FURNITURE BUILDERS CAPITAL

Not going overseas could be a mistake, in my humble opinion. US production exists, but the workmanship is not particularly better. The only real difference is cost of labor and inbound freight.

My father has been in the furniture manufacturing business for 30+ years, and moved 100% of his production offshore in the late 80's. Taiwan, China, Vietnam, Philippines, Mexico, etc. The quality you get is directly related to the effort, oversight, tooling, and design that you invest in.

PM me if you would like to discuss or need contacts.

 

I live in NC, and we tried to buy furniture made in the US and in NC.
This was just a couple, 3 years ago. We looked all over western NC.
Couldn't find anything that we were looking for that was actually made here.

We specifically tried to buy US made furniture.

Eventually found furniture we liked and bought from Nichols and Stone out of Mass.
I think they were building chairs/furniture around the 1700s in the states.

What we bought from them was exceptional finish and build quality.

I do believe some furniture is still made in VA at least it was when we were looking at
the time

 

I'd applaud his looking to keep production here. Given the regional economy, he may well be able to wrangle significant deals on such things as taxes to keep down his costs. LOTS of unemployed furniture workers in WNC - I'm sure at least a few of them would be willing to do a darned good job if they were given the chance.

 

I don't want to get into a political discussion, but its unfortunate if locals are willing to do a better job today (in the abyss of unemployment) then back when their management begged and pleaded for labor concessions to stay competitive. The ship has sailed unfortunately, and except for small boutique manufacturers, furniture in the USA has gone the way of shoes and plastic toys. I have little compassion for a workforce that drove my father to the brink of financial disaster in the mid 80's. If people think furniture made in China, by the mere fact of its country of origin, is inferior, then they should do some more research.

In southern VA, there is still some Bassett capacity, but I doubt they'd want a small kind of project. Mt. Airy has lost just about everything, as well as Hickory, Lexington, Thomasville, and the smaller communities out west.

[/rant OFF]

 

I have a friend who owns a furniture manufacturing facility here in the states and is looking for work. I will be happy to supply contact info if you PM me.

 

PM back at you...hopefully something mutually advantageous will work out for you both.

 

I don't buy plastic toys and my shoe are from either south America or Europe.
))

If you have bed frames, head and foot boards to do, check Wesley Allen in CA. they still hand build. They also do custom work.

 

I totally agree. My parents lost their business due to greedy and ignorant employees who brought in a Union and subsequently couldn't afford their demands and shut down.

 

Contact these guys in Hickory NC.

http://www.sherrillfurniture.com/index.php

Charles Sherrill's family business. Charlie is a avid rallydriver and has Italian car connections.

 

Division I worked for shut down for pretty much exactly the same reason - Union related overhead. I'm still glad someone is trying to make a go with locals before looking overseas though.