In this monthly series, we take a closer look at what’s most important here at SwellPath, our clients. This series isn’t about us or the work we do but rather all about our clients and the amazing work they’re doing. First in the Client Profile series is our long-time client, Rejuvenation.
Founded in 1977 as an architectural salvage store, Rejuvenation is America’s premier manufacturer of authentic reproduction lighting and house parts. All of Rejuvenation’s products are made-to-order via their catalog, website, and retail stores in Portland and Seattle.
We recently visited Rejuvenation’s manufacturing factory right here in the neighborhood and got a rare glimpse at the inner workings of a skilled craftsman process and a business driven by it’s core values.
Commitment to Quality
It was clear from the beginning that producing the highest quality, handcrafted products is the crux of Rejuvenation’s business . Skilled craftsmen meticulously piece together every product, with unique workstations and individual tools. Each fixture is finished by hand.
Inspiration for each piece is derived from their roots as a salvage store in the 70′s. An entire room is dedicated to restoring old light fixtures and driving new reproduction product lines. See all of the photos from our tour here.
Commitment to Sustainable Manufacturing
Rejuvenation operates its manufacturing processes according to a structure that supports sustainability and a dedication to minimizing their impact on the environment. Among their efforts, they’ve designed and implemented a closed-loop water recycling system that extracts heavy metals from the manufacturing process water for safe disposal. They also use 100% recyclable packaging materials to ship product, much of which is recycled office paper.
It’s great to see a business that understands that sustainable business practices are as great for the environment as they are economical. Read more about their footprint.
Commitment to Community
Rejuvenation also has an outstanding commitment to the local community. Ever year, they donate ten percent of their after tax profits to organizations that help support vibrant, sustainable communities. These are primarily non-profits in the areas of environmental conservation, historic preservation, the arts, and equal access to housing.
Rejuvenation’s business is built on a commitment to great products and socially responsible business practices. They are a great example of business done the right way and their retails stores are a must stop for any homeowner.
If you have the slightest interest in WordPress, content management systems, blogging, or the Portland tech community you should definitely make it to WordCamp Portland on September 18th and 19th. The event is an absolute steal at $40! You’ll get a chance to see and hear presentations on a fantastic variety of subjects, in a classic casually-brilliant Portland environment. My talk is on analytics, of course. The title is Measure Twice, Blog Once, and it will cover a variety of methods and tools that can help you get more actionable data on your WordPress site. The list of WordCamp Portland speakers and registration for WordCamp Portland. Hope to see you there!
o rally some votes for Erin’s proposed panel for SXSW in 2011: 
