Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Hastings.
Hi Joe, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m an IT professional by career, but woodworking has always been a big part of my life. A while back I purchased my first laser to enhance my woodworking projects, but then quickly realized I was spending more time experimenting with the laser than I was doing my traditional wood work. One laser eventually turned into an entire studio of them.
In the beginning I focused mainly on creating custom corporate signage and branding pieces. Then about three years ago I created a one-off wooden map as a gift for a family member focusing on their hometown. When they opened it, they teared up, and that moment completely changed how I viewed what I was creating.
I started to make more maps, and while not everyone was quite that emotional, almost everyone had the same reaction beaming with pride, recognition. They would point out the places that mattered to them and tell me the stories of those places. I knew these pieces were much more than decor – they were personal.
Since then, my focus has been on creating handcrafted wood maps that honor meaningful places and memories. I love hearing the stories behind the locations and creating pieces that allow people to relive and display the places that matter so deeply to them.
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?
It certainly hasn’t been a perfectly smooth road. One of the biggest challenges early on was simply figuring out what the business truly was. I started off with corporate signage, but over time I realized the strongest emotional connection people had was with the maps – and that felt good. It felt meaningful.
Another challenge has been learning how to grow the business without losing the personal side of it. Each and every piece represents a meaningful place to someone, so there’s a level of care and responsibility that comes with that.
Like most small business owners, I’ve had to learn a little bit of everything along the way. Marketing, branding, photography, production and customer experience. There’s been a lot of trial and error, but seeing the deep connection customers have with the work has made it easily worth it. Through it all, my wife given an immeasurable amount of help on the administrative side.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At the heart of our business, we create handcrafted wood art centered around meaningful places. Our specialty is custom layered wood maps that capture hometowns, lakes, cities, specific coordinates of places tied to memories and life experiences. Every piece is designed and built in our studio with a strong focus on craftsmanship, detail and emotional connection.
What really sets us apart is that we don’t approach our work as simple decor. We view each piece as a way to honor a place that already means something to someone. The reactions we receive are rarely about the wood itself, rather they’re about the memories, the stories and the emotions connected to the location.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that we’ve stayed intentional about who we are and what we create. We’ve chosen to focus on meaningful, personal work instead of chasing trends or becoming a generic gift company. We want people to feel something when they see our work.
More than anything, I’d like readers to know that our pieces are designed to celebrate places that shaped people’s lives. Whether it’s where someone grew up, fell in love, raised a family or made lifelong memories, those places matter – and we feel honored to help preserve them in a tangible way.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
My biggest advice would be to trust yourself enough to put your work out into the world and let real people respond to it. As creatives, we’re often our own harshest critics. I was genuinely afraid that putting my work out there publicly would destroy my confidence, but in reality, it did the opposite. The feedback, reactions and emotional connections people had with the work gave me confidence I never would have found by keeping it to myself.
I also think it’s important to prepare as best you can while understanding there will always be unexpected twists along the way. No amount of planning removes every obstacle. Don’t be afraid to pivot when something isn’t working, and don’t ignore the feedback when people are telling you what they want, what they connect with.
Most importantly, keep learning. Learn from your mistakes, learn from your customers and learn from your experiences. Some of the biggest growth comes from being willing to listen, adapt and continue improving instead of getting stuck trying to make everything perfect.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.luxetimberdesigns.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxe.timberdesigns
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558875884588
