Friday, May 8, 2015

Kickstarter Rewards Exquisite Ink With Almost Triple the Amount of Its Starting Goal

Source: PRBuzz


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Whidden’s Woodshop has surpassed many of their goals on Kickstarter, but believes there is still more to do.

Brookhaven, PA — The Kickstarter campaign run by Whidden’s Woodshop rewarded the small company with enough to achieve two of its stretch goals with twenty-three days left to go on the clock, proving once again that not only is crowdfunding one of the best methods of separating good ideas from great ones, but also the power of crowdfunding as an economic avenue. Artisan companies like Whidden’s Woodshop would have difficulty expanding their business operations through conventional lending in spite of their obvious appeal and ability to engage customer imagination because conventional lending for business credit depends upon algorithms and not instinct. The customers who donated or pledged money as “pre-sales” were able to view the craftsmanship and apply their own understanding of value that cannot be encapsulated in the sterile calculations of business credit. The campaign inspired people to not only get excited about a product, but also the creators of the project.

Whidden’s Woodshop is a family-owned woodworking business specializing in beautifully handcrafted pens. Each pen is sculpted from wood that has been sustainably harvested, reclaimed, salvaged, or re-purposed. The Koa wood pens used in the campaign, as an example, all came from the discard bin at the local lumber company. The wooden pens have inspired people to fund the project, not only because they are well-crafted and beautiful to look at, but because the owner of Whidden’s Woodshop, John Shatney, wrote a campaign that conjured up a nostalgia for simpler times and a thirst for something that was created with care. 

People who funded the project, and those who will continue to support this campaign until its end, saw something special not only in his pens which are unique and one-of-a-kind, but in the craftsman himself.  John invited people into the story behind Exquisite Ink, sharing with people who might fund his project the reasons for his campaign, the love of his family, and the story of his journey into woodworking.  Being able to read about his grandfather who ran a carpentry shop in the 1920s or the four children he's working so hard to make a life for, absolutely had an impact on why people chose to fund Exquisite Ink.  Crowdfunding has as much to do with wanting to be a part of something special, as it does with pre-sales. John explained from the heart why he wanted to expand his woodshop, and people responded. 

Exquisite Ink has achieved many of its goals on Kickstarter, but there is still more that can be done.

“Kickstarter allows for global exposure and creates permanent relationships with people who are passionate about what we create and also with potential retail buyers,” explains John.  “We knew that we had the ability to set our business on the right path using this tool.  All of us are incredibly grateful for the support we've achieved thus far and –hopefully-- where we will continue to go on Kickstarter.”

With pledges of $24 or more, backers will receive one or more of the handcrafted pens, depending on which package they choose. Some like the “Avon” are fountain tip while others are rollerball, but each pen comes with the wood of the backer's choice. For those that cannot contribute the $24 dollars to purchase a pen, the entire Shatney family of six sends their thanks and gratitude to the people that had the vision and the kindness to support their family.

For more information on the Kickstarter campaign and Exquisite Ink visit: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/whiddenswoodshop/exquisite-ink-fine-handcrafted-implements-of-writi

Contact:
John Shatney
whiddenswoodshop@gmail.com

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1 comment:

  1. Great news for Whidden's Woodshop. They have a new #Kickstarter campaign kck.st/1HdHXZB

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