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Carving out a new business message

A Stalybridge entrepreneur has launched a Kickstarter project to raise funds for his latest business idea.

Pete Lever set up his ‘Off the Cuff’ business in 2010, making cufflinks using items such as old watches, meteorite cuttings, fossils and fordite. He’s run a number of successful Kickstarter projects over that time, enabling him to establish the small workshop he currently operates from.

The 36-year-old’s latest venture is making permanent, metal message cards to help spread love and gratitude during this difficult time.

Pete explained: “It’s always nice to receive thanks, be it verbally or in writing, but people can easily forget the thanks or nice gestures they receive, so I want to help them become permanent.

“I also wanted to help raise people’s awareness about the importance of sending little messages as a few words here and there can mean a lot to people in times of need. 

“Ink fades and emails can be deleted. By setting the messages in metal, it gives them permanence and allows them to stay with someone for as long as they want it to.

“I initially started thinking about the project earlier in the year, with the emergence of #BeKind. I considered shelving this project due to coronavirus but decided that now, at a time when we cannot be with our friends, family or loved ones, messages of support, hope and thanks are more needed than ever.”

At 80mm x 50mm, the cards are the size of a bank card and are available in aluminium, copper or brass. There is space for a 225-character message (including spaces) which can be stamped horizontally or vertically. A black enamel filter can also be applied to the text to help it stand out.

The father-of-two, who is originally from Chadderton but now lives in Stalybridge, has been making the cards for friends and family for the past couple of years, mostly for special occasions, and they have encouraged him to start selling them.

“Every card will be planned and hand-stamped by either myself or a member of my team,” Pete added. “Using a small brass hammer and stainless steel stamps, the stamp is positioned and then struck. It is a labour-intensive process but this allows each card to be unique, as any heartfelt message should be.”

Pete is looking to raise £500 to expand the number of fonts available and obtain machinery to polish the cards when complete.

He said: “If the £500 target is met, it will enable me to offer rewards in the Bridgette, Typewriter and Deco fonts offered by ImpressArt. Should the target be surpassed, I will add additional fonts and these will be decided by giving backers the opportunity to vote on what they want me to add. I will even add Comic Sans if backers really want it!”

To find out more about the project and become a supporter, visit www.kickstarter.com/projects/petelever/handstamped-messages-that-will-last-a-lifetime.

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