, recovered from an injury, and started to thrive. We have an appreciation for the process and for all parts of the tree, from the roots to the shoots and everything in between, as they all have different beauty and used for different functions.
Working with large trees for many years with the use of cranes and large equipment enables Ian to successfully complete any project that presents a challenge. From excavating and working with root systems in the past to milling our most recent project which was an 8-foot diameter African Mahogany tree planted in central Florida in the 1940s that succumbed to hurricane Wilma in October 2005.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
From Stephanie: First Recommendation: Learning about/taking classes in how to sell your business is a great experience to have when/before you begin a business. The points you need to accomplish to one day sell your business will help give you a roadmap to follow to reach your goals.
Second Recommendation: Meeting with our accountant every fall for an annual business review and reviewing and determining long-term financial goals for our business and ourselves taught us a lot.
Now managing the Naples Live Edge Wood office, I know where we stand financially and goal wise as I keep track reliably, we can adjust quickly to meet goals & budgets with consistent “state of the company” reviews, and we learned through many different experiences how to quickly switch gears and change financial and business plans to meet the business’s needs as the world changes.
From Ian:
Learn about lean systems such as the 5s or Six Sigma.
It always takes longer than you think; things will get heavier and bigger, so plan accordingly; focus on a work balance; understand your strengths and weaknesses.
Always be passionate about what you are doing. Challenge and push your limits to learn and surprise yourself; find simple rewards along the way. Develop short- and long-term goals. Be able to adapt quickly and always be prepared for opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://naplesliveedgewood.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naplesliveedgewood/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/naplesliveedgewood
Image Credits
Stephanie Orlikoff
Naples Live Edge Wood
