ARTHUR Harriott always had a passion for artistic metalwork.

He would dabble with it on the side when working in the construction of heavy duty metal structures.

But when he was made redundant at his job over a decade ago, he decided to refine his skills.

Still it would take another six years, doing odd jobs while maintaining full-time employment, before he would establish Arthur’s Metal and Fabrication.

Five years on, he makes grilles, staircase railings and furniture out of mild steel and wrought iron at his shop in Harbour View. He also has a showroom at Dulrich Drive in Kingston.

“I put everything in it now,” said Harriott, who prides himself on the unique, artistic finishes he creates.

He now has up to four employees, who he has trained to take up most of the work, even though he still gets his hands dirty.

And seasonally, mostly in the second half of the year, when he gets more orders for furniture, such as outdoor garden sets, he takes on contractors to handle the additional load.

The company sells it wares and services to businesses and households, but most of the jobs — two-thirds of which is in grille work — are done to order.

And up to now, the business has been getting most of its jobs by word-of-mouth advertising.

But the marketing push, which he started late last year, has helped boost the company’s sales.

“Last year was tougher than this year,” said Harriott. “Since the start of the year start, it has been better for me.”

A trade show at Devon House late last year, print advertising through the circulation of flyers, and television appearances on morning programmes have all played a role, according to Arthur’s marketing executive, Mark Williams, who said that the company has also incorporated social media in its advertising.

Now, Harriott has found that he is getting more business outside of Kingston — westward in the parish of St Elizabeth to the eastern parish of Portland.

He hopes to get more exposure for his wrought-iron furniture and unique finsihes through marketing, and when he grows some more, he expects that he will be able to acquire additional equipment and tools to make more refined finishes and a greater variety of products.

The businessman, who got his start in construction, believes his business may go into heavy-duty steel work used in structures.