Spotlight: Webb's Welding brings original designs to life

The elegant wrought-iron, four-poster bed looks like it came straight off the cover of a Harlequin romance novel. To the right of the bed is an elaborate and stately gate, which will someday grace the entrance of an elegant home. Several unusual, custom-made balcony railings line another wall.

The detail on each piece from the bed to the balcony railings is remarkable. In fact, it's hard to imagine that a blowtorch created these works of art.

David and Linda Webb, owners of Webb's Welding and Or-namental Supply, create and sell decorative but oh-so-sturdy works of iron. The couple started their business in 1997 shortly after they moved to Rog-ersville from Nashville, Tenn.

Initially, the Webbs ran their business out of their home's garage. David Webb handled all the welding work while Linda kept the company's books.

At first, Webb's Welding did everything from pre-fabrication work to machinery repair. Over time, however, the Webbs were able to steer their business in the direction they wanted, and they began producing more ornamental welding work, which now accounts for more than 90 percent of the company's business.

"Our motto is, We'll weld anything,'" said David Webb. "We do custom handrails, gates, mailboxes, balconies, ornamental furniture and accessories you name it."

David Webb designs much of the ornamental furniture produced by the company, such as beds, coffee tables and chandeliers.

Sometimes a customer will bring in a design or describe an idea they have for a piece of furniture. Once the details are nailed down, David Webb or one of the shop's three full-time employees will execute the piece.

Before production begins on a piece of custom ornamental furniture, the Webbs sign a contract that states they will never reproduce it. When the piece is finished, the customer's name is etched on it, producing a one-of-a-kind family heirloom.

Webb's Welding frequently works in partnership with several other area businesses to manufacture custom furnishings. Advantage Stone and American Glass, both of which are located in Springfield, provide the stone and glass needed to make the coffee tables Webb's Welding designs and produces.

Several other area businesses provide the wood needed to make handrails, balcony railings, hutches or other home furnishings.

"All of our suppliers and the businesses we work in partnership with are located in the Springfield area," said David Webb. "We do that because we want the money our customers spend to stay here in the local economy."

The one thing that hasn't stayed local, however, is the Webbs' customer base. That customer base includes individual consumers, professional welders, interior design professionals, architects and home builders located throughout the United States.

Although Webb's Welding has many national customers, much of the company's work is done for customers who live within a 120-mile radius of Rogersville.

In fact, many of the homes in Springfield's upscale neighborhoods, such as Millwood and Emerald Park, contain ornamental welding work produced by Webb's Welding.

According to Linda Webb, the company has been able to attract many local customers because it maintains a broad inventory of decorative component parts. For example, Webb's Welding stocks a large number of wrought-iron rails, which can be used to make stair, balcony or deck railings.

"Most places will make you pick what you want out of a catalog, and then you'll have to pay for the shipping," said Linda Webb. "We always keep a lot of decorative component parts on hand. That helps our customers save money because they can come out here, get what they need right away and not pay any shipping costs. Once they get the parts they need, they can assemble everything themselves, hire a welder to do it for them, or hire us to assemble it."

Although Webb's Welding stocks a wide variety of decorative iron, the Webbs are quick to point out that every product they manufacture is custom.

"Yes, we stock a lot of parts, but it's the way we assemble those parts and add to them that makes each of our products unique," Linda Webb said. "For instance, right now, we're using some of the component parts we have in stock to make a bed. The headboard will have metal and rock in it and be backlit so the rock, which is somewhat translucent, will have a subtle glow."

In April 2001, Webb's Weld-ing relocated to 11 White Oak Road in Rogersville, just off Highway 60. The Webbs said their new location, which spans more than 6,000 square feet, will serve them well in coming years as they continue to expand their inventory and do more decorative ironwork.

Webb's Welding also is planning to distribute its products through Springfield Lighting and Dcor. This will enable customers to view the company's decorative iron products, such as baker's racks, corner pieces, tables, beds, chandeliers and other home furnishings, in a showroom setting.