How I Bought Life O’ Wood: A Story Rooted in Family, Quality, and Legacy

Some things in life are more than just possessions—they are a part of your story, woven into family traditions and memories. My journey with Life O’ Wood began long before I even considered buying the company. It started in my childhood home, with my mother’s meticulous care of our family’s most prized possession: a 1935 Steinway Model M piano.

A Mother’s Standard: The Only Polish Allowed on Our Steinway

Growing up, our Steinway wasn’t just a piano; it was an heirloom. My mother had been using Life O’ Wood since the 1960s, and she swore by it. It was the only polish she allowed anywhere near our Steinway’s surface. She believed in preserving things the right way, and for her, Life O’ Wood was the best.

That piano had its own story. My family purchased it in 1986 from a lady on my paper route. It cost $4,000, which was a lot of money for us back then. But my parents saw it as an investment—not just in an instrument, but in the music and joy it would bring into our home.

A Chance Encounter with a Piano Restoration Expert

Decades later, my mother’s commitment to using Life O’ Wood would lead me to an unexpected business opportunity.

One day, I had a piano tuner from Illos Piano Restoration, a Steinway restoration specialist, come over to service the instrument. As he worked, he kept running his hands over the wood, examining the finish closely. Finally, he asked:

"What polish do you use? This is the best-preserved Steinway of its age that I’ve ever seen."

I walked over, pulled out the same bottle my mother had used for years, and handed it to him: Life O’ Wood. He looked at the label, intrigued. The next thing I knew, he was asking where he could get it for his shop.

This wasn’t just a compliment—it was validation from someone who professionally restores Steinways. He saw what I had always known: this product was different. It worked. And more importantly, it mattered to people who cared about quality.

Turning a Legacy into a Business

That moment stuck with me. I started looking into the company behind Life O’ Wood, learning its history, its customer base, and its potential. Like many great products, it had loyal users but wasn’t being marketed or distributed to its full potential.

So, when the opportunity arose to buy the company, I didn’t hesitate. This wasn’t just about acquiring a business—it was about preserving something that had been a part of my family’s life for decades and introducing it to a new generation of people who valued craftsmanship and care.

Now, my goal is to expand Life O’ Wood’s reach, ensuring that more families, musicians, and collectors can continue to protect their most treasured pieces—just like my mother did with our Steinway.

Because sometimes, the best business opportunities aren’t the ones you go looking for. They’re the ones that have been in front of you all along.