THE STUDIO
I run a carpentry business. Ellipse Woodworking, still going, and I make fine furniture when the work allows.
Most of that work is in someone's home. A build they've saved years for, a renovation, a restoration of something they'd never forgive you for getting wrong. You're handling someone's pride and joy, and the job is to deliver the thing that's in their head, on the budget they have, by the date you gave them.
Websites are the same job in a different material.
I've started again more than once. I trained in France in electronics, then computer networks and hardware, then spent two years in live events. I came to Australia in 2011 to build high ropes courses, because I climb and I'd been doing carpentry at home. Three years in, a car accident meant I couldn't do the physical work any more, so I applied to run one of the parks instead, at Taronga Zoo. High volume, long days, and the first time I was accountable for whether an operation made money or didn't.
I don't take something on to be average at it.
Then the carpentry, which taught me the rest: quoting, chasing payment, and putting my own name on the thing I hand over.
So when a butcher tells me money is tight and a website has to pay for itself, I'm not sympathising. I did those sums on my own jobs this month.
It's also why I'll talk you out of things. If I can teach you to do something in an afternoon, I'd rather do that than sell you a subscription to have me do it. It costs me money and it's still the better trade.
"What impressed me most was the editing system he set up, it’s incredibly intuitive, so we can update content ourselves without needing to call him for every little change."
That's the part I care about most. A website you can't change yourself isn't finished, it's a retainer with a nice font.
"He has given me the confidence to explore tech-related advancements, which is huge for a non tech person."
Which is where the next year goes: mentoring, workshops, and getting these tools into small businesses properly, in the hands of the person who runs the place.
Axel Vanni · Founder
WHO YOU WILL DEAL WITH
Axel builds the websites and AI tools at Ellipse Studio and works with every client directly. He trained in France in electronics and in computer networks and hardware, then spent two years in live events before moving to Australia in 2011 to build high ropes courses.
He went on to manage the high ropes park at Taronga Zoo for three years, a high-volume operation where the result was his to answer for, and has since run his own carpentry business, Ellipse Woodworking, where he still makes fine furniture. With technical training paired with years in operations and a trade, Axel understands what a small business needs from a build: the thing the owner has in their head, on the budget they have, by the date they were given.
STACK & TOOLS
INSURANCE
Certificates of currency are available on request. If your engagement needs cover I do not currently hold, I will tell you before the work starts rather than after.