A NEW shop has opened in Abergele selling items made out of reclaimed timber such as birdhouses and bars.
“Scrap Wood Junkie” began trading on Bridge Street on June 25, and is the creation of Craig Shiels, a landscape gardener by trade.
Sharing their premises with gift shop “Yorkshirelass's Crystals”, Craig’s shop has proved an instant hit.
Craig, from Abergele himself, said: “It’s anything to do with reclaimed timber, basically. We do signs, birdhouses, outdoor bars… I make it all!
“People make wooden signs, but up to now, I don’t think anyone else does what I do. This shop is ours, but I supply my stock in four different stores, too.
“I’m a landscape gardener by trade. My son, who was 14 at the time, was going to Mongolia with school, and needed to raise funds.
“It started as fundraising for that at first – he didn’t end up going, either!
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“But then it became a hobby, and I thought: ‘Something’s got to give’.
“So, I gave up my job and started this. We were doing market stalls, and we just thought we’d have a go at opening our own shop.
“I get timber from anyone getting rid of pallets, and we’re always thinking of expanding.”
Elsewhere, Craig’s designs can be found in “Forget Me Not” in Rhyl, “Flipping Furniture” in Mostyn, Holywell, “SN Jewellery and Resin Design” in Caernarfon and “Thrive” in Chester.
Having successfully managed to carved out his own niche in some ways, what does he see as his proudest moment in business so far?
And has he ever come across any particularly odd requests, or made any especially unique designs?
“My proudest moment, really, is (getting) where the business is at the moment,” he added.
“And I hope to carry on growing it into different shops across the country.
“As for my unique products, well, there’s been a few - from bees on plaques, to some really wacky unique signs.
“We do custom orders, as well.”
Scrap Wood Junkie, Bridge Street, Abergele, Wales, LL22 7HA.
For more information, visit: www.facebook.com/scrapwoodjunkie.
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