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If you’ve spent any amount of time on ttrpg Twitter, you’ve probably seen the gorgeous round dice boxes with colorful and magical epoxy patterns created by Staff and Branch. I am delighted to introduce you to today’s guest, Tim Carlson, the owner of Staff & Branch and maker of these dice boxes. Snagging a box for yourself is an elusive goal, as he’s usually sold out within minutes of his bi-weekly restocks. Tim never intended this to be a full-time business, but we dive into how he got started with Staff and Branch and how it’s grown into a successful business in less than two years. You’ll get insight into the construction of these boxes, his thoughts on Etsy, and more.
Before we get into the interview today, I wanted to share this really sweet review I just got on Apple Podcasts! Reviews are one of the best ways to support a show, as they tell the algorithm gods that a show is worth promoting, and more people can find it. This review is from LuLuinWA, and they say:
“Entertaining and inspirational
I am really enjoying this podcast so far. I’ve only listened to a few episodes but I really enjoy the “behind the scenes” view at some of my favorite ttrpg’s creators. It is entertaining and inspiring. There are so many podcasts out there and I have a limited amount of time to listen and I am happy to add RPG to my commute podcast rotation.”
Thank you so much Lulu! Reading this really made my day.
Some other ways you can support the show are via our Patreon page, which has a few different tracks depending on whether you’d like maps and adventures or tailored content for this podcast, including contributing questions for upcoming guests, a spotlight on our website, and even a shoutout on this podcast. You can also check out our affiliates. Last week I mentioned that with the start of September, everything Fall and pumpkin-related is out and it is my time. We talked about Friday Afternoon Tea’s amazing fall blends, and this time I want to highlight Dice Envy’s fall dice set called Pumpkin Dice Latte. It’s a very pretty pumpkin-themed set of orange dice featuring sprinkles of gold glitter, a luscious swirl of gold microglitter, and just a *hint* of nutmeg. Go to DiceEnvy.com and enter in code LightheartADV to receive 10% off your order and help support this show.
Thanks for sticking around, and I hope you enjoy this conversation with Tim.
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Time Stamps & Screenshots
- 00:00:00 Introduction & Updates
- 00:03:06 Tim Introduction
- 00:07:53 How did you get into woodworking?
- 00:12:18 Starting a business selling dice boxes
- 00:22:22 Balancing material costs & investing in your business
- 00:29:55 Design Process
- 00:38:31 Restocking the shop & build process
- 00:44:54 What has been the most challenging part?
- 00:47:47 What has been the most rewarding part?
- 00:50:16 Why Etsy isn’t the best choice for a storefront
- 00:57:32 Where can people find you?
- 01:00:03 Wrap-up
Affiliates mentioned in the show
- Friday Afternoon Tea
Grab a cup of tea with blends based on your favorite nerdy series. Use lightheartadv for 10% off - Dice Envy
Dice Envy creates beautiful dice in a variety of materials. Use lightheartadv for 10% off your order
Thanks for dropping by! We would love to know who would like us to interview, so please drop a comment here on the blog, on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or Discord to let us know who your favorite creators are! If you’d like access to more maps and content, including downloadable PDFs of our adventures, check out our Patreon. We’re able to do what we do because of all our amazing Patrons!
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