Why I Believe Resin Is More Than a Business — and Why the $22 Billion Pour Is Creating Huge Opportunities for Makers in 2026
- Isaac Hill
- Jul 4
- 4 min read
By Isaac Hill (Ike-Burner)
Be Ike-Conic Shop LLC — Norfolk, Virginia
I didn’t start as a furniture maker.
I started as an artist.
For years, I made music as Ike-Burner. My last EP was released in August 2023. After that, I put the microphone down and picked up the pen. Writing under my own name, Isaac Hill III, became my way of sharing ideas, documenting my journey, and building something that would outlive me.
Originally from Connecticut, I relocated to Virginia in 2024. That move gave me the space to create with my hands again.
In December 2024, I mixed my first batch of epoxy resin in the family room of my home. Like most new makers, I learned through trial and error—experimenting with pigments, hardwoods, molds, and finishes while chasing that first piece I could truly be proud of.
In February 2025, I launched Be Ike-Conic Shop LLC.
What began as a creative outlet quickly became something much bigger.
I realized resin could preserve memories in ways words never could. A slab of reclaimed red oak. Seashells from a family vacation. Wedding flowers. A UConn Huskies pin from back home in Connecticut. Each one could become part of a functional piece that families use and enjoy every day.
That realization changed everything.
It also became the foundation of what I now call Legacy Luxe—handcrafted pieces designed to combine luxury, craftsmanship, and personal meaning.
More Than Furniture
The resin industry continues to grow as more homeowners and collectors look for handcrafted pieces that simply can’t be mass-produced.
Customers aren’t just buying a dining table anymore. They’re buying a conversation piece. They’re buying a memory. They’re buying a story that’s been preserved in wood and resin. That’s what separates handcrafted work from factory furniture.
The Rise of Eco-Embeds
One of the biggest opportunities I’ve seen is the growing interest in what I call Eco-Embeds.
Now they’re becoming part of the design.
Crystal-clear resin allows makers to preserve meaningful objects inside functional artwork—botanicals, shells, reclaimed wood, memorabilia, stones, beach sand, and other keepsakes that would otherwise sit forgotten in a drawer.
Those personal touches transform a product into something that can’t be duplicated.
Every pour becomes one of one.
What Customers Are Asking For
While river tables remain popular, personalization is what truly drives demand.
Some of the most requested projects include:
Floral and botanical pieces featuring dried wedding flowers, pressed leaves, and shells.
Sports memorabilia using pins, patches, ticket stubs, or team colors.
Ocean-inspired designs with sand, shells, turquoise, and natural stone.
Modern glow effects using specialty pigments and lighting.
Custom charcuterie boards that become family heirlooms instead of serving trays.
No two pieces are ever identical. Even when I use the same wood species or mold, the resin flows differently every single time. That’s part of the value. Customers know they’re buying something no one else owns.
Why Small Shops Can Compete
People often assume you need a massive production facility to build luxury resin furniture. I don’t believe that’s true.
What you need is discipline.
Prepare your materials correctly.
Use quality resin.
Take your time sanding and finishing.
Most importantly, tell the story behind every piece.
People connect with authenticity. They enjoy seeing the pour, watching the build process, and understanding why their piece is unique. That’s something large manufacturers struggle to replicate.
From Books to Boards
Writing and resin have never been separate parts of my life. They’re simply different ways of preserving stories.
I’ve written books including Legacy Never Dies, Daughter of Vengeance, and the upcoming thriller Ghost Routes. I also had the privilege of remastering my late father’s novel, The Right Time, so a new generation of readers could experience his work.
My books preserve stories on paper. My resin work preserves them in wood and epoxy.
The phrase Legacy Never Dies is literally stamped on my workbench.
Every time I pour resin, I’m reminded that I’m not just making products.
I’m creating pieces that families gather around, celebrate with, and eventually pass down. That’s the kind of legacy I want to build.
Looking Ahead
Whether someone brings me reclaimed hardwood, beach sand from a honeymoon, wedding flowers, military memorabilia, or team colors that represent a lifetime of memories, my goal remains the same:
Transform meaningful materials into something beautiful enough to become an heirloom. Resin is more than a business to me. It’s another way of telling stories.
And if the growth of this industry has taught me anything, it’s that people will always value craftsmanship with meaning behind it. The best handmade pieces aren’t just beautiful. They’re remembered.
Isaac Hill (Ike-Burner)
Be Ike-Conic Shop LLC
Where Luxury Meets Legacy
Business: Norfolk, Virginia
Maker based near Doswell, Virginia
Now accepting custom commissions at Be Ike-Conic Shop LLC.
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