FIFE ENTREPRENEUR CARVES HIS WAY TO BUSINESS SUCCESS

Frazer Reid of Far Cabinet Makers
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• New workshops set to let surfing enthusiasts make their own wooden boards

Furniture maker Frazer Reid has launched unique one-to-one surfboard making workshops that will allow others to make their own boards out of wood.

The idea for the hands-on seminars arose after the 22-year-old, from Crail, received enquiries from surfers looking to combine their love of surfing with Frazer’s passion for wood work.

Under Frazer’s careful guidance, and using traditional boat building and furniture making techniques, surfers will turn a plank of Scottish cedar wood into their own board in just three days and no prior wood working skills are needed. The board will then last up to 10 years - three times as long as a standard foam board.

As well as offering the workshops, Frazer’s business, FAR cabinetmakers, which he launched earlier this year with help from Business Gateway Fife and the Prince's Trust Youth Business Scotland (PTYBS), also produces furniture and restores antiques – and skateboards – using locally sourced, sustainable and often recycled wood.

He said: “I’m a keen surfer and I stumbled across an image of a wooden surfboard on the Internet and decided to make my own. The Scottish cedar I use is really light and producing the board allows me to use all the skills I have learnt over the years. It took me four days to make my first board and the enjoyment I got out of riding it was phenomenal. I then started getting enquiries via social media and my website, where I sell six different types of ready-made wooden boards, from people wanting to make their own. That interest, plus a desire to give others the opportunity to make something they will be really proud of and use, gave me the idea of the workshops.”

Frazer’s interest in furniture making was sparked by a love of wood work at school and on leaving education he worked for 18 months as a janitor and postman at St Andrews University saving his wages so he could pay to attend the renowned Chippendale International Furniture School in the Scottish Borders.

On completing the intensive nine month course he returned home to set up his business but needed to secure finance to allow him to rent space and buy equipment.

He said: “Without Fife Council’s Create in Fife grant, which Business Gateway helped me apply for, or the loan from PTYBS I would not have been able to set up so quickly; instead of a few months it would have taken me at least a year. The funds allowed me to buy everything that I needed to get started straight away. Both organisations have also provided me with a good understanding of how to run my business and I intend to go to a number of Business Gateway’s free courses to keep my knowledge up to date.”

He added: “So far my orders have been mainly through word-of-mouth recommendations to make tables, chairs, garden furniture etc. As well as making unique, one- off pieces, such as turning wood from the Forth Rail Bridge into a table, I also build, and restore, furniture to match the style of a room. What I love about my job is being able to turn a customer’s idea into something beautiful that they will get years of use and enjoyment from.”

Celia Sinclair, Business Adviser, Business Gateway said: “By setting up his own business Frazer has given himself the freedom to be creative in his own terms. Furniture making is a traditional industry but Frazer has managed to inject a modern edge into what he produces; showcasing beautifully crafted pieces that appeal to all generations. Securing a grant through Fife Council’s Create in Fife initiative helped provide him with the money he needed to buy essential tools and with our continued support, and that of a PTYBS mentor, who will work with him over the next 18 months, we aim to help him achieve his business plan targets.”

To find out more about Frazer’s surfboard making workshops and to book a session visit: www.farcabinetmakers.co.uk or call him directly 07753283144.

Alternatively email: info@farcabinetmakers.co.uk  For more information on how Business Gateway can help your business grow and prosper visit www.bgateway.com or call 0845 609 6611. Alternatively contact your local office on 01592 858333.