Exploring Life & Business with David Jauregui of Ocean Beach Pallet Co.

Today we’d like to introduce you to David Jauregui.

Hi David, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
In 2015, I was broke, between jobs, and just trying to furnish the small patio of the duplex I was renting. I couldn’t afford furniture, so I started building my own pieces out of reclaimed pallets I found on the street. When I sold my first handmade item online, I used the money to buy a drill and an electric saw—upgrading from just a hammer and a hand saw.

My first shop was nothing more than a tarp over some salvaged wood in a backyard that flooded every time it rained. From there, I hustled—selling locally on Craigslist, recycling cardboard to ship furniture, and eventually moving my ‘shop’ into a garage. I grew from working alone to hiring friends and family, including my cousin Fabian Guzman, who became my business partner in 2018.

That year, Fabian moved in with his wife and three-year-old daughter, and together we worked 15+ hour days out of the garage, building durable vinyl record holders, custom record player stands, TV stands, and handmade coffee tables that clients couldn’t find at big-box retailers. Our focus was on creating solid wood furniture that was both functional and long-lasting.

As demand grew, we hired our first team members, got more organized, and eventually moved into our first warehouse. That’s when we began shipping fully built, custom furniture nationwide—everything from entertainment centers and vinyl record storage cabinets to unique, one-of-a-kind woodworking projects.

Today, we’re located in El Cajon in a larger warehouse that will support our growth for years to come. We’ve now been in business for 10 years, and we credit that to our incredible clients, dedicated team members, outstanding customer service, strong work ethic, and commitment to building real, durable, handmade furniture that will last a lifetime.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Of course not—it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Like most small businesses, we’ve had to pivot and get creative over the years. First of all, this is hard work. In today’s world, everyone talks about working smarter, but sometimes you just have to roll up your sleeves and put in the hours.

We’ve faced plenty of challenges: early on, production couldn’t keep up with demand, and we were constantly limited by the size of our shops, which bottlenecked growth. During COVID, we faced complete uncertainty at first, followed by explosive growth that stretched our production capabilities. Wood prices skyrocketed and then dropped just as quickly, which made planning extremely difficult. We’ve also dealt with supply chain scarcity and one of our toughest hurdles—moving into a new warehouse. That required submitting plans, pulling permits, remodeling, and bringing the building up to code in a grueling five-month process where we were paying double rent and expenses while still trying to keep up with day-to-day custom orders.

But every challenge has taught us how to adapt. We’ve learned to streamline production, invest in better tools and processes, and lean on our team’s creativity to solve problems. Looking back, the struggles made us stronger and more resilient. We’re grateful to still be here 10 years later, building handcrafted furniture—vinyl record holders, record player stands, entertainment centers, coffee tables—that people can enjoy for decades.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
At Ocean Beach Pallet Co., we’re a San Diego–based woodworking company specializing in handcrafted furniture with a focus on vinyl record storage and home audio setups. We build vinyl record holders, record player stands, entertainment centers, TV stands, coffee tables, and fully custom furniture—all made from real wood and designed to last.

Simply put we are the “build a bear” for furniture.

What sets us apart is our combination of durability, customization, and customer care. We build furniture that is solid, fully assembled, and ready to use. Our clients know they can count on us for quality craftsmanship, custom colors, sizes, stains, and thoughtful designs that fit their lifestyle and their space. Many of our most popular products, like our vinyl record storage cabinets, were created by listening to our customers’ needs and bringing their ideas to life.

We’re most proud of the fact that our customers consistently recognize our quality and service—we have over 3,300 five-star reviews and have shipped more than 16,000 pieces nationwide. Our units arrive fully built, all you need to do is attach the legs, and shipping is already included!

At the end of the day, our brand is about more than just furniture. It’s about creating pieces that help people connect with their love of music, gather with friends and family, and build memories and happy peaceful times.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
You can’t do this alone. We’ve gotten this far thanks to us having a strong partnership and most importantly thanks to our team. One person can go fast, but it takes a team to go far. We’re in it for the long haul and want to make custom furniture for many years to come.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://oceanbeachpalletco.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oceanbeachpalletco/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/obpco
• Twitter: https://x.com/oceanbeachpall1
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OceanBeachPalletCo
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/oceanbeachpalletco

Image Credits
Ocean Beach Pallet Co