Released on: December 13, 2007, 2:31 pm

Press Release Author: William Jackson

Industry: Construction

Press Release Summary: You're swinging the hammer hard knowing the boss is in a
hurry to get this one finished. Everyone has left for the day and you know if you
kick butt for just a while longer you can finish the sub flooring. The weather
starts to turn nasty and it begins to sleet.

Press Release Body: Imagine for a moment a cold bleak January day. You're swinging
the hammer hard knowing the boss is in a hurry to get this one finished. Everyone
has left for the day and you know if you kick butt for just a while longer you can
finish the sub flooring. The weather starts to turn nasty and it begins to sleet.
Before you know it the planks are covered with a thin sheet of ice. You go to get
another board, turn, slip, try to regain your balance and you feel something rip and
rip hard.
For William Jackson this day would be one he would never forget. It would go on to
change his life in ways he never dreamed possible. William at the age of forty had
been in construction most of his life. He had a natural knack for building things
and an energy level that always ran on high gear. It was an old standing joke
between he and his wife of nineteen years that William didn't go to the bar to get
away, he swung a hammer.
On that fateful winter day William had damaged his arm far worse than even he
thought. By the time he returned home that evening his wife noticed he had no color
in his face. A trip to the doctor confirmed some of his suspicion and gave light to
new ones. He had done some serious damage to his bone, tendons, and muscles near
the right elbow joint. In fact he would later learn he had ripped most of them away
from his muscle making his right arm virtually useless.
Over the next year William saw several doctors and went through extensive physical
therapy. His arm made slight improvements, but he was unable to do many of the
things that had come so naturally to him. There were times he was unable to even
pick up a coffee cup with his arm.
A year came and went and Jackson was still unable to use his arm efficiently. He
recalls the most difficult thing for him was the inability to give his family of
five the amenities that they had grown accustomed to having. "I'd always provided a
good life for my family. (Jeromy 18, Amanda 17, and Abigail 7) It was very difficult
for me to watch my wife leave to go to her teaching job every day knowing she was
pulling more than her share. I'm an old-fashioned kind of a guy and I wanted to
give her everything she deserved."
In a last ditch effort to hear some hopeful news Jackson decided to see one more
specialist, the best in the field. During that consultation, Jackson was bluntly
told it was time to move his life to Plan B. He knew then that no amount of wanting
to be better was going to help him. He had to have an alternative. The only
problem was, he didn't have one. All he had known his entire life was construction.

Jackson became increasingly depressed as he resigned himself to a life not doing
what he loved. Never a drinking man, he took to his garage to contemplate his
options. His worries for his family were immense. Loving the neighborhood where
they lived he and his wife had made the decision to almost double the size of their
existing home to accommodate their growing family just months before the accident.
Although Jackson had completed 90% of the work himself the cost of materials alone
had increased their mortgage payment. He knew that he would have to move his family
and the thought laid heavily on him.
During his many hours in the garage Jackson began to slowly work with wood again.
He believed in the back of his mind that he could train his arm to work again. The
work was slow and laborious. He was unable to pick up a board that weighed more
than 10 pounds. Any work he did had to be completely by hand; carving, gluing, and
using the scroll saw. His arm couldn't withstand jarring of any kind. He doesn't
profess to know why, but he ended up designing and building a replica of a 1967 VW
Bug, a car he had always admired. The car was made completely from hand out of wood
and from his mind's eye.
His wife too had her worries, not only for her family's well being, but for her
husband's health. There were times when she would watch him sitting alone in his
chair. She had never seen such sadness in his eyes. She knew what she saw on the
outside was only a fraction of what he felt on the inside. He had never been a
complainer, but she knew he was in terrible pain physically and suffering greatly in
his heart.
It was when Barbara first saw the VW that a spark ignited in her. Being a deeply
spiritual woman, she felt then and feels now, that God was watching over William.
He was taking the bad and turning it into good. Her beliefs would soon be confirmed.
Some Sundays after William had finished the replica she noticed a contest for
Master Craftsmen put on by Sears. She knew instantly that William's car would win.
It would be just the jump start he needed to realize his sense of worth wasn't
dependent on how big he could build something or how much money he brought home.
She secretly entered the replica into the contest.
Following these feelings turned out to be the best thing that she could have ever
done. Not only did William win first place in areas of difficulty and creativity,
but a small picture went out in the Sear's sales flyer nationally. The picture only
told of his placing and listed him as Al Jackson in DeMotte, Indiana. Since Al was
his middle name, the next occurrence proved to be even more remarkable.
A seasoned collector in California noticed the ad and tracked him down. He asked
William to send him photos of his work for his perusal. A few days later the man
called and ordered over $20,000 worth of his pieces. When the work was complete he
told William that he had traveled the world over collecting wooden vehicles and
William's were by far the best he had ever seen.
From this point, door after door opened for Wooden Classic Wheels. William's work
was showcased on Chicago's ABC 7 news "I Love My Car" segment and a few years later
ABC featured his work on "Someone You Should Know". Then a team member from Martha
Stewart Living called to inform him they were submitting his information to the
writers for a possible segment.
Luck isn't the only reason Jackson has been able to make a successful run. When the
decision was made to go full force with his dream, money was tight so he spent his
months at home learning how to use his computer and build a website. He learned by
watching over his families' shoulders as they worked on various projects and then
painstakingly taught himself new tricks. "It took me three months to build a site
that was advertised 'Make a website in ten minutes,' but I did it and it gave me
confidence to continue marketing on the web. I began to research the businesses on
the net and had my wife design a letter for me. I only sent my information to
people I thought would benefit from my talent so it was slow going, but from the
beginning I made up my mind that Wooden Classic Wheels was going to be a personal
business. Unbelievably I started getting inquiries from these mailings. I really
think the research and targeting were responsible for the success."
He is very emphatic about his philosophy too, "If the client isn't pleased than
neither am I." Each order he receives has a personal element to it. He is
involved in every step of the process, from receiving the order to shipping the
pieces out. He has even driven across several states to select the perfect wood for
a special replica. "I want to make sure it's right. I've told my wife, 'This
business is about us. I want our clients to experience our values and see our
dedication to them. If we can't feel that bond than we are too big.'" He
indicates that the most enjoyable part of creating a piece for someone is the
personal touch he gives it. Although he does occasionally work off plans, his
favorite pieces are not built to scale. He creates his pieces working from
detailed photos his clients send to him. His ability to look at a photo and
replicate a piece so massive without plans is astonishing.
"It's kind of turned into a sort of comedy at our house," Barbara Jackson states,
"He'll get a photo from a client and print it. He will spend the evening staring
at the picture. He'll lay it this way and that, put it down, and before you know
it he's picked it up again. Then when he finishes a piece he carries it around the
house with him for several days and sets it in whatever room he is in. We'll look
up and see this strange kind of look on his face. Before you know it, he will take
the piece in the garage and fix something only he and a strong microscope would
ever notice! Then he starts the process all over again. It's real bad when he has
bulk orders! However; when he is done we are always amazed at his attention to
detail."
Jackson laughs and admits he is a bit picky with his work. "I guess that is why
I've been successful. I know the value of a dollar and I want my client to get
what they pay for. If I have an order for one or for a thousand replicas each one
of those pieces is going to belong to someone. I want them to be proud of it."
His clients quickly pick up on his enthusiasm and passion. Jackson has never had an
unhappy customer because they know he will work on the piece with enthusiasm until
he gets it right and over 90% of his clients are repeat customers.
"I like to find out the story behind the replica. My clients are ordering these
vehicles to represent a very important part of them whether it is a special truck,
heavy equipment, or a replica to represent a company. It might be about that
first hole in one, first car, years of service, dream cars, or a show piece to say
about a company, 'We take pride in what we do.' Whatever the reason, I want to
make sure that story gets put into the work I do. One of my favorite pieces was
the construction of a Mixer for a regular guy who had driven a truck for over 50
years for the same company. It said to him, 'This company cares enough about my
service to put some real personal thought into a gift for me.' I think I have the
greatest job in the world. I get to meet people from all over the world and get
to know about them. I'm unlike most internet business. I'm not just processing
orders. I am creating art that has a little of me, the client, and the vehicle in
it. That's what I'm after. For me, I get to put everything a guy loves into one
thing: big steel, wood, and power tools. What could be better than that?"
He also utilizes technology to keep his clients updated. During the design process
he takes photos and sends them via email. The clients appreciate being part of the
work and get excited about the arrival of the finished piece. It also helps if a
subtle detail wasn't picked up in the client photo.
In five years Jackson's business has grown larger than he could have ever imagined.
He has been commissioned by several corporate clients to design series that are
given to employees and clients as gifts and incentives. Orders continue pouring in
from collectors and individuals. The most exciting thing to William is that his
talent has led him to the Plan B he thought he didn't have. "I feel very blessed
every day. It's amazing how things have a way of working out. I wouldn't have it
any other way."
Jackson plans to exhibit and sell his work at the World of Concrete Tradeshow in
Vegas this coming January. His goal is to get enough work there to keep him busy
all year. After all, Concrete Trucks are one of his specialties. You can see his
work and get more information on his website: www.woodenclassicwheels.com




Web Site: http://www.woodenclassicwheels.com

Contact Details: Wooden Classic Wheels . Com
11861 N 900 W
DeMotte , In 46310
219-987-3912