Local business gets attention from across the globe

Backwoods Custom Framing has never before gotten noticed by people in the Middle East, but it looks like there really is a first time for everything.

The local business, which is located at 28761 Hay Creek Trail in Red Wing, recently received a call from a United States combat soldier currently deployed in Afghanistan. The man had a photo that his friend had taken of him while they were on duty that he wanted to get professionally framed.

“And he wanted some words that dedicated it to his mom engraved in the project,” explained Luann Brainard, who owns Backwoods with her husband, Jerry.

Although the soldier has no direct ties to the Red Wing area or Minnesota in general, he found Backwoods online and liked what he saw.

“He said, ‘You’re the only one that did what I wanted done,’” Brainard said.

He was looking to have his name, a message and a pair of American flags engraved in the mat around his photo — just one of the services Backwoods provides. The business can also do engravings in the glass of the frame.

“We engrave on the back of the glass so it’s smooth in the front and it doesn’t collect dust,” Brainard explained.

The soldier’s finished product features his 10-by-13-inch photo neatly arranged near a dedication to his mother, who lives on the West Coast. What’s more, he received a special deal by going to Backwoods.

“Anything that is military related, we offer a 20 percent discount,” Brainard said. “It’s just our thank you.”

The finished product will soon be mailed to Oregon, arriving just in time for the upcoming holiday season.

“They make wonderful Christmas gifts,” Brainard noted.

Apparently her overseas customer was thinking the exact same thing.

Tags: red wing, military, news