They Create Concrete Heroes And Farm Livestock Statues
For the past 20 years, “heroes” and livestock have filled Dave Speedling’s shop that once housed his farm repair business. They represent just a few of the more than 2,000 concrete statue designs that he and his wife, Shelly, offer customers through their business, SVJ Creative Designs.
The statues are poured, finished and sold from the Kellogg, Minn., business to retail, internet and wholesale customers. They purchased molds from a former North Dakota statue business. Hero statues of military, firemen, paramedics and policemen are particularly popular. A small female soldier and kneeling male soldier (copyrighted by the Speedlings) have become more popular recently. Cities, fire departments, police departments and Legions are the typical customers who purchase the life size versions ($3,500) for memorials. Schools purchase mascot and bench statuary. Individuals order smaller statues for homes and businesses.
Besides the popular stock molds they pour twice a week, the Speedlings take custom orders, such as a fireman tribute for Superior, Wis., and are also working with board members of Poseidon’s Playground for an underwater memorial for divers in Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Their most famous sale was life-size hero statues and eagles to Don King, the prizefighter promoter.
“Shelly talks to customers to get exactly what they want. She gets measurements and all the details to be able to give them accurate bids and pricing,” Speedling explains. “She also handles freight and project estimates.”
He admits he is very fussy about details, so the couple only works with one sculptor and a couple of mold companies in the U.S. that they know do quality work. Employees (Don, Norm, Sandy, Joe and Pete) are very knowledgeable, too. Statues are made strong, 6,000 psi, with rebar and fiberglass reinforcement, to withstand freezing and thawing cycles in cold climates, which is above the strength made by most concrete businesses in the southern states.
“People choose concrete for longevity and northern-made concrete is good,” he says.
He credits a FARM SHOW article he read more than 20 years ago for helping him design and build an I-beam overhead hoist to flip over 1,500-lb. life-size concrete-filled molds.
The Speedlings offer a variety of finishes including hand-smoothed to two-toned to detail-painted. They design and make molds for simple items like stepping stones and memorials. Prices start at $12 for stepping-stones and go up to $5,000 for detail painted, life-size statues.
In the midst of farm country, they offer a variety of livestock statues that can be painted as different breeds. Among the painters are Shelly and a retired police chief.
“Statuary has been popular for gift giving, for weddings, birthdays and Christmas. Customers can paint their own statuary if they choose, purchase from our stock models, or custom order months in advance,” Speedling notes. “Bears, eagles and wolves are top sellers.”
You can check out the inventory on SVJ’s website, or stop in and wander through the yard and the 5,000-sq. ft. shop filled with statues, Speedling says.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, SVJ Creative Designs, 62099 Hwy. 42, Kellogg, Minn. 55945 (ph 507 767-3039 or 877 767-3039; www.svjcreativedesigns.us; info@svjcreativedesigns.com; www.facebookom/svjcreativedesigns).
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They Create Concrete Heroes And Farm Livestock Statues LIVESTOCK Miscellaneous For the past 20 years “heroes” and livestock have filled Dave Speedling’s shop that once housed his farm repair business They represent just a few of the more than 2 000 concrete statue designs that he and his wife Shelly offer customers through their business SVJ Creative Designs The statues are poured finished and sold from the Kellogg Minn business to retail internet and wholesale customers They purchased molds from a former North Dakota statue business Hero statues of military firemen paramedics and policemen are particularly popular A small female soldier and kneeling male soldier copyrighted by the Speedlings have become more popular recently Cities fire departments police departments and Legions are the typical customers who purchase the life size versions $3 500 for memorials Schools purchase mascot and bench statuary Individuals order smaller statues for homes and businesses Besides the popular stock molds they pour twice a week the Speedlings take custom orders such as a fireman tribute for Superior Wis and are also working with board members of Poseidon’s Playground for an underwater memorial for divers in Gulf Shores Alabama Their most famous sale was life-size hero statues and eagles to Don King the prizefighter promoter “Shelly talks to customers to get exactly what they want She gets measurements and all the details to be able to give them accurate bids and pricing ” Speedling explains “She also handles freight and project estimates ” He admits he is very fussy about details so the couple only works with one sculptor and a couple of mold companies in the U S that they know do quality work Employees Don Norm Sandy Joe and Pete are very knowledgeable too Statues are made strong 6 000 psi with rebar and fiberglass reinforcement to withstand freezing and thawing cycles in cold climates which is above the strength made by most concrete businesses in the southern states “People choose concrete for longevity and northern-made concrete is good ” he says He credits a FARM SHOW article he read more than 20 years ago for helping him design and build an I-beam overhead hoist to flip over 1 500-lb life-size concrete-filled molds The Speedlings offer a variety of finishes including hand-smoothed to two-toned to detail-painted They design and make molds for simple items like stepping stones and memorials Prices start at $12 for stepping-stones and go up to $5 000 for detail painted life-size statues In the midst of farm country they offer a variety of livestock statues that can be painted as different breeds Among the painters are Shelly and a retired police chief “Statuary has been popular for gift giving for weddings birthdays and Christmas Customers can paint their own statuary if they choose purchase from our stock models or custom order months in advance ” Speedling notes “Bears eagles and wolves are top sellers ” You can check out the inventory on SVJ’s website or stop in and wander through the yard and the 5 000-sq ft shop filled with statues Speedling says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup SVJ Creative Designs 62099 Hwy 42 Kellogg Minn 55945 ph 507 767-3039 or 877 767-3039; www svjcreativedesigns us; info@svjcreativedesigns com; www facebookom/svjcreativedesigns
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