Citizen Spotlight: Josh Campbell

Josh Campbell is proud of his small business, Campbell Wood Designs.

Josh Campbell says he’s been making things since he was just a kid hanging around his grandpa’s workshop, and that’s what eventually led him to open his own storefront, Campbell Wood Designs, in downtown Excelsior Springs. When his wife Nikole asked him to build her a little table a few years ago out of some pallet wood they both really liked how it turned out. It was so much fun he made a few more for friends and family and with encouragement from his wife he put a couple of them on Facebook Marketplace. He listed them for what he felt was a fair price, at $50. He quickly realized that people were taking advantage of his generosity. “I’d get back on Marketplace and I’d see one of my tables that I’d just sold listed for $200 or $300 dollars,” he said. Campbell raised his prices but the customers didn’t balk, they kept coming back for more. His patrons started asking him to make specific items or put different finishes on the products he was making. Campbell’s side hustle was becoming a full-time job and that’s when he decided to make the leap to owning his own business.

*Where it started. these little pallet wood tables were some of the first that Josh ever made (submitted photo).*

Campbell served in the Army National Guard for 6 years and earned his veteran status during operation Enduring Freedom as a military police officer in Ft. Lewis, Washington. From there he went on to work as a conductor for Union Pacific Railroad for nearly 14 years before starting his business. “I always did a little bit of woodworking on the side while I worked there,” he said. Just as he opened the pandemic hit full force and Campbell wondered if he’d made the right choice. Luckily for him, many people who were also stuck at home started looking around their houses and working on long-neglected projects. His first “big break” was creating a chalkboard sign for the entrance of Texas Roadhouse Restaurant in Liberty, MO. Managers of the restaurant had seen his products on Facebook and commissioned him for the work. They also allowed him to brand his work so that diners who came into the restaurant saw that he is a local maker, which helped drive customers to him.

*Josh’s shop is full of wonderful handmade items (photos by S Jason Cole)*

Campbell says that being a small business owner isn’t everything that it’s cracked up to be. “It takes a lot of hard work, it takes patience, and some people don’t understand unless they’ve run a business themselves,” he opined. Campbell says the best part is having more control over his schedule, “I’m here every day, but if I want to put up a sign and go to my kid’s school party I can, that’s something I couldn’t do working for the railroad.” He also says having a storefront has made him appreciate his customers more. “This is a woodshop but I have to remember that this may be a customer’s first time into my store and I want to make that a special experience,” he said. Campbell has become known for his “barn doors” that have been a popular home trend over the past several years but he has a wide variety of products including signs, furniture, coasters, and more.

Signs, coasters, cutting boards, doors, and mirrors, if it’s made of wood, Josh can make it (submitted photos).

*Employee, Robbie Mawby is excited to bring his woodworking talents and hard work ethic to Campbell Wood Designs (photo by S Jason Cole).*

Campbell is looking to keep his business growing, adding employees and expanding his workspace. Overall he’s happy where he is at and enjoys the downtown atmosphere. He says he loves seeing all of the changes to the downtown, even from when he was a kid. He hopes the community will continue supporting the growth and change that is happening in our community. “I’m excited to see businesses coming in and starting new things, there’s a bunch of stuff popping up all around town,” he said. Campbell also hopes the citizens of Excelsior Springs recognize all of the great things we have here in our community. “I hope we can keep up the pride of downtown and just the pride we have in our community, it’s a great place to be,” he concluded.