An interview with Daniel Decouvreur of BoisLuxe in Quinte West.
Briefly describe your business.
I provide custom works of art at affordable prices. Turning once beloved trees into family landmarks. Why remove a stump, when it can be transformed into a garden sculpture! You can find my work along roadsides throughout Quinte, Northumberland, and Prince Edward County. You can also follow my carving journey on Instagram, @dg13.sculpture.
What brought you to the region?
Before relocating to Quinte West, I had gathered no moss. There was always a cool opportunity on the horizon, and many horizons worth adventuring. ‘Staying put,’ has meant creating my own opportunities; no longer tilting at horizons. I fell in love with Quinte West from the start. I saw a place where ideas could be kindled alight: where a future could be made if I just stayed put. This is where I met the love of my life and married her. It’s where I found family, community, and that “hometown feeling.” I bought a home here, started a business, and even won a local trivia league. It’s a good place to gather moss.
What makes the Bay of Quinte a good fit for your business?
The Bay of Quinte has welcomed me with open arms. From my first creation as a business (the big hummingbird east of Brighton on hwy 2) I’ve experienced the warmest outpouring of support and kindness. People around the Bay of Quinte hold a not-so-secret love for outdoor spaces. We love driving past a property that we’ve been driving by for decades, only to find it different now: made more special with a loving addition. I feel my sculptures fulfill that need to apply our hearts to the outside world. I supply the skills, but the residents of the region are bursting with inspiration.
What was the hardest thing about starting a business?
The unexpected. When a schedule becomes your lifeline, and your lifeline gets twisted into knots. A freak windstorm, car troubles, a pandemic… You might be driving home to a flooded house one night… Things you just can’t plan for. Scheduling the unexpected has been a constant challenge for me. It’s something you can only learn by doing, and only react to as it crops up. How a business manages the unexpected can mean the difference between floating and sinking. Because there’s no way to prepare for all the things that might happen.
What advice do you have for entrepreneurs in the area?
Community is what carries you. Work on forging relationships and making smiles. You would be surprised who still remembers you if for a moment, years ago, you made that person smile. Treat every stranger as a neighbour and always be source of joy, whenever possible. You’ll find friends where none were counted before and supporters popping out of the woodwork. Each will be eager to promote your effort with a passion to rival your own. And your successes will be greater in the end also! For your successes will be theirs too.
How do you like to spend your days off?
My favourite night of the week is always, Date Night! My wife and I work long hours and our schedules rarely meet. Except on Date Night. Some of our favourite haunts include, Gogi Korean Grill, Wahoo Bar and Grill, and Red’s Diner. After food, we usually end up strolling through Hanna Park or Mt Pelion, or down by the Trent Port Marina. It’s all within a five minute drive or bike ride.
If you could have one word tattooed on your, what would it be?
Hazel-rah! (If you loved reading, Watership Down, you’ll understand)
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