Education Competitor Research

Vision

Transform the shop into a community hub through education. Part of the larger Belden Woodshop vision — a communal professional woodshop with tenants, classes, open shop, gallery, and retail.

Three models, developed in phases:

• Classes — Structured courses, beginner to advanced
• Workshops — One-off sessions with visiting or guest instructors
• Open Shop — Membership-based access for independent makers

Status: Planning phase. Not yet launched.

Chicago Market — Direct Competitors

These are the woodworking schools operating in Chicago. The most relevant comparison for what JLF is planning.

Chicago School of Woodworking

The most established competitor. Located in the Chicago area, offering a structured curriculum for serious learners.

• Classes: $200–800/class; multi-week series format
• Intro to Woodworking (9 weeks): $495
• Foundations of Furniture Making (9 weeks): $495
• Advanced joinery, cabinetry, marquetry, woodturning also offered
• Open Shop: $10/hr (Saturdays, requires completing CSW 103)
• Well-reviewed, strong reputation — the benchmark for quality in the local market
• Website: chicagowoodworking.com

The Sticks

Newer entry. Opened June 2025 in Fulton Market / West Loop (350 N Ogden Ave, Suite 300). About 4,300 sq ft total — 3,300 sq ft woodshop plus private studio spaces.

• Community woodshop and craft school model
• Memberships: Part-time, Standard, and Unlimited Access tiers (open access to shared woodshop, locking tool cubby)
• Classes: Beginner-friendly through advanced skill-building
• Beginning Woodworking 5-week series: $500
• Table Saw 101: $115
• Bandsaw Box workshop (2 sessions): $180
• Hand Carved Vessel (3-session series): $220+
• Sold-out offerings include spoon carving, stained glass, broom making — suggesting strong demand
• Five private studios available within the woodshop
• Evening and weekend class schedule
• Website: thesticks.net

NOTE: The Sticks is the closest structural analog to what Jason is considering — hybrid classes + memberships + studio spaces. They opened mid-2025, so they're still early. Worth watching.

Little Craft School

Small, artist-run school founded 2023 by Lesley Jackson (artist/teacher) and Daniel Rosa (woodworker). Located in Humboldt Park, 3403 W Grand Ave.

• Focus: furniture and objects through folk art and industrial design lens
• Classes include sculptural woodworking, functional furniture (stools, tables), hand-painted finishes
• Philosophy: "Anyone can design themselves a charming piece of furniture given the right tools, some training, and a few creative rules"
• Workshop-for-two format offered for 2025 — participants design, build, and paint their own tables
• Received $10,000 Teaching Artist Cohort grant from Center for Craft (2025)
• Not a direct structural competitor — more of an artist-led studio school. Different vibe, different clientele.
• Closer to JLF in spirit (craft-forward, small batches, real making) than a commercial school

National Models

Reviewed for program design inspiration — not local competitors, but useful benchmarks.

LA Woodshop (Los Angeles)

Hybrid model of classes, bench rentals, and events. Closest analog to the full Belden Woodshop vision.

Community Woodshop LA

Membership tiers from $175–$1,120/mo. Requires safety orientation before access. Strong community model.

Philadelphia Woodworks

Two membership types. Strong community focus, good model for the open shop phase.

Austin School of Furniture

Professional-level training alongside community classes. Good example of mixed programming.

Makeville Studio (Brooklyn)

Classes-focused model. Useful for understanding the NYC market pricing ceiling.

Foundation Woodworks

Private studios plus bench rentals — similar to the small space rental model already running at Belden.

KEY INSIGHT: The hybrid model combining classes, bench rental, and events is the most financially resilient structure. LA Woodshop is the clearest example. The Sticks appears to be building toward this model locally — they're the one to watch.

Related But Different — Makerspaces

These are not direct competitors. Different audience, different vibe. Makerspaces draw hobbyists and tech-oriented makers; woodworking schools draw people who want to learn a specific craft from an expert. The customer mindset and expectations are different.

Chicago Maker Space

Full makerspace (not wood-focused). Membership model, $75–175/mo.

Pumping Station: One

Hackerspace model, $50–100/mo. Broad tools, community-driven, hacker culture.

Worth knowing they exist, but they're not competing for the same student.

JLF Phase 1 — Program Design

Concept: A single beginner class, one evening per week. Low overhead, low commitment, tests demand before scaling.

Decisions for Jason:

• Topic: Beginner intro to woodworking? Specific skill — joinery, finishing, small project?
• Duration: 3-hour evening session?
• Price: $75–100/student?
• Frequency: Weekly — Thursday 6–9pm?
• Max students: 4–6?

Revenue model:

| | Conservative | Target |

|---|---|---|

| Students/class | 4 | 6 |

| Price/student | $75 | $100 |

| Classes/month | 4 | 4 |

| Monthly revenue | $1,200 | $2,400 |

Startup checklist:

• Define first class curriculum [Jason]
• Check insurance for teaching coverage [Jason — this is a blocker]
• Set up registration (start with Google Form + Venmo/Square)
• Draft liability waiver [Claude]
• Market on Instagram + newsletter [Both]

Phase 2 — Expand (after Phase 1 proves viable):

• Add second class type (intermediate or specialized)
• Host guest instructors for weekend workshops
• Revenue share model: typically 60/40 or 70/30

Guest instructor economics:

• Weekend intensive — 8 students x $400 = $3,200 gross, $1,280 host share
• Single day — 10 students x $200 = $2,000 gross, $800 host share

Phase 3 — Open Shop / Membership (after community is built):

Option A — Tiered access:

• Basic: 8 hrs/mo, $100/mo (hobbyists)
• Standard: 20 hrs/mo, $200/mo (serious amateurs)
• Unlimited: $350/mo (semi-pros)

Option B — Punch card:

• 10-hour card: $150
• 25-hour card: $300

Requirements before launching: safety orientation protocol, liability waivers, insurance upgrade, tool access policies, scheduling system, key/access control.

Financial Projections

These are conservative estimates based on Phase 1 structure. Jason confirmed the financial modeling is useful.

Year 1 — Phase 1 only:

• Weekly beginner class: $14,400/yr
• Guest workshops (2/year): $2,000/yr
• Total: $16,400/yr

Year 2 — Phase 1 + 2:

• Two ongoing classes: $28,800/yr
• Guest workshops (6/year): $6,000/yr
• Total: $34,800/yr

Year 3 — Full program:

• Classes: $28,800/yr
• Guest workshops (8/year): $8,000/yr
• Memberships (5 avg x $150/mo): $9,000/yr
• Total: $45,800/yr

BOTTOM LINE: Phase 1 is low-risk and covers roughly $16K in new annual revenue — enough to justify the experiment. The real upside is in memberships, which requires building a community first.

Registration Platforms

ClassBento — Built for creative workshops, takes % of sales. Good discovery platform.

Picktime — Free tier, handles group classes and attendance limits.

TicketLeap — $1 + 2% per ticket. Simple, clean.

SimplyBook.me — Free tier, calendar sync, good for small operations.

Bookeo — Affordable, auto calendar updates.

Simplest start: Google Form + Venmo or Square for the first few classes. No reason to over-engineer until demand is confirmed.

Risks & Considerations

Insurance: Need to verify teaching/instruction coverage with current policy. This is a blocker before any class runs.

Liability: Woodworking involves real risk. Comprehensive waivers required — Claude can draft.

Time: Teaching takes prep time. Worth thinking through how it fits with production schedule.

Equipment: Student use means more wear and maintenance. Factor into class pricing.

Space: Classes use the front space — will need to block Peerspace calendar during class times. Manageable with coordination.

SOURCES & REFERENCES

• Chicago School of Woodworking
• The Sticks — Community woodshop, opened June 2025
• Little Craft School / Center for Craft grant
• LA Woodshop
• Community Woodshop LA
• Philadelphia Woodworks
• Austin School of Furniture
• Makeville Studio
• Foundation Woodworks
• Pumping Station: One
• Rebuilding Exchange — confirmed closed October 17, 2025

Last updated: March 2026