Dear Bob [editor of V.I.A.],
I want to thank you and the readers of V.I.A. for helping to find a home for our BC-made bench. We received numerous e-mails within days of the POST from both people suggesting places they know of, and others with space to offer. We were looking for a space to house our bench until the IDSWest show in September, and the person we got linked up with offered a compatible timeframe.
The man for the job was Mark Brand, then preparing to open No.1 Noodle House, a pop-up restaurant in the old Boneta space at #1 West Cordova. Currently the concept for the Noodle House is a seven month pop-up shop. In addition to providing the bench with a home, Mark has reserved space beside the bench for us to promote the product and our business. This is about people helping people and opening the door to opportunity.
For the next location and potential final home, we really wanted to see the bench in a open environment with lots of light and space around it. I got an e-mail from Jodie Braaten, exhibit designer at Science World, with an attached photo of the prospective space.
According to Jodie, “the V.I.A. posting sent a flurry of emails within Science World with many suggestions as to where we could put it.” The banner in the photo is 20 feet in length, and displays information on the current feature exhibition. After meeting Jodie in the space and touring around to see the completed renovations, it was clear that this was a perfect fit. We have also talked about the potential to incorporate a “Making of” video in the “Our World” exhibit that immerses children in topics of sustainability.
So whats next with the ONE6?
We are currently working on setting up production, and accessing markets to create demand for this product. We want to take this bench and similar products internationally, while sourcing material locally and keeping production and labour here on BC soil. We plan to diversify our product line to offer a variety of sizes, so those interested in the bench can purchase a smaller version for their home or smaller spaces. As Daly Company and Mainland Woodworks move forward, we have committed to only using wood harvested within BC, or destined for the trash pile. If you’re seeking creative and unique solutions in wood, we are the guys to talk to.
We look forward to the future,
Pat Christie and James Spouler
