Texas upholsterer Smith closing
By Heath E. Combs -- Furniture Today, May 14, 2007
Waco, Texas — Smith Furniture Mfg., one of Texas' oldest upholstery producers, is closing in the face of declining sales and other problems.
Vice President Mark Smith said the company will fill as many orders as possible and inform customers of cancellations.
He said the company, founded here in 1939, began developing a container-direct and warehouse program in November, importing eight-way hand-tied sofas from China designed to retail between $799 and $899. Its Texas-made sofas retail at $399 to $499, Smith said.
But the company had problems finding fabric suppliers in China, and freight costs proved too high, he said.
Harry Smith, Mark's father and the third generation to head the manufacturer, was diagnosed with an aggressive strain of non-Hodgkins lymphoma about a month ago. Smith said his father's prognosis is good, but the combination of factors led the elder Smith, 59, to decide to close the company.
Mark Smith, 30, said he's keeping his options open in the furniture industry.
The company has exhibited at the World Market Center in Las Vegas and showed last year in Tupelo, Miss. Customers have included Lack's, The RoomStore, Schewel, Hank's, Badcock and Finger, the younger Smith said.
About seven years ago, the company had over 200 employees. Last year the count was 120, and 60 workers remained last week.
The company was launched by Harry Isaac Smith and Phil Smith. The Waco facility was built in the 1960s. Smith said he didn't know whether the 130,000-square-foot factory would be listed for sale or lease. Equipment will be sold at auction.
