Bespoke Woodworkers Group: Frequently asked questions
What is the Bespoke Woodworkers group?
We are a group of like minded specialist craftspeople mainly from the Tamar Valley area in Devon and Cornwall, who all make high quality items out of wood for your home and its surroundings. Whilst remaining independent, we aim to pool our marketing efforts. By so doing we should be able to more effectively enable our customers to find and buy what they require, and we get to spend more time doing what we do and like best, that is making beautiful things.
The group was set up in March 2004, but all the members are well established in their own independent businesses, and all have years of experience in their chosen fields.
What do customers gain?
- Clients can be sure they are dealing with established specialist craftspeople. All group members have agreed to conduct their businesses in accordance with a Code of Practice so clients know in advance what to expect.
- The range of craftspeople involved should ensure that most specialist woodworking requirements for your home can be met by one or more group members.
- Group members can collaborate on large, diverse or complex projects, and can coordinate designs, finishes and deliveries.
Do you make............?
Woodworkers tend to specialise in a particular kind of product. The skills required are diverse, and each woodworker aquires designs, patterns, machinery and techniques according to their particular speciality. However if you have a requirement not listed on this website, please feel free to contact any group member, who will be pleased to assist, and recommend the most appropriate maker. While compiling this website, the author has been in awe of the variety of woodworking skills on offer.
Do you have a showroom?
As a group, we do not have a showroom, as many members work on specially commissioned projects only. If you would like to see a member's work please ask, they may be able to arrange a visit to a previous project, or certainly to their workshops. If you are visiting the area, we would be pleased to welcome you.
Do you enroll new members?
We do from time to time welcome new group members who we feel can add to the range or depth of skills we have to offer. New members would have to demonstrate that they can offer high quality craftsmanship in wood, deal with clients in a fair and reasonable manner.......and spend time helping to run the group! The benefits of pooled marketing efforts are enormous. If you are interested in joining, please contact any of the group.
What is your environmental policy?
Each group member will have their own environmental policy, but all clients should be made aware of the origin of wood used and the composition of the other components. Other questions you might want to ask involve the use of solvents (which contribute to global warming), chemicals in finishes, and of man made sheet materials which sometimes contain quite potent chemicals like formaldehyde. Energy use is another environmental concern. Some members use air dried timber which saves the energy used in kiln drying wood, but takes a much longer time.
How do I contact one of the members?
Most members have their own websites, for which you can find a link on their page of this site. Others are actively setting up their web pages, in which case the best way to contact them is by phone. These people are independent woodworkers running micro businesses, so don't expect all singing e-commerce websites. However, do expect a high standard of personal service.
Do you take credit cards?
Generally, members do not accept credit cards. In this day and age that might seem unusual, but in fact there is rarely any rush, and there should normally be plenty of time to send and clear cheques. The use of credit cards would add significantly to prices. Direct credit transfer through internet banking is another easy way to send money.
What about deliveries?
You should negotiate the cost of delivery with your chosen specialist before you order. Group members collaborate to keep down the cost of deliveries, which they often do with their own transport. We have found that ordinary parcel carriers are not careful enough with large items which cannot be easily packaged. We do have "careful" carriers who we can use if required.
.....And fitting?
Where fitting or installation is required, most members will offer a fitting service, or perhaps recommend another specialist who will fit or install for you. If you live a long way from Devon and Cornwall, you may find it more economical to employ your own local installer. In any case it would be wise to obtain prices for installation before you place an order.
Group contact information
Please contact the individual specialist you think best meets your needs. Any other group member will be pleased to help you.
If you would like to contact the group itself, please use the contact information below. You will need to type the address in full into your email.
Electronic mail address - chairman
bespokewoodworkers.co.uk
Telephone - 01822 832216 or from outside the UK +44 1822 832216
Bespoke Woodworkers Limited, registered in England nr. 5059936
Registered office The Old Ropeworks, Lakeside, Tavistock, PL19 0AZ, UK