Good reasons to grow domestic production
Carole Sloan, Senior Contributing Editor -- Furniture Today, July 4, 2005
It's just a small blip in the tidal wave that is transforming the furniture and home furnishings businesses. But in recent weeks, I've heard more snippets of conversation about things like short runs of decorative and upholstery fabrics, quick delivery of things like special-order upholstery and, to a lesser degree, customized case goods.
More and more, we're hearing about expansive domestic programs that promise — and deliver — furniture with special finishes, styles and fabrics in a matter of a few weeks, not a few months.
Now, Bob McCreary of upholstery manufacturer McCreary Modern reports he's almost doubling the size of his facilities in North Carolina, not for the warehousing and distribution of imports, but for the domestic production and delivery of furniture.
Part of the reason, he said, is quick availability of finished product for his customers, and their customers. A radical concept.
Earlier this month, Tietex Interiors announced a major domestic expansion of fabric production, although it also is boosting some offshore capacity.
Also in the fabric world, Qual Fab will launch its Better Homes & Gardens collection at Showtime next month, available only to domestic producers as part of its licensing agreement with BH&G.
Others are planning to intensify U.S.-made products, with attributes that make it easier and more profitable for all parties to make and use domestically.
No, we're not likely to return to the "Made in America" promotions of the '80s and '90s. But there still are reasons for many companies to grow their domestic production. The key is to identify what can and should be made here, and what shouldn't.
