Episode 45: Navigating Economic Turbulence with Darrel Swift of Westwood Fine Cabinetry

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_single_image image=”20381″ img_size=”full” alignment=”center”][vc_raw_html]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwaGVpZ2h0JTNEJTIyMjAwcHglMjIlMjB3aWR0aCUzRCUyMjEwMCUyNSUyMiUyMGZyYW1lYm9yZGVyJTNEJTIybm8lMjIlMjBzY3JvbGxpbmclM0QlMjJubyUyMiUyMHNlYW1sZXNzJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZwbGF5ZXIuc2ltcGxlY2FzdC5jb20lMkZiZjU4MmU4MS0zYjJmLTQ1YzItYmVjOC00MmE4Yjg3MzEwZWUlM0ZkYXJrJTNEdHJ1ZSUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmlmcmFtZSUzRQ==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”2/3″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1655321877266{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]Today Ted speaks with Darrel Swift, a Journeyman Cabinetmaker who, since 1996, has worked as a Senior Design Consultant at the family-owned Westwood Fine Cabinetry. Since 1972, the firm has been designing European-inspired kitchens in the Okanagan.

Listen in as Darrel looks back on his 30+ year journey in the world of cabinetry and how he came to lead Westwood Fine Cabinetry.[/vc_column_text][mk_image src=”https://buildmagazine.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/westwood-fine-cabinetry-okanagan-valley-bc.jpg” image_size=”full”][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1655322086041{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]He discusses the continued challenges of operating the business in a post-COVID world, stressing that finding creative ways to communicate with clients and vendors on a personal level has been one of the main reasons for Westwood’s continued success.

Finally, Darrel explains what sets Westwood kitchens apart from all the rest, as well as his tried-and-true approach to taking a client’s vision and making it real.[/vc_column_text][mk_padding_divider size=”20″][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1625782555768{margin-bottom: 0px !important;}”]

Topics Discussed

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• [02:24] About Westwood Fine Cabinetry
• [06:01] How the industry has navigated economic turbulence over the past two years
• [08:35] The importance of communication
• [14:15] What makes Westwood unique
• [24:02] Changing trends over the years
• [27:13] About the different species of wood for cabinets
• [34:46] How often trends change
• [41:04] How Westwood kitchens set themselves apart from the rest
• [43:43] Common problems that Darrel contends with on almost every project
• [53:21] Where Darrel sees Westwood in ten years

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Connect with Guest

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• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

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Key Quotes from Episode

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• Cabinet-making is not for the faint of heart. I’ve never seen a business like it.
• Engineering: Pay attention, because the minute you don’t, the minute you mail it in on something, something is going to go wrong.
• Appliances with supply chain right now are over-the-top. People are ordering appliances that aren’t coming for a year.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row css=”.vc_custom_1557436609889{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 20px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][mk_padding_divider][mk_custom_box padding_vertical=”40″ margin_bottom=”20″ bg_image=”https://buildmagazine.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/sun-valley-kitchens-finishings-in-sun-valley-idaho.jpg” background_hov_color_style=”image” overlay_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.55)” drop_shadow=”true” bg_image_hov_effect=”blur” bg_stretch=”true”][mk_fancy_title tag_name=”span” color=”#ffffff” size=”22″ txt_transform=”uppercase” margin_top=”15″ margin_bottom=”0″ font_family=”none” align=”center”]Connect with the industry’s best tradespeople in your area.[/mk_fancy_title][mk_button dimension=”outline” corner_style=”rounded” size=”large” url=”/locations/” align=”center” outline_skin=”custom” outline_active_text_color=”#ffffff” outline_hover_bg_color=”#ffffff” outline_hover_color=”#4f4f4f”]Locations[/mk_button][/mk_custom_box][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][/vc_column][/vc_row]