Funky Wood

[Funky Wood]

We manufacture contemporary, new, designs of oak, ash, walnut, and wenge skirting board, architraves, door frames, and doors. Our website is www dot funkywood dot co dot uk. Would welcome any feedback on the site and/or products.

Funky Wood

 

good luck with it mate ,some of the skirting looks a bit like decking im afraid to say.
there may well be a market for this kind of work are you going to 100% design?
may be a good place to try not cheap but the right kind of folks go.
dont get any wenge splinters thems is propper nasty

 

[papverpoppies]

We manufacture contemporary, new, designs of oak, ash, walnut, and wenge skirting board, architraves, door frames, and doors. Our website is www dot funkywood dot co dot uk. Would welcome any feedback on the site and/or products.

Funky Wood

I love the name..funkywood.

I think that some of the photos could be better, especially the doors, you cannot get a very good impression of what they look like - from those small images.

Perhaps images of the whole of the door in situ, would be better.

I know everyone has different tastes, and this obviously appeals to some people.

Good Luck

Poppy

 

[Brad Naylor]

Some nice ideas you've got there with the skirtings; I agree that joinery design needs a kick up the backside.

Your problem however, is that you have no exclusivity. Any joinery shop with a spindle moulder will be able to copy your styles in a flash and there is nothing you can do about it. There is no way you will be able to command a premium price for your products for long.

There are a couple of problems with your website; The photos of the doors are hopeless and the lack of any address will put punters off big time.

Chris is right about those wenge splinters. Been there, done it!

Cheers
Brad

 

[sysops]

Your products are great, but the photos are terrible - they don't sell the product at all. Given the nature of the product, photos are everything. Get some proper photography done, it'll more than pay for itself.

 

[*Lexxy*]

as already said, door pics on your website aren't too good - you've got better pics of the doors on your facebook page! (ah, just gone to your online store, pics are better here ).

just showed my 'in-house' joiner man & he says we've done quite a few skirting boards & architraves that are very similar to yours (David Lloyds, various pubs), so i'm afraid i'd have to dispute your claim of "Our range of products is unique in every way. No one does anything quite like it..."

i've just showed hubby your prices for doors, are these veneered? he's just gone . similar response to your skirting board prices too!

we're mainly commercial/contract work, but if you can get sales at these prices in the domestic market, we could well be branching out!

 

[avantime]

I agree with some of the above comments. Your designs are easy to copy - about £60 for a set of cutters for the moulder.

Are you having the skirting made by a third party - if not then you are either overpricing or not buying at the right price. If I sold a moulding of those sizes I'd make 70% GP selling at £4.00 per metre!

Have you looked at prices charged by your competitors?

If you need some advise then let me know.

 

[Funky Wood]

Thanks for your comments.

I agree the photos need to be better.

The designs are all copywritten, so no, no-one can get a spindle molder and do it themselves. You can only get our designs from us.

Our products are 100% hardwood or softwood. No veneers.

Will get our address on there asap.

Thanks again.

 

[avantime]

Are the skirting designs copyright?

Don't know that it can be done - as long as the cutters are made from an original drawing. The fluted design looks "off the shelf" to me.

Are you running the skirting yourself?

 

[Beachcomber]

The designs are all copywritten, so no, no-one can get a spindle molder and do it themselves. You can only get our designs from us.

I think you may not be quite right there.
Someone could copy the designs to their hearts content - all your copyright means is that you have legal grounds to challenge them if they do so.

This means you have to a) find out about someone doing it and b) hope they are doing it in the UK unless you have worldwide design patents / copyright and c) have the time / money to pursue it.

Don't mean to be negative, but I would hate to see an innovative and crative company have their market poached by less scrupulous manufacturers all for the sake of too much confidence placed in the protection offered by copyright.

 

[*Lexxy*]

all your FD30 doors are solid wood?

about your designs being copywritten, there's a few architects out there already then that are coming very close to your designs! we only produce to the spec. we're given (no copying going on here! ).

p.s. you should really have your company no., registered office address, where registered & VAT no. (if applicable) on your website. i couldn't see any T&C on the shop part, is delivery included in the quoted prices?

 

[GreenLaser]

Great name ..love it ..funky wood ...but the product aint that funky yet ...maybe theres a market for something really different !..keep working on it ..and have fun !

PAUL

 

[Brad Naylor]

T
The designs are all copywritten, so no, no-one can get a spindle molder and do it themselves. You can only get our designs from us.

You're fooling yourself, I'm afraid.

The threat to your exclusivity doesn't come from a big manufacturer such as Richard Burbidge lifting your ideas, but from small local joinery and cabinet shops.

If a client came to me with a photo of one of your skirtings downloaded from your website I could have the cutters made within a couple of days by my local saw-doctor and be running the profile off straight away. I reckon my price to the end-user would be around £6 per running metre based on a timber cost of £2.50 per metre for 4" x 1" sawn oak.

Any of hundreds of small workshops all over the country could do exactly the same, and you would never know a thing about it. The danger is that you do all the hard work putting the concept out there only for everyone else to reap the reward.

If the idea takes off of course, it will be about three months before B&Q is stocking a slightly adapted version of your designs made in China from veneered MDF and cleaning up!

I don't wish to be defeatist but it is important that you see the full picture. Good luck.

Brad

 

[Brad Naylor]

I would also urge you to consider seriously dropping wenge from your range.

Not only is it an overexploited and unsustainable tropical hardwood but its tendency to produce poisonous splinters many months or years after installation leaves you open to the risk of potentially ruinous law suits down the line.

 

[avantime]

Funky wood - I would urge you not to sell your doors as solid hardwood. Looking at the pictures on your facebook page I'd bet my house that it is veneered. There is a very obvious repeat pattern on the oak/ash face of the door. Are you making the doors yourself or buying in door blanks and putting the detail on yourself?

I don't mean to knock what you are doing - after all this country needs more manufacturers like us - but if you can hone your designs and buy in timber at a better price then you have a much better chance of success!!


Best of luck!

 

[Matt1959]

highly improbable that the doors are solid as if they were the metal inlay would pop out due to expansion/ contraction and anyway veneered is better for that reason alone - do like the doors though. Skirtings are serious dust traps well for my missus anyway Good luck with it all, I like the general concept ....

 

good luck guys i argee 100% about the wenge dont use it far to dodgy and about some of your work being reproduced in foil mdf i have seen some very nice cnc ripple wave solid wood panels redone this way ,and you would struggle to know at first glance.
but get much better shots of your work the website is now were near doing the products justice

 

[Funky Wood]

Thank you.

So what is the point of copywrite if it doesn't mean anything? We would challenge anyone who copied our designs, take them to court etc. There is no way we could allow that to happen, we've worked far too hard to get this product to the market.

Thanks again.

 

[papverpoppies]

Thank you.

So what is the point of copywrite if it doesn't mean anything? We would challenge anyone who copied our designs, take them to court etc. There is no way we could allow that to happen, we've worked far too hard to get this product to the market.

Thanks again.

From facebook the designs are in the US and in MDF, but I bet they are already being used here!

Nothing stays exclusive - and if they only modify it slightly (even if they bother) it would cost thousands to take the case to court.

If it was that simple companies like coke a cola (who have mega bucks) would stop every Tom Dick and Harry who produce their own brand of the drink!

They accept their share of the market, and leave be!

Poppy

 

[Funky Wood]

The skirting board, architrave, and door frames are 100% hardwood. The doors are veneered.

Will definitely drop wenge from the list of available woods.

Thanks again.

 

[Funky Wood]

Well i guess we should focus not only on our product, but also on our outstanding service and complimentary products. Where else would you get a company who were very easy to deal with, said what they were going to deliver, delivered it on time and on a date agreed with you, and also offered an excellent fitting service so you don't even have to bother finding your own joiner - we'll do it all.

We will be offering eco-friendly paint, wax, and varnish as part of our product range, along with handles and other ironmongery. We're just in the process of getting the systems in place.

 

[papverpoppies]

Well i guess we should focus not only on our product, but also on our outstanding service and complimentary products. Where else would you get a company who were very easy to deal with, said what they were going to deliver, delivered it on time and on a date agreed with you, and also offered an excellent fitting service so you don't even have to bother finding your own joiner - we'll do it all.

We will be offering eco-friendly paint, wax, and varnish as part of our product range, along with handles and other ironmongery. We're just in the process of getting the systems in place.

Well it is about customer service, price, and workmanship, as well as the designs that people are wanting - so it would be advisable to sell the whole package to potential customers on your website.

The website is not over friendly, as well as terrible images, there is no actual address, which is very off putting, customers do like to know where the firm they are thinking of using is based!

Good Luck

Poppy

 

[Funky Wood]

I know, I've asked our web designer to put our address on asap.

thank you.

 

[*Lexxy*]

so your doors are veneered, thanks for confirming.

i asked about T&C on your website, is delivery included in your prices??

 

[Funky Wood]

We haven't put the T&C on there - do you think we should? Usually customers get a copy when they place an order, or if they specifically ask prior to ordering.

Delivery is free on all orders over 20 metres.

 

[Funky Wood]

We are exhibiting at the National Home Building and Renovation Show at the NEC in Birmingham next week, from 18th - 21st March. We have some free tickets to the show, if anyone wants one.

If you do, please email enquiries AT funkywood.co.uk.

 

[*Lexxy*]

We haven't put the T&C on there - do you think we should? Usually customers get a copy when they place an order, or if they specifically ask prior to ordering.

Delivery is free on all orders over 20 metres.

i could well be wrong, but i think it's a legal requirement isn't it?!

free delivery for skirting you mean? so what's the price if they order less than that quantity? where does it say free delivery if order over XX? what about the doors?

this is all the 'stuff' that should be in T&C or at least an FAQ section. without these basic details, i'd never place an order online.

T&C are there to protect you too!
customer receives a door "don't like it, i'll return it"
you "as stated in our T&C, oh hang on, we haven't got any..."

 

[Funky Wood]

If you order less than 20m then we will contact you with a price. Alternatively ring us first for a price and we can take your order over the phone. If you aren't happy with your product once you get it you call us to arrange a suitable time for us to collect it and we will pick it up from you free of charge. It must be in the original packagaing. I guess these are all in the T&C so you've answered the question just by asking that.

We will put our T&C on the website.

Thank you.

 

[papverpoppies]

If you order less than 20m then we will contact you with a price. Alternatively ring us first for a price and we can take your order over the phone. If you aren't happy with your product once you get it you call us to arrange a suitable time for us to collect it and we will pick it up from you free of charge. It must be in the original packagaing. I guess these are all in the T&C so you've answered the question just by asking that.

We will put our T&C on the website.

Thank you.

The whole concept of a website, is that people do not want to ring!

They want the details set in black and white before their eye.

Ring if you have decided to order, to iron out the delivery etc, but not for the basic prices along with terms and conditions.

Poppy

 

[Funky Wood]

But you see it depends on how much you order as to how much it's going to cost for delivery, so it's really difficult to say. Rather than telephone you can contact us by form or email, which is all on the website.

 

[*Lexxy*]

i've seen plenty of sites that quote different weights/price of order with varying delivery charges. perhaps that would be an answer?

 

[Mick Johnson]

Out of interest, what aspect of the skirting boards have you managed to copyright - I can't see it standing up in court that the designs (nice as they are) are 'substantially' different to others that are available.

Unfortunately, as many others have pointed out, copyrighted or not, you'll never know who is producing copies on a small scale unless they're doing it in the same area as you're based!!

 

[Beachcomber]

I have to say a FAQ section is essential for your service.

Buyers do not want to have to ask and wait for replies - they want all teh info there for them to see or they will go elsewhere.

Buyers want to know:

- Where you are located
- How much delivery will cost (not a 'place order and we'll let you know!'
- How long delivery will take
- Various delivery options (express / economy etc)
- Returns / damaged item policy
- Payment options
- Data protection

You could also provide a handy calculator for people to use to make sure they are ordering the right quantity of skirting (yeah, I know - but you do get some who muff it up!)

The more info the customer has, the better informed and more confident they will be about purchasing from you.

 

[Funky Wood]

Thank you,

I'm not expressing myself properly, so forgive me.

We don't want you to place an order and then we'll add a price on for delivery. If you are buying less than 20m then we need to you to contact us so that we can give you a total cost, including delivery. You can then pay over the phone.

If you are ordering more than 20m then delivery is free, so you just pay for the product.

I think the checkout part of the website needs tidying up, will get our web developer on the case.

We will definitely look into giving firm prices for less than 20m.

Thank you.

 

[papverpoppies]

Thank you,

I'm not expressing myself properly, so forgive me.

We don't want you to place an order and then we'll add a price on for delivery. If you are buying less than 20m then we need to you to contact us so that we can give you a total cost, including delivery. You can then pay over the phone.

If you are ordering more than 20m then delivery is free, so you just pay for the product.

I think the checkout part of the website needs tidying up, will get our web developer on the case.

We will definitely look into giving firm prices for less than 20m.

Thank you.

I think you need to really re-think your site.

Why would I pay over the phone - you have a website?

Do as others have suggested and get the prices for different lengths as well as a calculator on your site.

Unless people really really know your business, they will not mess around calling for prices.

I always click away from any site that does not provide full costs and offer online payment.

I think you need to do some research on what good websites offer.

Yes, you have novel design product at the moment, which is costly.

As soon as this starts to get copied in some format, and the price drops, you will loose custom.

Grab the market whilst you can, by making your site easy to use, and informative.

For the cost of your products, you should be offering a first class website, which you are not doing at present.

Poppy

 

[avantime]

Well i guess we should focus not only on our product, but also on our outstanding service and complimentary products. Where else would you get a company who were very easy to deal with, said what they were going to deliver, delivered it on time and on a date agreed with you, and also offered an excellent fitting service so you don't even have to bother finding your own joiner - we'll do it all.

We will be offering eco-friendly paint, wax, and varnish as part of our product range, along with handles and other ironmongery. We're just in the process of getting the systems in place.

FW - that's where your "hook" is for me! The product is ONLY half the deal, the service is the other!

As a matter of iterest do you run your own 4 head planer/moulder?

 

[Cutting Solutions]

Agree with all the comments about copying.
I frequently have knives or cutters made to copy a timber sample supplied.
Often that is because its in an old building and an exact match is required but I dont know for every knife made.
Doug

 

[Funky Wood]

Thank you very much for all of your replies.

We have now spruced up our website considerably. All of our contact details are on there and there is a list of products and prices in the 'Our Products' page. We withdrew the shopping cart part until we can get it right - there were so many things wrong with it.

Re: Copyright. We are now fully insured against anyone trying to copyright our designs, which means that we have the resources for court action.

We have been exhibiting at the Home Building & Renovation Show in Birmingham (we are still there today). We have experienced a huge demand for our products - everyone loves them, so that's a really positive sign.

www dot funkywood dot co dot uk

 

[scribe]

So you saying, i cannot get the timber and rout out the timber to the same design as yours.

 

[*Lexxy*]

you confirmed earlier that your doors are veneered, i can't see this mentioned anywhere on your site (sorry if i've missed it), you do howeer state "All our products are made from 100% hardwood..." - so perhaps a little mis-leading?

also wenge is still mentioned all over your homepage, i thought you'd decided not to use this wood?

copyright is all well & good but from what's already been pointed out, i still don't understand how you think you're going to prevent copies being made??

good to hear you've had lots of interest at the show, hope they turn into actual orders for you.