Long Valley Brothers Become Firewood Entrepreneurs

The Decillis brothers, like so many others their age, know their way around the sports fields, video game systems and anything else pre-teen boys occupy their time with.

But what the trio of Long Valley boys know more than most their age is how to operate a business.

Staring down at their traditional chocolate chip pancakes and bacon breakfast on a September Sunday morning, the boys – Nicholas, 10; Derek, 8; and Ryan, 7 – were speaking with their parents Brian and Gretchen about what to do that day.

“With the lure of video games and TV, we have consistently encouraged our boys to get outside to play and explore,” said Brian Decillis. “As they’ve gotten older, we have also talked to them about the importance of hard work and being productive. It seems kids today find fewer opportunities to make their own money from small jobs, like delivering newspapers and mowing lawns (like we did in the ‘70s and ‘80s). We thought it would be fun to challenge them to start their own small business.”

So that morning, over breakfast, the Decillis parents asked their boys if they wanted to start a business, to which they said yes.

The morning was spent brainstorming ideas. Thanks to wood-lined property still showing Super Storm Sandy’s wreckage, the boys decided a firewood business made the most sense.

So the company name of “3 Brothers Firewood” was born and research began. The equal partnership of siblings researched pricing, painted signs, built a roadside stand on West Valley Brook Road, transported the wood down to the end of the driveway and opened up shop.

“On a weekly basis they re-stock the stand, collect the money, watch the weather report and cover the wood before it rains,” Brian Decillis said. “It’s been a really good learning experience for them and they’ve had some success selling firewood and kindling.”

So the next time you’re looking for firewood in Long Valley, check out 3 Brothers Firewood on West Valley Brook Road. You’ll be shopping local and teaching life lessons to a trio of hard-working brothers.