Born and raised in Noosa by the beautiful Noosa River, it is no surprise that Nelson Ross was passionate about restoring timber boats from a young age.
At just 15 years old, Nelson cleared a space in his backyard and got stuck into restoring an original timber lifeboat from a late 19th century steam ship.
After spending several months in the sunshine, bringing a 100 year old boat back to life, Nelson knew that one day he would turn his passion for working with timber into a profession… and that is exactly what he did.
Nelson became a qualified boat builder through an apprenticeship with reputable luxury yacht builders, Noosa Marine, and worked in the industry for many years before deciding he wanted to create special timber furniture pieces for like-minded locals, and make his work accessible for people with all size budgets.
So, with interior designer and wife Nichola Ross by his side, they started sourcing quality Australian hardwood, designing their first piece to showcase, and sharing their custom timber furniture with those looking for something special that lasts.
Starting a new business is challenging at the best of times, but it was 2021 and Covid was upon us. Lockdowns, uncertainty and financial instability didn’t stop this tenacious team, they thought smart, started small, and sought sound advice from Business Mentoring Noosa (BMN) from the very beginning to put them on the right track.
“We knew it wasn’t the best time to start a small business, but if Covid has taught us anything it is that nothing is certain, anything is possible and work/life balance matters,“ Nichola said.
“So we dove in head first and reached out to BMN to ask for guidance on how to navigate through such uncertain times as a small startup“.
Working from under their house in a small space, building beds around structural poles and banging their heads on low hanging beams, Nelson and Nichola got creative with space and worked with limited tools to maximise room in their makeshift workshop.
Like so many, they also jumped on the pandemic pet bandwagon and hired their head Pawject Manager, a gorgeous golden retriever called Georgie – who turned out to be more of a hindrance than a help.
So with the support of their business mentor Peter Read from BMN, a little help from friends and zero help from lovable Georgie, they started to grow their passion project into a thriving small business and it wasn’t long before they had enough orders to take on a lease in a much larger workshop in Noosaville.
“We feel so grateful to be able to do what we love every day and build quality pieces for quality people,“ Nelson said.
Making stunning furniture isn’t their only focus.
While they are excited to see a future unfold that combines their skills of craftsmenship and design, they are thrilled to work in an industry that allows them to care for a future beyond their own.
Focusing on sustainability, their furniture is made from locally-sourced, FSC-certified quality hardwood and finished in a natural non-toxic hardwax oil. They make to order to avoid any waste through mass production, and run their machinery on solar power.
Nelson and Nichola also donate to Australian rainforest restoration organisations to plant more trees than they use, and continually work towards producing zero waste by recycling wood scraps and sawdust.
“Making eco-friendly products is a movement we can all get behind so it’s no wonder Timber & Tide are off to such a great start“ business mentor Peter Read said.
“It’s been fantastic seeing Nelson and Nichola bring their vision to life and it’s been very rewarding offering advice and supporting them on their journey.“
“Peter has been like our secret weapon,” Nichola said.
“Whenever we are at a pivotal turning point in our business or facing a challenge, Peter has been there to bounce off and help steer us in the right direction.
“We are extremely grateful to Business Mentoring Noosa for the service they provide.
To become a BMN mentee or donate your time to mentoring, visit bmn.org.au or phone 5406 1291 .
Learn more about Timber & Tide, their custom timber furniture and sustainability mission through timberandtide.com.au or visit their workshop locally at 3/12 Leo Alley Road, Noosaville.
