Is ShackletonThomas related to Ernest Shackleton?
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Charles Shackleton, the co-founder and CEO of ShackletonThomas, is the first cousin, thrice removed, of Ernest. We have a family tree to make it more clear. Charles's great-great-grandfather and Ernest's grandfather were brothers.
What's more, Charles's brother, Jonathan Shackleton, has led trips to the Antarctic for years and both Charles and Miranda have joined him. The whole Shackleton family takes inspiration from Ernest's tenacity and endurance, as well as the fact that, though he did not make it to the South Pole, all of his men made it home.
To read more about Ernest Shackleton's famous voyage, read Alfred Lansing's engaging book Endurance
How long have you been in business?
Charles Shackleton Furniture has been in business since 1987, when we got our first order for the Chicago Garden Benches for the Chicago Botanical Gardens. Miranda Thomas Pottery started on its own in 1989. The companies merged into one entity in 1996 and ShackletonThomas was born.
How long have you been in your current location?
Charles bought the west end of the Bridgewater Mill in 1992 and moved the furniture production to that location, setting up the Workshop Store soon after. In 1994, Charles and Miranda bought the small clapboard building across the car park to house the pottery.
What do you mean when you say something is made-to-order?
Our furniture is made to order, which means it doesn't exist until you order it. Then we make it. This is also true of Custom Commemorative and special order pottery.
Much of our pottery is in stock and ready to ship. We also have a small collection of furniture on our showroom floor that is available for sale and immediate shipping or pick-up.
Can you change the size of the furniture?
One of the benefits of being made to order is that the dimensions can generally be customized to suit your particular space or needs. We will provide drawings for approval and make sure everything is in proportion with the new size. A customization charge is integrated into the final price of the piece.
Can you design me a custom piece of furniture?
Absolutely! Our founder, Charles Shackleton, designed most of the pieces we offer and he, along with a team of experienced furniture designers, can work with you (or your designer) to create your dream bed, table, or anything else.
Do you offer gift wrapping?
Yes! Add gift wrapping to any pottery or small wooden item at check out. Gift wrapping is included with Custom Commemorative pieces
What is the best way to ask a question?
Email webstore@shackletonthomas.com any time of day and we will get back to you within 48 hours. You can also call the store at 802-672-5175. Please note that no one is available to answer the phone outside of open hours and the customers in front of us take precedence over the phone. Please leave a voicemail and we will get back to you as soon as we are able.
Can you ship furniture to me wherever I am?
We ship throughout the United States and around the world. See our page on Shipping & Delivery for further details.
How long will it take to make my furniture?
Our standard lead time is three to four months from receipt of deposit. Expedited orders can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Which forms of payment do you accept?
Payment by check is always preferred. We also accept wire transfers for furniture orders (we will send instructions as requested.) We accept all major credit cards, including Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Finally, cash is accepted in the store.
Do you sell internationally?
We do sell both furniture and pottery internationally. Please contact us directly webstore@shackletonthomas.com to coordinate that. International shipping does not qualify for free shipping on pottery.
Do you offer gift certificates?
You can purchase Gift Certificates in preset denominations from the website. You can also purchase Certificates for any other amount by contacting us at webstore@shackletonthomas.com.