It appears currently we are in a society where it is very easy to make a negative comment about something but positivity is often left unspoken. In the modern world of social media these often dissatisfied comments are notoriously public, whether it be the bad driver on the way to school drop off, the dog walker who didn't pick up the poo or the long wait in the Emergency Department ... the list goes on. It is not to say positivity and kind thoughts aren't had, they just don't seem to be broadcasted like the more negative emotional expressions. Maybe it's just me, but I think we should be sharing more of the love, hence this blog.

I will digress momentarily but ultimately I will come back to the fact that as a small family business we wanted to share how much a few kind positive words spoken out (or typed in the form of feedback) goes a huge way. We are a business that 100% of clientele and business still comes from word of mouth, some old fashioned 'chat' networking, returning customers and our very limited social media and website interaction. I suspect we are one of the few.

Slightly off topic for a minute, but a brief chat about one off custom pieces vs mass produced items (I am not focusing on quality here, making in bulk does not mean it impacts quality, just the difference in process). This still links in with the importance of communication and understanding of it. We as a small, Custom Cabinetry & Joinery business produce individual one off items on request.  How do we as a business clearly inform our consumers the differences for a business to produce one off, handcrafted items compared to multiple pieces of the same design or mass production? We do get a few enquiries mentioning they have seen a similar piece (often oversea's) for less. Other than the 'support local' element which is another topic for another day, we struggle to rationalise our bespoke craft. I know if I was not engaged in the industry, I would not appreciate the variables that can make such a difference, not just financially, but also in the quality or end finish. Creating a one off custom item means the machines need to be changed and set up accordingly for each piece, jigs and templates made, multiple client communications and samples created, this is all time and expense. At the end you have something created solely for you, to specifically fit your home with a focused functional purpose. Anyway,I just wondered how best we can communicate this out loud so that as a small family business that prides its self of quality craftsmanship, longevity & ethical values,  we do ourselves proud whilst also highlight this for understanding.

Back to the subject matter.

We are so thankful for the verbal feedback we get when installing cabinetry or fitting joinery on site, or when a client collects an individual piece, these words not only make our day but is also a fundamental reason for the passion the team has for the work they do. Unfortunately, these words don't get dispersed into the wider public, so a little nudge, if you do have time to write a few words of feedback for a small business, you are making a huge impression and helping advertise their work. Hopefully these are positive mentions, however constructive comments are also a driver for improvement and reflection, just remember the intent of your words, the audience and wider impact for all.

So I will leave you with a little bit of feedback we have received;

"Sean and his very talented team did all the joinery throughout our new home. The quality of craftsmanship completely blew us away and exceeded all our expectations. The service was always friendly, professional and nothing was ever a problem. Sean also made us a beautiful wooden dining table and entry console several years ago. Highly recommend!"

"My experience with Podocarp was a very positive one. They responded promptly to my enquiry and provided a competitive quote. The bookcase was completed on time, to a high standard and installed by professional and pleasant craftsmen. I am delighted with the result, it is exactly what I wanted."

"I highly recommend Sean and his team at Podocarp - their workmanship is of very high quality and I am impressed with the custom built wardrobe they designed, manufactured and installed for me"

"We recently had a set of wall units designed and installed in the the laundry, and a few draws added in the kitchen. The overview work was perfect. The experience with Podocarp Cabinetry & Joinery was great from day 1. Sean was very professional. He paid lots of attention to details. He gave us good advice. We love his design. The installation was done by Frank who did an amazing job. Sean and Frank were both very friendly. Very nice people to work with. The end results were great. See the photo. The wall units in the laundry look like original. Just perfectly fit into the room. I would hightly recommend Sean and his team."

"Fantastic company to work with. Very helpful with design, nothing was too big a problem , great communication throughout and the end product is the highlight of our whole house renovation. All the people we dealt with were friendly , courteous and a pleasure to have around. They also worked really well with the other tradespeople who were doing their work which made a big difference to the overall job. Am recommending far and wide!"