Nice that you want to know more about what motivates me to run this webshop.
A bit strange to talk about myself, because I prefer to talk about the items I make. But I also understand that you want to know who you ended up with here.
I started this webshop a few years ago. After quite a few years of hard work in the leisure and theater sector, I was stuck at home due to illness. I had to “take it easy”. Something that is really not in my nature.
I soon discovered that sitting on the couch was definitely not going to make me feel better.
I started experimenting with some materials I had lying around at home. Left over materials from a major project: an annual Christmas parade. I organized this parade every year with a lot of volunteers. And in recent years I have been able again to be more and more active in it.
Anyway, from that parade there were still some remnants of lighting gathering dust. I decided to experiment with making lamps from natural wood and this lighting. It was not ordinary lighting but "intelligent" lighting. Lighting that in combination with a microcontroller could create the most magical effects. I combined that with another passion: woodworking. And before I knew it, Woodlightz was born.
A little later I shifted my attention to other products as well. These products can't really be captured in a name. Let's just stick to : Americana. From replicas of historic neon signs to Longhorns. In addition to wood, I started to use other materials more and more, such as metal and (recycled) plastic.
At first I certainly had no desire to sell my products. But there was a demand for it, people wanted a copy. So I took my first tentative steps into online sales.
I initially chose to sell through Etsy. A platform for creatives from all over the world. Etsy took care of the administrative work and I was able to do what I love to do and what I do best: design, build, program. Sales grew steadily, but also more demands came from the platform. The sales commission kept getting higher. Production requirements were stepped up (more, more, more).
This wasn't why I started this. I like the contact with the buyer. I love making things that exceed your expectations. I don't like to make and sell (almost) factory items. And I'm not here to help the next “Jeff Bezos” into space for fifteen minutes.
The time had come to find my own place on the internet. A place where I can get in touch with everyone who loves my products.
This way I can keep my shop exactly the way I want it. Small enough to run everything myself, with the help of my wife, of course, who is my "rock" to ensure that the shipping and administration continues to run smoothly. Unfortunately that is not my forte. Everyone has their own talents.
Ordering at Woodlightz therefore means: ordering from the maker.
- Every product found here is made by myself with my own hands (and some tools ;-) );
- I receive your orders;
- Your questions will be answered by just me;
- I will personally take your package to the mailcarrier;
- And should something not go the way you would have liked? Then I'll guarantee i will solve that for you.
Do you have questions? Would you like to have something custom made? Just message me.
Even if you just want to make sure this is all legit. I know better than anyone how difficult it is to check online whether something is "real". A lot of my supplies are ordered online to. I put a lot of time and effort in findind legit suppliërs. And no trustpilot or any review site can compete with a personal contact. I would therefore be happy to speak to you.
jurgen@woodlightz.nl
Have fun in my shop!
Regards, Jurgen.
