This is my second post thus far.
Today I want to discuss building custom items for my customers.
Since I have started this small venture called cc.creative.wood, I have been building various items. Some as stock items, some just because I want to try, and some items that are custom made. Sometimes these items cross over to making a variant of a stock item, and/or making it a custom item.
The most common item for this would be my cribbage boards. Started with my guitar shaped cribbage board. I had advertised this and then got inquiries – could I make this a 4 lane board? Yes I can, and did. Next inquiry – can I make a 29 cribbage board, but make it a 4 lane? Never thought about making a 29 board, so set out to draw that in CAD. Succeeded in that and added a fourth lane. Was a bit of work, and rework to make everything fit properly and keep a reasonable geometry. Once I got that design I showed it to the customer, and she wanted one! Awesome, someone liked my design. When she came to pick up the board,she mentioned that her mom played a version of crib called “golf” crib. Can I build that? And it would need to be four lane. I think so. If I could get a picture, I could make something work. She had sent a pic of a crib board with every 4th segment coloured green. So I started designing. I designed several variations of this. Tried to make it look like a links style course, but that turned out too big. Didn’t even show that to the customer. Kept working on various designs, working with the customer and receiving feedback. After several versions and adjustments, we were able to find a design that worked. When she came to pick up the board, she brought her Mom, who explained the golf crib game to me. Confusing to me, and I have to admit I have forgotten the rules. They both loved the boards I had built for them. Got a great review on my facebook page from the customer.
I had two guitar boards that I sold that got customizations. One customer was getting this as a wedding gift for some friends that got married during the Pandemic. Asked if I could engrave the couples name and their wedding date on the board. Not a problem. Second Guitar board, I had the customer ask if I could make his board out of Mahogany, and engrave his and his wife’s name on them, and paint the engrave black. Haven’t done that before, but just happened to have recently ordered the masking material required for this. That one turned out great, and another happy customer!
Did a night market in Inglewood in September. Had one of the food vendors come over from his truck and ask about my acoustic enhancers. Wanted to see if his phone would fit. It did not as his phone was larger. I took measurements of his phone and told him I would make this for him during the week and deliver it to him the following week. We talked about a different style stand for the enhancer to allow for the extra weight. After we agreed on the enhancer and stand, he came back to ask if I could add his name engrave to the front. This was a first for the enhancer for me. But I did get the product done and delivered as promised. Another happy customer.
While getting a massage and talking with my therapist, she was looking for a gift for her brother, and guess what? They all love playing crib!! I can help. I happen to have a board in stock, and there is room on the board to customize the front with her brothers name. Got that done in time for the birthday, and was sent a message later stating that it was a huge hit.
From the Night market as well – received an email from a customer who had purchased a Yin Yang set. They looked at my cribbage boards, and they have a dear friend that they wanted to surprise with a birthday gift. A cribbage board with a Tarot card theme. They sent over samples of the Tarot cards. This was going to be a challenge – but I knew I could create something for the customer. So research started. They sent me two cards one of the world and one of the sun. The two were from different decks. Found a sun card to match the world card, and laid this all out. Sent the design to customer and they were happy with it. Then started to program cuts and tool paths. This was the most complex board I have done, and I was very happy with the finished board. This boars took in excess of four hours on the CNC just for the cards due to I the detail. Customer contacted me after they received the board to tell me it was even nicer than the picture I sent them, and they were pleased. I am hoping to hear back how their friend liked the gift.
Last one – this just happened this weekend. A friend of ours is moving away, and wanted a crib board with his and his wife’s initials on the front, and a small quote on the back to mark and remember their adventure. Again, I had stock that I could engrave and have the board ready for them within a day. Great to see him when he came to pick up his board. He left a great review on my facebook page, stating that this is heirloom quality for them.
What I personally love about all of these is the fact that the customers were not just buying a product, they were looking for something special and they shared that with me. I appreciate having the opportunity to build each and every one of these as well as all the products I build. I take great pride in being able to help my customers get something truly special for their loved ones or for themselves.
I truly enjoy this hobby, and take great pride in all I do. If I am not fully happy with what I am building for my customers, I will start over. What happens to the products that don’t work out? They sit in my shelves and in most cases will get cut up and re purposed for various other products.
If your still with me on this, and are wondering what is new and next. Stay tuned for my next post this week to find out. A slight diversion from my woodwork.
CC-CREATIVEWOOD.CA 