7 Things you probably didn't know about Black Fox Metalcraft

1. We do not use AI whatsoever… When you browse our website, all the photos you see are real and taken by us, all the content is genuine and written by us. Most importanly, all the products you see are things we have actually made. We’re not anti AI, but there is a time and a place for it and our website is not it. We’re genuine makers, and that’s how we want to come across.

2. Though we are now based in the beautiful Scottish Borders countryside, Black Fox was initially set up in the middle of Manchester, where we both grew up. Our first workshop was on the edge of the Rochdale canal, and was part of a Victorian laundry - we worked there for ten years. 

3. Before we had the twins and dog, we took a month out of Black Fox and drove our old fiat panda across Europe to Russia. We’re definitely off the beaten track sort of travellers – we’ll never be found by a hotel pool full of other British people! We are currently doing up a 40 year old camper van and look forward to further exploring the Scottish highlands and Islands, maybe even get it on a ferry to the continent if that goes well.
 

4. It’s written all over our website that we electroplate all of our work as standard, setting finish on our weathervanes and signs apart from the vast majority of our competitors. But in order to do this, it’s a  4.30am get up and a lot of coffees for a 3 hour journey to Manchester, but it's so worth the effort for knowing we are selling genuinely quality products that will last.

5. We’re currently working from a rented workshop in the beautiful Borthwick valley, but have planning permission to build a straw bale home and workshop on a small riverside plot of land just outside of Hawick.

6. My favourite orders to make are custom farm signs, I love it when people send me pictures of their collies to create bespoke designs from. They’re such incredible dogs  and you can see so much of their personalities just from their stance. It’s also an excuse to get the forge out, to create the hand made scrolls for the hanging bracket.

7. Ultra discounted sites such as Temu along with AI and ‘Black Friday season’ are crippling small businesses like Black Fox Metalcraft. Our website gets lost under a sea of flashing discount banners and AI generated images. We simply do not have the advertising revenue to compete, and that’s why this year we will be doing things differently. You’ll find us out selling our work at local craft fairs and other events, supporting other makers and hopefully having a really nice time!