Business & Tech
Small Business Q & A: Woodlynx Woodcarving
Artist offers expert furniture repairs and refinishing services as well as custom wood carving work.
Sole proprietor, Michael Abraham not only works for himself, he works by himself at Woodlynx Woodcarving in Center Stage Plaza on Shallowford Rd.
A collection of wood sculptures crafted by various artists and wood jewelry carved by Abraham are displayed at the front of the small shop. Walking canes topped with detailed resin casts Abraham creates from his original wood carvings of animal heads dress a front window.
1977 Abraham began an apprenticeship with a wooden jewelry artist. The two toured the US art festival circuit from '77 until Abraham moved to Atlanta in 1988.
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A drop in festival profitability prompted Abraham to get off the road.
"I choose to relocate to Atlanta from Pittsburgh because Atlanta has strong support for visual arts,"
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The occasional need for intricate wooden replacement pieces in furniture restoration is what attracted Abraham to the furniture repair trade. He shares that furniture repair is what keeps the lights in his business.
Homeowners can email photos of their furniture to Abraham for estimates on repairs and refinishing projects.
Abraham does not provide pick-up and delivery service.
Q. What's the best thing about your job?
A. The customers are always happy.
Q. What is the best thing about Northeast Cobb?
A. The general level of income is appealing. I drive 22 miles back and forth from my home in Smyrna/Vinings area without regret. I think that there's enough work within a three mile radius of here to keep me busy.
Q. Why did you choose to open your business in Northeast Cobb?
A. The landlord has been my accountant for 22 years and he gave me a good price on rent. I'm paying about one-third of what it would cost in Atlanta for my 700 sq. ft.
Q. Why did you pick this kind of business?
A. I've been a woodworker since I was 19. I was good at three dimensional sculpture and had a flare for detail work. I specialize in classical designs. My favorite things to carve are animal heads, cats in particular.
Q. What are some of the services you offer that people may not know about?
A. I make custom carvings and custom wooden jewelry.
Q. When did you start your business?
A. I opened this shop in 2010.
Q. How did your business get started?
A. I've been refinishing and restoring furniture since 1988, I've worked on a lot of antiques. I stayed very busy in Buckhead. The work just kept rolling in until about 2007, when the antique restoration industry imploded.
This space next door to Little Caesars has helped me a lot. The foot traffic by my window has kept me going. I don't do any advertising.
Q. Is there anything else you'd like our readers to know?
A. I strive for excellence. I've got 30 years of furniture finishing and repair experience and 35 years wood carving experience. Right now shop rates are low, about half of regular refinishing shops because I have low overhead.
Michael Abraham, owner/artist
Woodlynx Woodcarving
2520 shallowford Rd
next to Little Caesars in Center Stage Plaza