Small Family Business Important in These Difficult Economic Times
It is difficult to start a business even in the best of times but to start a small business at the beginning of a recession is almost impossible. Luckily, Custom-Wood-Urns is surviving. Why? It seems to be that customer service is a big part of the picture. As an artist of over 40 years in the woodworking industry, Luke Thornton provides each client the ability for them to achieve exactly what they want when it comes to an urn or keepsake. He is willing to sacrifice time and money so that everyone is happy with the results. “If I can’t give someone a truly unique and beautiful urn for their loved one be it their spouse, parent or even pet, then there is no point in my having this urn business” states Luke Thornton. Recently he received high praise from a customer who placed an order and was able to follow the entire process through the help of emails and photos. This person sent an email to Luke stating, “You are certainly the most professional of the woodworkers we've contacted trying to get these boxes made.”
Another reason which sets Custom-Wood-Urns apart from the pack of wooden urn producing websites is the fact that the urns for people and pets are actually made in USA using mostly wood from the Pacific Northwest. Amazingly enough, many urns are manufactured in China. These are high volume productions of lesser quality workmanship that is noticeable from the types of joinery used to hold the urn together to the amount of sanding and to the types of oil and finish. All of Luke’s urns are individually made and hand-sanded using instrument grade wood. He uses high quality finish and hand wools each urn so that they are silky smooth and satiny finish.
Luke Thornton started creating urns in 2009 and plans to continue until he can no longer carry a rough wood plank into his studio in Oregon. His wife, Kate helps with the bookkeeping and marketing and their dogs and cats, Zoe and Zipper, Veronica and Perry provide lots of inspiration and energy to keep the creativity flowing. If a custom urn is desired, rest assured that Luke Thornton is the one to call as long as you want quality and customer service.
