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Vigilant Inc. Protecting Your Passions |
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Press Releases
A small selection of press releases Vigilant has produced over the last few years. Vigilant constantly strives to maintain cutting edge technology and to stay apprised of the latest developments in the wine storage, cigar storage and gun storage industries. Our press releases are just one way that we report the latest happenings in the industry and within the company.
| September 2012 | Contact: Media Relations (603) 285-0416 |
Vigilant Woodworks provides custom wine cabinets for Portsmouth's newest waterside restaurant
Dover, NH – The Martingale Wharf Club occupies a stretch of Bow Street with views of tugboats and river traffic in historic downtown Portsmouth. The new waterfront restaurant opened its doors last month with two distinct indoor dining rooms and the area's largest waterfront deck, overlooking the Piscataqua River.
Owners Mark McNabb and Joe Baroni knew they would offer an extensive wine list, but needed a space-saving alternative to a standard wine cellar. They looked to Vigilant Woodworks of Dover for wine storage options that could accommodate a collection of nearly 2,000 bottles at perfect serving temperatures, including both red and white wines.
Working with Architect Kathy Jackson of McHenry Architecture, Vigilant's designers came up with a bank of refrigerated wine cabinets and storage bins that stretches 24 feet long and includes an arched decanting counter, LED lighting, and display racks to show off individual bottles. The result is both attractive and functional, occupying one wall of the dining area of the restaurant.
Vigilant's woodworking craftsmen used mahogany and zebrawood in the construction of the cabinets. The doors have custom-etched glass with the Wharf logo, a pair of sails. Inside the cabinets are diamond storage bins, individual bottle cubes, and solid mahogany display shelves. The unit is cooled by a remote ducted cooling system that provides dual temperature zones for red and white wines.
With an eclectic menu featuring fresh seafood and local fare paired with perfectly stored fine wine, the Martingale Wharf Club promises a "fantastic time on the Piscataqua." Customers will soon be able to visit by land or water. McNabb and Baroni have received city authorization to expand the dock area in front of the restaurant so they can cater to boat traffic.
About Vigilant Woodworks
Vigilant Woodworks is a premier manufacturer of fine wood products specializing in high–end wine storage and cigar storage furniture and displays for both residential and commercial settings. Vigilant designs and manufactures cigar humidors, cigar cabinets, wine cellars, wine racks, wine cellar doors, and wine cellar cabinetry. Designed and built in the USA, all of Vigilant's products are backed with the industry's best warranty. For more information, call 888–812–4427 or visit vigilantinc.com or vigilantwoodworks.com.
| April 2012 | Contact: Media Relations (603) 285-0400 |
Vigilant Woodworks of Dover Receives Award from the Better Business Bureau
Award honors businesses for three successive years without a consumer complaint
Dover, NH – Vigilant Woodworks, a Dover manufacturer of custom millwork and cabinetry, was presented the "Perfect Record Award" at the 2012 Torch Award ceremony on Tuesday, May 8, at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester. Exemplary business practices with customers, workers and vendors earned Vigilant this distinction.
"The purpose of the Torch Awards is to recognize businesses that are committed to maintaining the highest level of ethical conduct and service to their customers, employees, suppliers and communities," said Robert Shomphe, President and CEO of New Hampshire BBB.
"We're proud to be recognized by the Better Business Bureau for our business practices," said Vigilant's president and owner Charles Griffiths. "We've always been committed to producing quality products that our customers are proud to own. We earn their trust by conducting our business with honesty and integrity."
Vigilant Woodworks has long been a BBB accredited company with an A+ rating. The company was founded in early January 1995 by company president Charlie Griffiths in his Portsmouth, New Hampshire garage. Although Vigilant's origins were in cigar-cabinet building, as the company grew, the product line grew with it. In its first 10 years, the business expanded from two employees to almost 40 and now manufactures fine handcrafted cigar and wine cabinets, wine cellar racks and doors and other specialty millwork. An in-house design team and a crew of skilled woodworkers also provide custom millwork for New England building projects. The company manufactures all of their products in a 40,000- square-foot woodworking facility on the west side of Dover.
About Vigilant Woodworks
Vigilant Woodworks is a premier manufacturer of fine wood products specializing in high–end wine storage and cigar storage furniture and displays for both residential and commercial settings. We design and manufacture cigar humidors, cigar cabinets, wine cellars, wine racks, wine cellar doors, and wine cellar cabinetry. Designed and built in the USA, all of Vigilant's products are backed with the industry's best warranty. For more information, call 888–812–4427 or visit vigilantinc.com or vigilantwoodworks.com.
| April 2012 | Contact: Media Relations (603) 285-0400 |
Vigilant Woodworks of Dover Gives D.C.'s Oldest Tobacco Shop a New Look
Dover, NH – Vigilant Woodworks, a local manufacturer of fine cabinetry and woodwork, was selected to design and build the interior displays and shelving units for the new home of Washington D.C.'s oldest tobacco shop. Vigilant specializes in attractive short- and long-term storage solutions for fine wines and cigars.
W. Curtis Draper, third oldest tobacconist in the U.S., made the best of a bad situation when they had to move out of the DC location where they had done business for 20 years. Their new location, next to the White House gift shop, is twice as spacious as the old store, and features Vigilant Woodworks' custom-designed mahogany millwork and cigar display cases — along with a walk-in cigar humidor.
Superior expertise in fine cabinetry and cigar storage made Vigilant Woodworks a natural choice to manufacture the new store's interior displays, counters, and cigar storage solutions. Vigilant's designers worked with owner Matt Krimm and D.C.-based project designer and architect, Elizabeth Hafner from Collective Architecture, to create an impressive entrance and shopping space designed to be both inviting and comfortable.
“Ironically, the challenges of the last few months have led us to create a space that will allow us to carry more product and provide a better experience for our clientele, said Krimm. As the saying goes, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.”
Wood-and-glass display cabinets constructed of Moabi mahogany give the shop a "gentleman's store" look. Spanish cedar shelving displays the desktop humidors and other premium cigar and pipe products. The cabinets are humidified with custom Guardian electronic humidification systems, and there is a walk“in humidor for storage of the extensive fine cigar collection. Stylish seating areas were added to accommodate up to ten shoppers, a luxury they couldn't have in the smaller store.
About Vigilant Woodworks
Vigilant Woodworks is a premier manufacturer of fine wood products specializing in high–end wine storage and cigar storage furniture and displays for both residential and commercial settings. We design and manufacture cigar humidors, cigar cabinets, wine cellars, wine racks, wine cellar doors, and wine cellar cabinetry. Designed and built in the USA, all of Vigilant's products are backed with the industry's best warranty. For more information, call 888–812–4427 or visit vigilantinc.com or vigilantwoodworks.com.
About W. Curtis Draper
W. Curtis Draper Tobacconist was founded in 1887 by William Curtis Draper. It is the oldest full service tobacconist in the District of Columbia and the third oldest in the United States. Drapers offers a full array of cigars, pipes, pipe tobacco, and smoking accessories to a national clientele.
| October 2011 | Contact: Media Relations (603) 285-0400 |
Refrigerated Cabinets Elegantly Showcase Virginia
Country Club’s Wine Collection
-Vigilant Woodworks Recognized for Award’Winning Project’
Vigilant Woodworks worked in conjunction with Lyall Design Architects of Norfolk, Va. to meet the country club’s needs, involving two distinct wine storage areas. A dual zone, conditioned wine cabinet was designed and installed in the lobby area to showcase the house wine selection. The mahogany cabinet has a custom finish to blend seamlessly with the club’s surrounding millwork and stores 504 bottles of wine.
For the second half of the project, Cavalier needed a way to house members’ individual wine collections. Two banks of conditioned wine lockers were designed and installed in the private dining room for this purpose. The 68 mahogany wine lockers, complete with a custom finish, hold 16 bottles each.
The Cavalier Golf &Yacht Club project was recognized by the Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate (HRACRE) with an Award of Excellence in the ’Best Interior’ category. Vigilant Woodworks enjoyed partnering with Lyall Design Architects on this highly successful venture.
"As you can see by the results, the addition of wine lockers and the wine cabinet as designed and crafted by Vigilant, was the crowning component to an elegant clubhouse renovation," states John Milleson, General Manager at Cavalier Golf & Yacht Club. "Their staff was a pleasure to work with throughout, from conceptual design through installation. We will work with Vigilant and refer them to others."
Vigilant Woodworks’ refrigerated wine cabinets and wine lockers are built using the finest craftsmanship and climate–control technology available. They feature quiet, vibration’free operation and heirloom quality storage for residential or commercial settings. Refrigerated wine cabinets and lockers are available with many options including single or multiple temperature zones, custom sizes, finishes and lighting.
About Vigilant Woodworks
Vigilant Woodworks is a premier design/build firm specializing in high–end wine storage, wine cellars, cigar storage equipment and architectural millwork for residential and commercial applications. All of our products are built to the exact specifications of our customers in our New England facility and are backed with the industry’s best warranty. For more information, call 888–812–4427 or visit vigilantinc.com or vigilantwoodworks.com.
| October 2011 | Contact: Media Relations (603) 285-0400 |
Pining for Beauty in Wine Storage Options
By Scott Szycher
Assistant Director, Green Alliance
Dover, NH – Mahogany is revered for its versatility, richness, and beauty, but that quality can come at a high price. It must also be transported from forests thousands of miles away, making mahogany one of the less "green" options when it comes to wood species.
New Englanders are fortunate; we’ve got an abundance of pine, another type of wood that grows naturally across our forests. It also provides a similar level of beauty at a far lower cost.
It’s because of pine’s beauty, workability, and affordability that led Green Cabinetworks, a premier design/build firm specializing in high-end wine and cigar storage, to integrate this venerable wood as an option in their wine racking product lines.
"We wanted to offer wine racking and other products made of pine that meets our customers’ high standards, but are still affordable," said Green Cabinetworks President Charles Griffiths. Most people may be surprised to learn that pine doesn’t just look good; it’s easy to work with across a variety of products.
"Pine takes stain and lacquer well, and is very reliable," mentioned Stefanie Phillips, Green Cabinetworks Marketing Specialist. "Plus, it’s very easy for our craftsmen to build beautiful wine racking and other wine storage products that blend seamlessly into homes with a rustic New England or classic American style."
But it’s not just any pine that Green Cabinetworks utilizes; they take pains to source the highest quality clear northern white pine grown in New England for use in all their products, including racks, bins, casework, accessories, and packages." Just based on looks, you wouldn’t know that pine costs, on average, 20% less than mahogany," noted Phillips. "And it’s because it’s harvested in New England, we know we’re maintaining regional jobs, and reducing our products’ carbon footprint."
It’s that commitment to sustainability and localization that led Green Cabinetworks to join the Green Alliance, which connects green businesses with the burgeoning eco-conscious communities in New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts. The Green Alliance also sells memberships to the public that provides discounts at Green Cabinetworks and 90 other businesses across the region.
The testimonials of Green Cabinetworks’ customers often provide the best insight into the superior value that pine provides. "My husband and I are so pleased with the work Green Cabinetworks did," exclaimed one New Hampshire homeowner. "Our pine wine cellar is gorgeous, and our neighbors were really surprised on how little we had to spend for such aesthetic value."
For more information visit Green Cabinetworks at www.greencabinetworks.com or the Green Alliance at www.greenalliance.biz.
See the Green Alliance online article.
| Spring 2011 | Contact: Media Relations (603) 285-0400 |
Vigilant Woodworks Introduces Clear Northern White Pine Wine Racks
High Quality, Superior Value & Quick Delivery
Dover, NH – A new affordable wine storage option is here. Vigilant Woodworks recently introduced Northern White Pine items to their Classic, Estate and Modular product lines. As a new standard in wine storage for budget conscious consumers, pine wine racks are available as kit or custom designed items to complement any wine cellar design.
Made from the highest quality clear northern white pine grown in New England, Vigilant Woodworks offers a variety of individual racks, bins, casework, accessories and packages. These wine racks are available in both Classic or Estate height and cost, on average, 20 percent less than mahogany.
"We wanted to offer pine wine racking that meets the high standards of our customers, but is still affordable," states Charles Griffiths, President of Vigilant Woodworks. "Pine is an economical alternative to mahogany that still provides a quality wine rack material."
Pine is a good choice for wine racking because it is strong, durable and provides superior value in long-term storage. Vigilant Woodworks’ pine racking is available with the same stains and lacquer as their other racking lines, offering an attractive finish. They feature the same quality and craftsmanship that Vigilant Woodworks is known for throughout the wine storage industry.
About Vigilant Woodworks
Vigilant Woodworks is a premier design/build firm specializing in high-end wine storage and cigar storage equipment for residential and commercial applications. We manufacture wine cellars, wine racks, wine cellar doors, wine cellar furniture, cigar humidors and cigar cabinets. All of our products are designed to the exact specifications of our customers and are backed with the industry’s best warranty. For more information, call 888-812-4427 or visit vigilantinc.com or www.vigilantwoodworks.com.
| Fall 2010 | Contact: Media Relations (603) 285-0400 |
Vigilant Woodworks Business Development Manager
Named to AWI Board of Directors
Dover, NH – Vigilant Woodworks Business Development Manager Daniel Lynch was recently named to the Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) Board of Directors for the New England Chapter.
Lynch, a Newburyport, Mass. resident, brings many years of contracting and woodwork experience to the board. As Business Development Manager at Vigilant Woodworks in Dover, NH, he handles bids and estimating in the commercial development and millwork division of the company. He has worked in the architectural millwork industry since 2003 and handled business development for general contractors prior to that.
The AWI is a non-profit trade association of architectural woodwork manufacturers, industry suppliers and design professionals. They are dedicated to improving architectural woodwork standards, providing technical education and researching innovative materials and methods in several woodworking areas.
The New England Chapter is the association’s largest and most active group, made up of manufacturers and suppliers from numerous states. As a manufacturing member, Vigilant Woodworks supports AWI’s mission and is very active in the organization.
The Board of Directors handles the elections of a president, vice-president and treasurer, management of fiscal affairs and the hiring of an executive secretary when needed. Lynch, who was nominated to the board by other chapter members, will serve a three–year term with the possibility of a one–year extension in 2013.
“I consider it an honor to be nominated in support of such an important organization,” Lynch said about the vote from New England Chapter members.
About Vigilant Woodworks
Vigilant Woodworks designs and manufactures high end cabinetry and millwork for commercial and residential applications. For more information, call 888.812.4427 or visit www.vigilantwoodworks.com.
| February 16, 2008 | Contact: Media Relations (603) 285-0400 |
New commercial wine rack kits provide stylish, sales–boosting
option for retail environments
Vigilant, Inc. announces first of its kind commercial wine racks
Dover, NH – Wine retailers, restaurants, hotels and specialty stores now have more effective solutions for displaying and selling wine.
Vigilant, Inc., a company that designs and manufactures high–quality, handcrafted wine cellars, wine racks and custom cigar humidors, today announced the release of its new commercial wine display racks. These durable and affordable commercial wood and laminate wine racks were specifically designed for retail environments and wine merchandising.
"Display is critical for boosting wine sales," said Charles Griffiths, president of Vigilant, Inc. "The facing–to–storage capacity, display bins and even the lighting all play a role in getting browsers to become buyers."
Raymond Folwell and D. Andy Moberg collaborated on a brief called "Factors in retail shelf management impacting wine sales" for Washington State University. In it, they wrote that "while price is the major economic factor influencing sales of individual products, other non-price factors such as number of facings and shelf height are also paramount to the sales of products." Their findings were true when they wrote the brief in 1993, and they’re even more significant in 2008.
Vigilant’s flexible and modular commercial wine display racks give wine retailers the ability to display, store and sell wine with a system that was designed with retail wine merchandising in mind. "We talked with people in the business about their specific needs," said Griffiths. "After six months of research and development, we came up with a stylish and sales-boosting system that’s durable, flexible and attractive and hits all the right display notes. In addition, our wine rack displays cost less on a per bottle basis than other options."
The commercial wine racks were designed for proper storage, aging and viewing. Display choices include columns, quarter round and half-round displays, display bins, lockable storage, sign boards, ticket molding, display baskets, display area for accent items and a higher elevated base. The wood and laminate wine racks are both easy to care for and maintain and are available in a light or dark finish. The racks are also extremely stylish.
"The commercial wine display island I have in my store combines beauty and functionality into a single wine rack," said Steve Smith, owner of Dover Wine in Dover, NH. "The display has an old world look with new world innovation."
Vigilant’s commercial wine rack kits are RTA (ready to assemble) and have a 30–day unconditional guarantee and a limited lifetime warranty. Sample designs and pricing can be found on Vigilant’s Web site, and a complimentary initial design is available. Vigilant also offers other custom solutions, like Wine Wave Cubes™ and a modular cabinet line. For more information, visit vigilantinc.com
| September 20, 2007 | Contact: Media Relations (603) 285-0400 |
New cube wine rack provides functionality and style
Vigilant, Inc. announces first of its kind wine cubes.
Dover, NH – Wine connoisseurs with small living spaces can now store and display their favorite wines without all the clutter.
Vigilant, Inc., a company that designs and manufactures high–quality, handcrafted wine cellars, wine racks and custom cigar humidors, today announced the release of its new Wine Wave Cubes™, short-term storage cubes that offer maximum versatility at an affordable price.
According to a 2007 study of 407 Unique Homes’ readers and luxury homeowners, interest in wine amenities has increased over the last five years as a result of more and more people collecting wine.
"We have seen the increase in this trend through the sales of our wine cellars to large home and luxury real estate owners," said Charles Griffiths, president of Vigilant, Inc. "However, we also recognized a wine storage need for owners of condos or smaller homes where space is at a premium."
Vigilant’s stylish Wine Wave Cubes™ give wine collectors the ability to display and store wine in their living room, study or dining area. The company offers concave and convex shaped wood storage cubes constructed of mahogany and with multiple insert options, side shelves, tabletops and a pedestal base. The wine cubes can be mounted on a wall, creating a wave effect, or stacked on the floor, and can be displayed with no inserts or base for other storage options.
The wine storage cubes each display nine to 12 bottles of wine depending on the insert used. According to Barbara Insel, a wine market research expert quoted in the March 2006 issue of Wine Business Monthly, the trend toward large-format bottles is growing. That is why it was so important that the Vigilant wine cubes be designed to reflect these trends and accommodate large-format bottles, added Griffiths.
In order to serve this demand, Vigilant’s versatile wine cubes can accommodate large-format bottles and can hold up to four magnum sized bottles with the cube’s diamond insert; with no insert, the wine cube can hold six magnum bottles or two larger bottles.
The Wine Wave Cubes™ are available online at vigilantinc.com/wineracks/index.php
| October 18, 2005 | Contact: Media Relations (603) 285-0400 |
Vigilant Launches Climatech™ Wine Climate Control System
Vigilant Launches Climatech™ Wine Climate Control System. First wine cellar cooling system to preserve wine with both temperature and integral humidity control.
Dover, NH – Proper wine preservation has two main requirements; proper temperature control at 55° F, and proper humidity levels of 55%-65% RH. The newest product release from Vigilant, Inc. precisely controls these two climactic factors. The Climatech™ Wine Climate Control System is specifically designed to maintain temperature and humidity levels with pinpoint accuracy.
The Climatech™ system was created for the high-end commercial or residential customer that wants to properly preserve their fine wine. The versatility and design of the Climatech™ provides countless benefits to the wine cellar that other cooling systems cannot deliver.
“I was encouraged by Vigilant to install a Climatech™ Wine Climate Control System above all other systems to properly assure myself that my wine cellar would maintain both humidity and temperature. I chose the Climatech™ 3000 for my wine cellar cooling system because of the flexibility it provided for installation. It required no HVAC technician and plugged right into my dedicated electrical outlet. The 3000 is whisper quiet and because of the system’s flexibility, I have it stored out of sight, out of mind, with the air ducted into and out from my cellar. It was also the only self contained system that offered humidity control. The Climatech™ truly does revolutionize proper wine storage…thank you Vigilant.” – Climatech™ 3000 Customer
Vigilant, Inc. designs and manufactures high quality, hand crafted wine cellar components, wine rack kits and custom cigar humidors. For more information on the new Climatech™ Wine Climate Control System, Vigilant, or any of its wine or cigar products, please call 888-812-4427 or visit them online at vigilantinc.com/wineracks/index.php
| July 14, 2005 | Contact: Media Relations (603) 285-0400 |
New Hampshire–Based Vigilant, Inc. Opens New Facility in Dover,New Hampshire.
Vigilant, Inc. continues its fine tradition of protecting the passions of wine and cigar enthusiasts nationwide.
Dover, NH – June 28, 2005 – After 10 years of successful operations in Candia, NH, and York, ME, Vigilant, Inc. has opened its new facility on Industrial Park Dr. in Dover, NH. Vigilant, Inc. has been a leading manufacturer and seller of custom crafted wine cellars, cigar humidors, and sportsmen cabinets for over 10 years.
Vigilant’s new state’of’the’art, 26,000 sq. ft. facility is located at the site of an abandoned Davidson’Textron building which was completely renovated by Vigilant and their landlord. The construction was managed and completed on time and within budget by the J.B. Sullivan Corp. of Manchester. The new facility will feature a custom’built, 4,000’bottle wine cellar for customer viewing.
“Moving into a new, modern facility is an important milestone for Vigilant. Having started on the Seacoast 10 years ago, we wanted to stay close to our roots, while achieving our specific facility needs. Our success and future growth is directly attributable to the performance of our dedicated employees.” Charles Griffiths-President and Founder
Named after the Baltimore Clipper ship, The Vigilant, the company was founded in early January 1995 by Charlie Griffiths in his Portsmouth, New Hampshire garage. The company’s origins are in cigar’cabinet building and as the company grew, the product line grew with it. In 10 years, the business has expanded from two employees to almost 40 and now manufactures cigar cabinets and humidors, cigar display cabinets, humidor electronics, wine racking and custom wine cellars, wine cellar design, wine cellar doors and fine sporting equipment cabinets for clients across the United States and abroad.
