This article is from the Southern Neighbor, Nov 2006
Aeris Hardwood Creations: An Easy Choice
by Lea Hart
Three years ago, Ehren Hines left the comfort of a regular paycheck and guaranteed work at a commercial woodworking company to strike out on his own.
Today he is finding success as sole proprietor of Aeris Hardwood Creations, located a few miles west of Fearrington Village between Chapel Hill and Pittsboro.
A fourth-generation woodworker, Hines began his business in a small two-car garage, and then rented space for a while before moving to his current 2,000-square-foot location on Hamlets Chapel Rd
"It's more than I need, but hopefull it's room to grow," he says of his shop.
Hines works mainly with homeowners, though he's done some work for businesses as well. He'll build anything from kitchen cabinets to beds to shelving and more. Customers can contact him with a design in mind or they can meet with Hines to discuss ideas.
"I advertise myself as someone who's going to build something because you can't find it somewhere else," he says. Often times, a customer is looking for a custom size or want special materials used, according to Hines.
In one such case, he worked with Helen Moore, who is currently finishing construction on a home in Chapel Hill. Moore has sensitivity to chemicals and is building a completely non-toxic home. She said she contacted several woodworkers but needed someone who did not do any finishing in his shop because even the presense of those chemicals in the shop would affect the wood brought into her home. Hines came recommended to her, and he set to work on kitchen cabinets and interior doors for her home.
"That was a fun and interesting project for me," says Hines. "It challenged me."
Moore says she couldn't be happier with the finished product and she plans to use Hines for future work on her new home.
"A lot of this house is going to have Ehren's signature on it," says Moore. "He just really was a pleasure to work with."
All of Hines' work is about as close to hand-made as can be. He doesn't use computerized equipment and relies on "old-school" techniques that he's learned from his family, through his own work, and through classes.
"A lot of the machines I use are as old or older than myself," says Hines. "So truly, a lot of the things are as hand-made as you can get."
For the most part, Hines is a one-man business and says customers can expect to have direct contact with him throughout the project. He does occasionally outsource parts of a project (i.e., he might have a contractor build the insides of a set of drawers while he works on the outside structure).
"It's important to understand that you'll pretty much be working with one person from the beginning to the end of the project," he says. That's essential to Hines because it guarantees good communication and people ensure that the customers get exactly what they want.
Hines does most of his work in Chapel Hill and nearby areas, though he's done work in Durham, Raleigh, and even a special project in New Jersey. He says he has seen a lot of success over the past year and watched his business grow. He does a little advertising, but says most of his work comes from word-of-mouth.
"Getting your name out there as someone who is trusted is difficult," says Hines. "It takes time."
Over the long-term, he'd like to grow the business to include three or four more woodworkers.
"I'd like to bring in highly skilled guys and pay them well," he says. "I think that type of arrangement could blossom."
For now, Hines doesn't miss that regular paycheck and commercial work.
"I'm doing something that I love to do," says Hines. "I get lost in my shop - the time flies. I'm enjoying what I'm doing."
