Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN)- What began as a woodworking hobby for stress relief has evolved into a new downtown business for a local pastor and his wife.
Dale Hendricks, pastor of Shady Grove Baptist Church, and his wife, Felicia Hendricks, opened Hendricks Laser Works on Main Street earlier this year, bringing custom laser engraving services to their hometown.
"We've always just had the desire to have a shop open," Dale Hendricks said. "When this became available and it's right here in our hometown, it just was the perfect fit for us to be here in downtown Cherryville."
Hendricks's woodworking hobby started as a way to relieve stress. His engraving machine stopped working after he had used it for several years. He then bought a laser engraver, which allowed him to do more than just traditional woodworking.
"It all started as a hobby and just a woodworking hobby," Hendricks said. "My machine that I was using for woodworking after several years ended up breaking, which only did engraving, and so when I went to replace it, I decided I'd go to the laser engraving so I could do more with the wood."
As demand for their products grew, more people began asking the couple for their handmade items. The Hendricks began participating in craft shows and eventually expanded their business to include selling items online. They've always had a desire to open a shop. So when they noticed a vacant storefront during their evening walks down Main Street, they saw an opportunity to open up a shop.
The front of the Hendricks Laser Works shop on Main Street. October 24th,2025
Lauren Ramsey (WNN)
Hendricks reached out to local Real Estate Agent Vickie Spurling, who showed him the building right away. From there, the rest was history.
Hendricks said he learned the craft through self-teaching and watching online tutorials. As the business expanded to larger laser equipment, the manufacturers offered formal training opportunities. He has completed many hours of hands-on training sessions and attended many workshops to enhance his skills.
"We're still ever learning," he said. "Constantly finding out something new that it'll do that you didn't know it could do before."
The shop offers a wide range of custom-made items. Their best-selling products are Anodized aluminum signs, which come in various forms, including car plates, wall decorations, and garden flags. The garden flags are the same size as fabric garden flags that last about three months. They can last a lifetime if they are properly cared for.
Wall signs that are sold in the shop. October 24th,2025
Lauren Ramsey (WNN)
Other popular items in the shop include: 3D crystals, followed by cutting boards and various woodworking pieces. However, the business's most requested service overall is memorial work. They create pet memorials and human memorials, including custom urns.
Different memorials that can be seen at the shop. October 24th,2025
Lauren Ramsey (WNN)
The shop produces a wide range of items in addition to these bestsellers. Not all of them are laser items. They sell different items such as puzzles and Luna weighted Blankets, which make perfect gifts for the upcoming holiday season to keep you warm.
The Luna blankets sold at the shop. October 24th,2025
Hendricks Laser Works Facebook Page
They also offer custom photo acrylics, wooden items, personalized gifts, and fundraising programs. The store partners with schools, churches, and groups looking to earn money by selling personalized products such as magnets, tumblers, and bricks.
Some of the cups you can get engraved at the shop. October 24th,2025
Lauren Ramsey (WNN)
Due to The Hendrick's other obligations, the shop is only open on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you see the light on, they are in the store. However, if you are near the store on any other day of the week, and any items through the window catch your eye, you can set up an appointment by calling their number at 704-530-4681.
Different creations that can be seen on one of the shelves in the shop. October 24th,2025
Lauren Ramsey (WNN)
The shop's window has had a significant impact on sales even outside of business hours. Hendricks says that people walking down Main Street have looked inside and called to buy things or ask questions.
"We have actually done more business by people looking in the windows and calling us than we actually have when we're here on site," he said.
For more information, visit their official website at hendrickslaserworks.com. They also have a Facebook page where you can see more photos of their products.
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