George Curl, founder of Aspects Bespoke, joins Robin Johnson to share the realities of building a successful bespoke furniture and cabinet making business. From painting and decorating jobs and handyman work to running a specialist workshop creating high end fitted furniture, George explains how practical experience, social media marketing, strong client relationships and continuous learning have shaped his journey.

George discusses the challenges of pricing bespoke projects, training apprentices, finding reliable staff, and balancing creative ambition with commercial reality. He also reveals why Instagram has become one of the most powerful tools for attracting clients, building trust and showcasing craftsmanship.

For furniture makers, cabinet makers, woodworkers, joiners, tradespeople and creative business owners, this conversation offers an honest look at what it takes to grow a workshop, build a reputation and create work that stands out.

Key Topics Covered

• Building a bespoke furniture business from scratch
• Moving from general construction into cabinet making
• The importance of having a dedicated workshop
• Growing a team and training apprentices
• Pricing bespoke furniture and custom joinery projects
• Why social media matters for furniture makers
• Using Instagram to attract ideal clients
• Building relationships with interior designers
• Learning new skills including veneering and specialist techniques
• Managing mistakes, setbacks and project challenges
• The value of Google reviews and local search
• Creating a reputation for high quality craftsmanship
• Business growth in the furniture making industry

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Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 George Curl's journey into furniture making

02:43 Learning through construction, carpentry and refurbishment

08:20 Taking the leap into a dedicated workshop

10:45 Building a team and hiring apprentices

13:24 Finding a niche through unique bespoke projects

19:08 The challenge of pricing custom furniture

24:18 Educating clients on quality and craftsmanship

34:22 Why workshops and showrooms help win projects

35:35 How Instagram attracts the right clients

38:08 Building strong supplier relationships

40:10 Learning veneering and specialist skills

42:12 Training staff through real projects

52:26 Advice to an 18 year old entrepreneur

55:01 Can a furniture business survive without social media?

57:18 Marketing traditional craftsmanship in a digital world

01:02:07 Future plans and business growth

What makes someone choose one creative business over another? In this episode of Yours for the Making, Robin Johnson sits down with filmmakers Sam Christmas and Agatha Appleton-Sas, founders of True Story, to explore the power of personal storytelling, brand films, creative identity and human connection.

Sam and Agatha share how True Story was born during Covid from a desire to tell meaningful human stories rather than help large companies sell products. Together they discuss the process behind creating Johnson Bespoke's new brand film, the importance of discovering what makes a business unique, and why personal stories create trust in ways traditional marketing cannot.

The conversation explores creative entrepreneurship, filmmaking, branding, authenticity, client relationships, the impact of AI on creative industries and why human stories are becoming increasingly valuable. Sam and Agatha also share advice for young creatives, lessons from their own careers and their belief that human connection will remain the foundation of successful creative businesses.

Key Topics Covered

• How True Story was created during Covid
• Why storytelling matters more than traditional marketing
• The discovery process behind a powerful brand film
• How personal stories attract better clients
• Building trust through authenticity and transparency
• Why creative businesses should lead with people, not services
• The role of filmmaking in branding and business growth
• Human connection in an AI driven world
• Creativity, confidence and overcoming fear of failure
• Advice for creatives building their own business

Enjoying the show?

Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 Why Sam started True Story during Covid

03:15 Meeting Agatha and building a creative partnership

08:09 Robin's experience creating a brand film

17:19 Why personal storytelling creates trust

21:58 The power of human centred filmmaking

25:01 How the film changed Robin's confidence in his business

27:27 Why people buy into people before products

31:15 Storytelling versus competing on price

38:27 The process behind creating a brand film

43:27 Why editing takes far longer than people realise

51:15 AI, creativity and the future of human storytelling

58:30 Human connection in a technology driven world

01:04:35 Advice for young creatives

01:09:02 Where to find True Story

What does it take to build a barbershop that clients actively recommend, industry leaders recognise, and customers keep returning to?

In this episode of Yours for the Making, Robin Johnson sits down with Maxwell Oakley, co founder of Supply 91 Barbers Extraordinaire, to explore how a small lockdown startup grew into one of London's most respected barbershop brands.

Maxwell shares the story behind Supply 91, from opening a tiny Islington shop with furniture from Ikea and very little cash, to winning GQ Barber of the Year and expanding across London. The conversation explores customer experience, hospitality, business growth, staff training, company culture, leadership, client retention, marketing, data, and the realities of scaling a service based business.

Along the way, Maxwell discusses working with celebrity clients, why listening is the most underrated business skill, the importance of hiring for attitude, and how strong systems help creative businesses grow without losing their identity.

If you run a creative business, work in hospitality, own a salon or barbershop, or want to understand how customer experience drives growth, this episode offers practical insight from someone building one of the most talked about brands in the industry.

Key Topics Covered

• Building Supply 91 during lockdown
• Growing from one barbershop to four London locations
• Winning GQ Barber of the Year
• Why listening creates loyal customers
• Customer experience and hospitality lessons
• Hiring for attitude over technical skill
• Creating a strong company culture
• Training barbers and developing talent
• Using customer data and retention metrics
• Expanding a premium service business
• Celebrity clients and cutting famous faces
• Launching a new hair product for men

Enjoying the show?

Leave a review, follow us, and share the episode with a fellow maker. New episodes every week with artists, designers, craftsmen and creators from around the world.

Yours for the Making with Robin Johnson is the podcast that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the art of making. Hosted by Robin Johnson — founder of Johnson Bespoke and BBC presenter on The Travelling Auctioneers, The Restorers, Woodland Workshop — this podcast dives into the stories of makers from all walks of life. From woodworkers, metal fabricators, and chefs to artists, designers, and hobbyists, each episode offers real conversations with the people behind the things we love.

Whether you're a hands-on creative, aspiring artisan, or simply curious about how things are made, this podcast offers inspiration, insight, and practical wisdom. Expect behind-the-scenes stories, lessons in process and passion, and a celebration of the maker movement in all its forms.

Subscribe now and follow Yours for the Making wherever you listen to your favourite podcasts.

Key Moments:

00:00 How Supply 91 started during lockdown

02:34 Winning GQ Barber of the Year

03:53 The secret behind customer loyalty

08:05 Why craft fundamentals matter

13:43 Growing from one shop to four locations

15:30 Creating a premium experience for men

16:40 Why barbershops build community

21:45 Hospitality lessons every business should learn

25:26 Building culture through onboarding and training

31:10 Hiring attitude over skill

33:10 Scaling a business without outside investment

39:05 Why every business needs a great accountant

42:00 Risk taking and business growth

48:38 Using customer data to make better decisions

50:45 The power of client retention

55:02 Working with celebrity clients

59:34 Advice for his 18 year old self

01:00:43 The future of Supply 91 and new product launches