Today we’d like to introduce you to Yuvraj Windlass.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My story with this business begins with my late grandfather, Mr. Ved Prakash Windlass. After moving to my father’s hometown in Dehradun, India, my grandfather started a small cutlery firm in 1943 supplying kukris to the British Gurkha Regiments. This business kept expanding throughout South Asia, and during that time the next generation entered the business. Through the 70s and 80s, the company landed in the USA and started supplying to Atlanta Cutlery Corporation. We developed a close partnership with the founder of the company, Bill Adams, and were supplying sabers to the US Marine Corps. By 1995 my grandfather’s company, Windlass Steelcrafts, acquired Atlanta Cutlery – including the subsidiary Museum Replicas Ltd. Since then we have expanded the business and supplied sabers to the US Marines, US Air Force, Colombian Police, and various other governments around the world. We made licensed products such as high-quality Star Wars outfits, clothing items from the Harry Potter series, and armor for movies like Braveheart, Gladiator, and Kingdom of Heaven. Now I, the third generation to be a part of this family business, have entered the business and work alongside my father. My family worked very hard to create a company that captures the imaginations of so many people. I have always had the dream to carry on my family’s legacy and the legacy of prominent people in the history of Atlanta Cutlery including Mr. Bill Adams and Mr. Hank Reinhardt.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Atlanta Cutlery Corp has been around for 46 years. We have always been a mail order catalog company. With my specialization in software, I have been directing the company to move towards prioritizing the web. Changes, however, are not so easy to implement. Once, we were always ahead of the game with our web presence. But now with the increased competition and numerous sellers, having visibility on the internet has become more difficult than it used to be. We’ve been making some great improvements to our online front and expect to provide visitors to our site a much nicer experience. We also have had to compete with cheaply-made swords and armor, with some companies even selling counterfeit merchandise. We had to warn our customers to look out for such items and expect better quality. We’ve sent letters from our lawyers to those manufacturers and sellers as well. We have a reputation for quality that we must uphold and cannot let competitors bring that down.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Atlanta Cutlery – what should we know?
I am extremely proud of the resource we’ve become on the state level. We are in a position to support local organizations and the community at large through sponsorships, internships, and careers. Our business brings a proud heritage and higher profile to the area with our additional focus on film & TV productions. We provide prop and costume support for Vampire Diaries, The Originals, Walking Dead, Constantine, Sleepy Hollow, Lore and various commercials and movies that shoot in the Atlanta area. The entertainment industry not only relies on us for product, but for our research and expertise in historical products for authenticity.
This puts us in a unique position at times to acquire consumer product licenses which allow us to recreate many of the iconic costumes and own replica props as seen on the big screen from hits like Star Wars, Harry Potter, Gone With The Wind, 300, Conan, Marvel, and Robin Hood. Our latest foray into licensing is with the Frank Frazetta Art Museum. Bringing stunning art to life is a real joy.
Our expertise continues all the way to the military community. We’ve been the largest and are the current supplier for NCO sabers to the USMC along with other military colleges and academies which is something we are particularly proud of. You only get awarded this work if it meets the military’s strict standards.
Lastly, it’s important to note this doesn’t happen alone, but by surrounding myself with good people that understand a common vision, only then can we accomplish even greater things and we hope to mean even more to the greater ATL and GA. Many of the staff have been with us a decade or longer.
By the way, please stop by our showroom and say hi, I know you’ll find the history, props, and costumes brought to life very interesting!
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I believe respect and patience can take someone very far, but those alone are insufficient in bringing an individual success. Empathy has been a characteristic that I have always tried to exhibit, and I attribute it to my success in leadership. Understanding the issues my co-workers face has led our company to provide a nurturing and supportive work environment for everyone. We are a family, and treat everyone with the greatest respect. That is how we are able to be so passionate and creative with our products.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2147 Gees Mill Rd NE, Conyers, GA 30013
- Website: AtlantaCutlery.com
- Phone: (800) 883-8838
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AtlantaCutleryCorp/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/atlantacutlery
- Other: MuseumReplicas.com
Image Credit:
Atlanta Cutlery Corp.
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