Sterling Casket's customers are in hog Heaven

STERLING – Harley-Davidson is more than a brand, it is a subculture.

Local businessman Bob Conklin understands this as well as anyone. He grew up with motorcycles, and with wife Cindy, still rides across the country.

“My family always had bikes, and I raced them when I was a kid,” Conklin said.

Over the years, he has made many friends in the biking world. Those relationships opened the door to a unique business opportunity.

“A biker buddy of mine was killed, and while helping her make the arrangements, it occurred to me that there was nothing nice out there for bikers,” Conklin said.

In 2011, Conklin was ready to address that market niche, and Sterling Casket Co. was born. The company makes unique Harley-Davidson-themed caskets and cremation urns, selling them nationwide. The business had humble beginnings as the groundwork was laid.

“I just rented a small space behind the Lincolnway McDonald’s at first, so I could finish my designs and get the patents in,” Conklin said.

Sterling Casket now leases space at 205 E. Second St., and has four employees.

While Conklin believed the clout of the Harley-Davidson brand was the key to the success of the business, attempts to use it also became an obstacle.

“It’s taken tens of thousands of dollars to patent lawyers to get this done,” Conklin said. “Many people have tried to use the Harley-Davidson name and they’ve been shot down.”

Conklin can use the company logo on his urns because they are made from authentic Harley-Davidson parts. He isn’t allowed to so much as put letters on the caskets, but there is no mistaking the theme.

“We negotiated the orange-and-black design, and we pay zero for the colors,” Conklin said.

The urns come in two styles, and Conklin said he tries to get as many of the parts as possible from the local Workman Harley-Davidson dealership, but they come from all over the country.

The distinctive V-shaped connecting rods are featured in one style, along with the Panhead rocker arm covers, and pistons. The parts go through a laborious process of multiple cleanings, plating, and fabrication. The cremains go inside the rocker arm cover and the hollowed-out wood base.

The caskets, available in two sizes, sell for $3,500 and the urns start at $645. Engraved nameplates and shipping are extra.

Because the business ships its urns all over the country, Sterling Casket is now an authorized FedEx shipping center. That part of the business is now known as Riverside Pack-N-Ship and DHL Shipping Center.

“We had planned on using Sauk Valley Pack ‘N Ship in Rock Falls, but when that closed I figured we might as well just do it here,” Conklin said.

Sterling Casket has a partnership with Schilling Funeral Home. As an exclusive dealer for the themed caskets and urns, the funeral home buys them directly at wholesale prices.

Conklin’s first business venture was HessAire Products, based in Cullman, Alabama. He was one of three major stockholders in the company that made a variety of fan blades. After 8 years as vice president of sales and marketing, the company was sold.

In 1992, the Conklins returned to Sterling, and Bob put his capital to work in the Sauk Valley. He also runs Global Product Solutions, a power transmission products company, and Conklin Sales, a venture that specializes in selling streetscape and site amenities, such as benches and trash receptacles, to municipalities.

Being back in a machine shop doing everything from sandblasting and welding to woodworking and lathe is second nature to Conklin. It brings back fond memories of time spent with his father, Pete, and four younger brothers.

“I spent a lot of time working in the garage with my dad,” Conklin said. “Dad retired from the steel mill, and he was just a real intelligent, well-rounded guy.”

Now Conklin is passing his craftsmanship along to others. Office Manager Katie Mewhirter is even spending time in the machine shop.

Conklin believes he has only scratched the surface of Sterling Casket’s potential. Harley-Davidson is an internationally recognized brand, and Conklin is mulling other niche markets.

“The urns are really starting to take off, and I can see this growing substantially,” Conklin said. “I’d like to get into the same thing for John Deere enthusiasts.”

The process – from wood and metal to fabric – is a laborious one. His goal is to grow at a pace that doesn’t sacrifice quality.

“Everything just takes a lot of time, so I’m taking baby steps while maintaining high standards,” Conklin said. “I’ve been in manufacturing for a long time, and I know that there is no substitute for quality.”

Sterling Casket Co. Inc., 205 E. Second St. in Sterling, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call 815-632-3521 or go to www.sterlingcasketco.com for more information.