Death of a friend inspired Blackpool man to start funeral caskets business

Jarek Wawryk has started Wooden Urns of Distinction, making caskets and urns for ashes following cremations.

Jarek, 49, has lived and worked in Blackpool for 14 years, doing jobs that have mainly used his carpentry skills.

One of his close friends, Jan Slobodzian in Opole, Poland, made and supplied caskets and Jarek helped him find customers in the UK via independent funeral homes. But a few years later, Jan was suddenly taken ill and died.

Jarek was extremely upset and contacted the businesses they had been supplying. Many were sorry to hear the news but asked if he knew of alternative suppliers.

After much worrying about whether continuing the business would seem disrespectful, Jarek decided that he would like to honour his friend’s memory and continue the working relationships that they had worked so hard to build.

He decided to use his skills to make the urns himself . He had hand tools but no large machines to make quality items at scale.

He said: “I was struggling to find how I could fund my new business. A friend mentioned the Get Started team at Blackpool Council. I met one of the team’s Small Business Advisers and she helped me through the process of putting a written business plan and financial forecast together in order to apply for a government start-up loan.”

The application was successful and he used the money to invest in the machines he needed and secure a workshop off Highfield Road.

Now he is working to build the business to the point where he can give up his part-time job at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and concentrate fully on producing his caskets, keepsakes, candleholders and grave markers for the funeral market. He’s also applying his woodworking skills to new markets, crafting beautiful items in wood for boutique shops and private hotels.

He has customers up and down the UK, including Preston Council and Northwich Council crematoria.

He added: “I’m absolutely determined to build the business to honour my friend. Ideally, in the future, I would like to take on an apprentice and a member of staff. Providing work for local people would be a great achievement that I would be very proud of.”

Coun Mark Smith, Cabinet Member for Business, Enterprise and Job Creation, said: “I am delighted that once again the Get Started team has been able to provide advice and support to a local start-up business.

"Jarek is just one of many entrepreneurs choosing to launch their business in and around Blackpool and it’s exciting to feel the energy and dynamism in the area.

“I wish Jarek every success with his business and would encourage anyone thinking about starting a new venture to give our business team a call.”