Business Spotlight: Bill Grant — The Woodworker

Since retiring Bill Grant has been a regular vendor at the , but he says his dedication to the market isn't about money — it's about keeping busy and meeting people.

“It's just something to do,” said the 70-year-old who peddles handmade wooden birdhouses and bird feeders. “Sometimes you do OK and sometimes you sit there and get acquainted with people. If they've got a story to tell, I can top it.”

For instance, Grant recalled meeting one of his favorite customers for the first time.

“He asked me to save a bird feeder for him, and I didn't see him again for a year,” Grant said.

By that time, the feeder the man wanted had sold. Grant had another one ready, but the man, who travels by scooter, wasn't sure how to get it home and into a tree. Promising to deliver the feeder later that day, Grant went to the store, purchased chain and seed, and showed up at the man's home ready to help. To this day, the men remain friends.

“He tells me all the time how much he loves the feeder,” Grant said. “That makes it worth it.”

A lifetime working with wood

The longtime Brighton resident has worked with wood all his life, first as a carpenter and later as a house framer and builder. After retiring from the home repair business three years ago, he discovered he wasn't ready to hang up his tool belt for good. So he turned his profession into an enjoyable hobby.

“I've got the tools and the skills, so I just put it all together and made it happen,” Grant said. “I get a lot of fun out of it.”

All of Grant's pieces, which range in price from $25-$30, feature a unique design and most are finished with carved and burned details. Grant said he spends eight or nine hours on each house and up to three days on each feeder, all of which should last about 20 years.

“I'm not Walmart, but you will get your money's worth,” Grant said.

After considering the amount of time spent of each piece as well as the cost of materials, Grant said that his profit margin is very low. But, even if he did have notions of fame and fortune when beginning the project, he doesn't consider his efforts a failure.

“After the first 15 minutes of making my first one, I knew it wasn't a get rich quick scheme,” Grant said. “It's recreation. I don't want to make a job out of it.”

Schedule takes him to other markets

Grant also sells his products at the Walled Lake, White Lake and Fowlerville farmers markets and at several craft shows each year. The schedule keeps him busy to the point that he “crawls homes some days,” but Grant has high hopes for a bright future.

“I'm going to walk to the Moon as soon as I can find a path,” Grant said.