Entrepreneur's glass engravings help celebrate Hollywood deal

Shawn Woods just got a huge order at his glass engraving business in Juneau.

Woods’ excitement was contagious as he pulled out a delicate glass replica of the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy: Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon.

“It’s a beast,” Woods said. “Detail-wise, and considering the components, it’s one of the most intricate orders I’ve done.”

Soon 40 palm-sized crystal spaceships will arrive from a factory in China at Woods’ Juneau home, out of which he operates NSEW Awards. Once received, Woods will complete the engraving and personalizing; each Millennium Falcon will take six to seven hours to complete. The order will then be shipped off to a client that is commemorating its role in merging one of America’s most beloved film enterprises with the largest media conglomerate in the world.

Woods’ client is Ernst and Young, the accounting firm that helped finalize the deal that made Lucasfilm Limited, LLC — best known for the Star Wars and Indiana Jones films — a part of The Walt Disney Company.

The order is a big step for Woods, who started his business only 14 months ago and is based in the most expensive city in Alaska. But it’s that “Made in Alaska” status that brings in business, Woods said.

“My clients in New York love it,” Woods said. “They just think it’s the greatest thing ever.”

Nearly all of his business comes from the Lower 48, but Woods is hoping to do more work for clients closer to home. He’s started to offer his services through two Juneau businesses: Creative Source and Juneau Rubber Stamp Company.

“My ultimate goal is to expand here,” Woods said. “That’s where I’m trying to go.”

• Contact reporter Jennifer Canfield at 523-2279 or at jennifer.canfield@juneauempire.com.

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