In 2008, I was in the backyard playing and having a picnic with my daughters, when they asked if we could get a picnic table for our backyard. Always wanting to make them happy, I said yes. So, like a good dad I started searched for a quality picnic table that would be suitable—I went to several Big Box stores looking for a build at home kit. What I found is most were too small, unstable, made of cheap materials and seemed destined to fall apart. You know the ones that end up in the back yard used for a summer than sit there rotting. When I told my girls I couldn’t find one worth buying, they looked at me like I was nuts and insisted, "Nooo daddy, you can you build us one?" It didn't even dawn on me. LOL.. I didn’t need a kit—I’ll create and build my own design.

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I wanted a picnic table that was wider and longer then normal, that was easy to get in and out of. That didn't tip over when you’re getting in or out of it. One with no unnecessary cross supports so you don't hit your legs and shins. One that you can walk in from the side and sit down. So older people and ladies in skirts didn't have to climb into it. One that was strong and durable, and made of quality Canadian materials. Not the low-grade materials they use making A frame tables. I wanted a ten-foot picnic table so we could fit all our family and friends around it during backyard events. At the time I was working in West Vancouver building a retaining wall using PT 4x4s. I knew how strong they are, so I wanted to craft it from those sturdy 4x4s with tight dado cuts for stability. I need an extra set of legs in the middle to stop sagging. I put pencil to paper and ten minuets later my design was born. But will it work?  Three weeks later, my daughters gave me gift cards for Father's Day, and I built my first non-tipping picnic table.

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Around the same time, we had a worldwide banking crisis. Although it didn’t really affect Canadian Banks. Canadians were still hanging on to their money and I found myself with less and less work. I was sitting in the back yard with a friend of mine, Telling him how tough it was finding work right now. He said “why don’t you sell your picnic tables? I would buy one" Well why not,  what do I have to lose. So, I listed my first table on Craigslist. 10 minutes later, I sold my first picnic table. Then I sold 20 more. From then on, every spring, I offered my tables for extra family cash. What I didn’t expect is it would take over my life. Every year my orders doubled. Every year my table build season got longer and longer. And in the end my two beautiful little girls of mine. Who started this thing, started building tables with me. A true family business.

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What started with that simple design turned into requests for other styles. So, I came up with The Farm table, The Summerland, The Naramata, Sea to sky, Pedestal table, Bars, Kids tables and the Harvest Table. I went from building back yard tables for families, to building for pubs, restaurants, campgrounds, and Staff tables. City, Provincial and Federal parks. I knew at that time it was time to put all my energy into my picnic table business and start making them full time. With the support and understanding of my wife I created the Wood Monkey Brand. Picnic tables, deck tables and custom designs. It was hard and there was a lot of times I wanted to give up. It was a seasonal business, and I only had 6 months a year to make enough money to pay my bills for the year. We survived the hard times. In my off season I would improve my designs and started building my own websites. www.woodmonkeytables.ca www.thegreatcanadianpicnictable.ca

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Then my business took another turn. A request to rent tables for a backyard wedding. Being a person that has a hard time saying no I said yes. That first rental was so well received I started www.picnictablerentalsvancouver.ca And again every year my rental side doubled. Small backyard weddings to massive city events. The PNE, The Cup, Ted Talks, Canada day, Cloverdale Rodeo, corporate events. Everything you can imagine. Now my rentals are fully booked from May to September.

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The Next step in my journey will be offering franchise across Canada. So I can offer my trade marked designs to more and more Canadians. 

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