The Woodshed

What The Woodshed does

The Woodshed is a privately held, family-owned specialty retailer founded in November 2006 by Mike and Patty Sharpe, operating from a single yard at 1015 N. Batavia, Orange, California. The company's core business is the sale of premium firewood and culinary cooking wood (chips, chunks, logs, and pizza oven cuts across 18+ species including Alder, Cherry, Hickory, Mesquite, Oak, Pecan, Walnut, and specialty varieties like Avocado, Olive, and Peach) to both consumer and foodservice customers in Southern California. Hand-packing at the Orange yard is positioned as the quality control mechanism for the product line. Beyond wood, the company has built a broader BBQ category offering including Camp Chef Woodwind Pro Pellet Grills, Hunsaker Vortex Charcoal Basket Systems, custom Santa Maria Style Grills, multiple premium charcoal brands (Blues Hog, FOGO, Jealous Devil, Binchotan), wood pellets (Knotty Wood, Lumber Jack), ThermoWorks thermometers, firestarters, Crescent firewood racks, and a 20+ brand rubs and sauces portfolio including Meat Church, Blues Hog, Kosmos Q, and Harry Soo.

The Woodshed runs a three-channel go-to-market: direct walk-in retail at the Orange yard (Monday–Friday 9am–5pm, Saturday 9am–4pm), a dedicated restaurant/foodservice delivery operation supplying restaurants, breweries, and BBQ joints on pallets or in bags with minimum order requirements, and a regional network of 11+ independent retail partners across Southern California (from Simi Valley through Chula Vista) including BBQ specialists, gourmet markets, and butcher shops. The business is closely tied to the Southern California BBQ community through affiliations with CBQA, KCBS, and NBBQA, hosting cooking classes and participating in regional events and competitions.

The Mike's Ohana charitable initiative, established in September 2011 by founder Mike Sharpe following his Acute Myelogenous Leukemia diagnosis, has raised over $352,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and is structurally embedded in product sales: every Sharpe Wood Chips Sampler Box purchase triggers a $10 LLS donation. Following Mike's passing in January 2012, his wife Patty Sharpe continued to lead the company. The business operates with approximately 46 employees, no external funding, and no parent or subsidiary entities, and remains a privately held, independently operated regional specialty retailer.

Name

The Woodshed

Legal name

The Woodshed

Website

https://thewoodshedoc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Woodshed is a family-owned Southern California specialty retailer founded in 2006, selling premium firewood, culinary cooking wood, grills, charcoal, and BBQ accessories to individual consumers, restaurants, breweries, and independent retail partners across the region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

BBQ and Firewood Specialty Retail

SIC

Retail-Building Materials, Hardware, Garden Supply (5200)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor Heating, Fire Pits & Fireplaces Retail (CRAIAIAI)

Keywords

• Cooking wood supply
• Firewood retail
• BBQ supplies
• Culinary wood varieties
• Restaurant foodservice

Headquarters

HQ city

Orange

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. BBQ Rubs and Sauces: Resale of third-party BBQ rub and sauce brands including Sharpe Rubs, Harry Soo Slap Yo' Daddy, Simply Marvelous, Big Poppa Smokers, Loot n Booty, Cucamonga Cattle, Blues Hog, Killer Hogs, Kosmos Q, Meat Church, Spanglish Asadero, Mudville BBQ, Da Kine Hawaiian, Hardcore Carnivore, Cuso's, Cimmaron Doc's, Traveler's Dust, and Meat Mitch
2. Charcoal Products: Sale of various charcoal products including Blues Hog Charcoal, Jealous Devil Charcoal, FOGO Charcoal, B&B Charcoal, Chef's Select Charcoal, and Binchotan Japanese Style Charcoal
3. Grills and Smokers: Sale of BBQ equipment including Camp Chef Woodwind Pro Pellet Grills, Hunsaker Vortex Charcoal Basket System, and Custom Made Santa Maria Style Grills
4. Firewood Racks and Accessories: Sale of firewood storage racks (Crescent brand in quarter, half, and full cord sizes), ThermoWorks thermometers, firestarters (6 different types), and Knotty Wood and Lumber Jack pellets
5. Cooking Wood: Sale of premium cooking wood varieties including Alder, Almond, Apple, Ash, Avocado, Cherry, Citrus, Grape, Hickory, Maple, Mesquite, Oak (Post, Red, White), Olive, Peach, Pecan, and Walnut in chip, chunk, log, and pizza oven cut forms
6. Firewood: Sale of firewood for warmth and ambiance including Almond, Cedar, Citrus, Eucalyptus, Local Mix, Oak, Pine, and Pinion varieties in long or stove cut lengths

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Woodshed is a Southern California specialty retailer and foodservice supplier offering premium cooking wood, firewood, BBQ grills and smokers, charcoal, wood pellets, rubs, sauces, and grilling accessories. The company sells to individual consumers at its Orange, California retail yard and to restaurants, breweries, and BBQ joints via bulk delivery, while also distributing through 11+ independent retail partner stores across Southern California.

Product overview

The Woodshed is a specialty retailer offering a comprehensive range of grilling and smoking products, primarily serving Southern California. The core product lines include Firewood (heating wood) and Cooking Wood (culinary wood for smoking/grilling), supplemented by Grills & Smokers, Rubs & Sauces, and Other Products including charcoal, pellets, and accessories. The company operates retail stores and supplies restaurants, with a charitable component through Mike's Ohana program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Mike's Ohana: Charitable initiative created in honor of founder Mike Sharpe to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Every Sampler Box purchased represents a $10 donation to LLS.

Products and services

• Firewood Firewood sold for warmth, ambiance, and fragrance in varieties including Almond, Cedar, Citrus, Eucalyptus, Local Mix, Oak, Pine, and Pinion, available in long or stove cut lengths.
• Cooking Wood Culinary wood in chips, chunks, logs, and pizza oven cut forms across varieties including Alder, Almond, Apple, Ash, Avocado, Cherry, Citrus, Grape, Hickory, Maple, Mesquite, Oak (Post, Red, White), Olive, Peach, Pecan, and Walnut; all bags hand-packed at the Orange, CA yard.
• Grills and Smokers BBQ grills and smokers including Camp Chef Woodwind Pro Pellet Grills with full accessory line, Hunsaker Vortex Charcoal Basket System (designed and built in the USA), and custom-made Santa Maria Style Grills.
• Rubs and Sauces Multi-brand assortment of BBQ rubs and sauces including Sharpe Rubs, Harry Soo - Slap Yo' Daddy, Simply Marvelous, Big Poppa Smokers, Loot 'n Booty, Cucamonga Cattle, Blues Hog, Killer Hogs, Kosmos Q, Meat Church, Spanglish Asadero, Mudville BBQ, Da Kine Hawaiian, Hardcore Carnivore, Cuso's, Cimmaron Doc's, Traveler's Dust, and Meat Mitch.
• Charcoal Premium charcoal products including Blues Hog Charcoal, Jealous Devil Charcoal (South American Hard Wood, Chunx XL Lump Charcoal), FOGO Charcoal (100% Hard Wood), B&B Charcoal (Texas Style Oak Charcoal), Chef's Select Charcoal (100% Hard Wood Briquette), and Binchotan Japanese Style Charcoal.
• Wood Pellets Hardwood wood pellets including Knotty Wood Pellets (Almond Wood Pellets) and Lumber Jack Pellets (100% Hardwood across 11 varieties).
• Firewood Racks Heavy-duty Crescent-brand firewood storage racks available in 1/4, 1/2, and full cord sizes.
• ThermoWorks Thermometers ThermoWorks thermometers positioned as fast and accurate grilling accessories.
• Firestarters Natural fire starters available in six different types for starting wood fires.
• Sharpe Wood Chips Sampler Boxes Carefully designed sample boxes of wood chip varieties originally created by Mike Sharpe, packed at the Orange yard, intended for meat departments at local grocery stores and now linked to the Mike's Ohana charitable initiative.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• The BBQ HQminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent BBQ retail store in Simi Valley, California (3850 Royal Ave, Simi Valley, 805/285-2618) that stocks The Woodshed's cooking wood and BBQ products.
• Beef Palace / The Corner ButcherminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorButcher shop in Huntington Beach (5895 Warner Ave) and La Verne (2359 Foothill Blvd) that carries The Woodshed products alongside premium meats.
• BBQ LANDminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent BBQ retail store in Long Beach, California (6336 E. Spring St) specializing in grilling tools and accessories.
• Irvine Ranch MarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGourmet market chain in San Juan Capistrano (31109 Rancho Viejo Rd) carrying The Woodshed's products.
• El Toro Gourmet MeatsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGourmet meat shop in Lake Forest, California (23522 El Toro Road) that stocks The Woodshed products.
• Pacific Ranch MarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRetail market in Orange, California (7540 E. Chapman Ave) carrying The Woodshed products.
• San Diego Grill ProsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBBQ retail store in San Marcos, California (2085 Montiel Rd) specializing in grill equipment and accessories.
• Smoked Seduction BBQminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBBQ retail store in Livermore, California (3989 First St., #C) carrying The Woodshed products.
• West Coast BBQ ShopminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBBQ retail store in Chula Vista, California (2330 Proctor Valley Rd) distributing The Woodshed products.
• Hilltop Pool & BBQ SuppliesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPool and BBQ supplies retailer in Yucaipa, California (32357 Yucaipa Blvd) carrying The Woodshed products.
• Sharpe RubsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProprietary BBQ rub brand created by Mike Sharpe (Sharpe Wood Chips Sampler Boxes), sold through The Woodshed.
• Camp ChefminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCamp Chef Woodwind Pro Pellet Grills and full line of accessories sold through The Woodshed.
• HunsakerminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHunsaker Vortex Charcoal Basket System, designed and built in the USA, sold through The Woodshed.
• Blues Hog CharcoalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium natural hardwood lump and briquette charcoal sold through The Woodshed.
• FOGO CharcoalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor100% hardwood charcoal including Chunx XL Lump Charcoal sold through The Woodshed.
• Lumber Jack PelletsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor100% hardwood pellets in 11 varieties sold through The Woodshed.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Walmart: Largest US mass retailer offering grills, charcoal, BBQ supplies, rubs, and accessories at competitive everyday-low prices. Comparable to The Woodshed in selling overlapping BBQ product categories, but with vastly greater scale, broader geographic reach, and lower price positioning that pressures specialty retailers.
• Amazon: Largest online marketplace carrying a vast selection of BBQ supplies including grills, charcoal, wood pellets, rubs, sauces, and accessories from competing brands. Comparable to The Woodshed in selling similar products to BBQ consumers, but as a broad marketplace rather than a specialty retailer with quality curation.
• Traeger Grills: Leading pellet grill brand offering grills, wood pellets, rubs, and BBQ accessories through direct and retail channels. Comparable to The Woodshed in selling Traeger-affiliated grills, pellets, and accessories, but Traeger is a manufacturer brand rather than a multi-brand specialty retailer.
• Weber: Iconic global grill manufacturer offering charcoal, gas, and wood pellet grills plus accessories and barbecue consumables. Comparable to The Woodshed in retailing grills and BBQ accessories, but Weber is a manufacturer brand with national distribution and broader product portfolio.
• Home Depot: Largest US home improvement retailer with extensive BBQ and outdoor cooking assortments including grills, charcoal, pellets, firewood, and accessories. Overlaps with The Woodshed across nearly every product category but operates at vastly greater scale and broader geographic reach as a general home improvement destination.
• Tractor Supply Co. Rural lifestyle retailer with strong BBQ and outdoor cooking assortments including grills, wood pellets, charcoal, and firewood. Comparable to The Woodshed in retailing cooking and heating fuel products, but with national reach and broader rural/outdoor customer base.
• Bass Pro Shops: Major outdoor recreation retailer with extensive BBQ, grilling, and outdoor cooking sections across its US store base. Comparable to The Woodshed in retailing BBQ equipment, grills, and outdoor cooking accessories, though as part of a much broader outdoor recreation offering.
• Lowe's: Major US home improvement chain competing with Home Depot and offering grills, BBQ supplies, and outdoor cooking equipment. Comparable to The Woodshed in retailing overlapping BBQ categories, but as part of a much broader home improvement portfolio with national footprint and lower price positioning.
• Ace Hardware: Cooperative hardware retailer with thousands of US stores stocking BBQ supplies, charcoal, firewood, firestarters, and outdoor cooking accessories. Comparable to The Woodshed in retailing BBQ and outdoor heating products through independent storefronts, though as part of a broader hardware assortment.

Direct peers

• BBQ Guys: Online specialty BBQ retailer offering grills, smokers, charcoal, wood pellets, rubs, sauces, and accessories. Directly comparable to The Woodshed in product mix and target customer (BBQ enthusiasts), though BBQ Guys operates primarily online at national scale versus The Woodshed's physical-yard and SoCal-partner model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-woodshed

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Woodshed