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Hoosier Woodworks is a small, one-man shop that specializes in unique home improvement, woodworking and craft projects.

NEWS

Boy, did I get an education….

I had to take my high school son to Wabash College (Crawfordsville, IN) to take scholarship exams. After dropping him off, I killed some time at the library and after lunch, explored the downtown shops. I wandered into a furniture store…the first furniture store I had set foot into in over fifteen years (after I discovered a spot on a sofa where the manufacture had sanded through the veneer-exposing the particle board substrate- then stained the entire thing anyway, all for only $999!) I’ve had a very grim view of furniture in the US. Many people just accept what’s in the furniture store or –gulp- buy their furniture in a box …”some assembly required.” Some people track down family heirlooms that where well made to begin with and have stood the test of time.

It was a human-owned store, not a national chain store. I was actually impressed with some of the lines. The salesman, probably the owner, said most of their merchandise was, in fact, made in the US, especially the upholstered furniture, most of it from North Caroline. He said some of the upholstery “packages” was made in Asia, shipped to NC, installed on the frame and shipped to the store.

This was reassuring. As a furniture maker myself (hence my 15 years hiatus form furniture stores) I’m glad to see some furniture manufacturing returning to the US. A mass exodus has been taking place in the US probably since the ‘70s as furniture companies started to “outsource” production overseas. Much of this was economic; lower labor rates, fewer restrictions, less regulations but labor had a lot to do with it too. No-labor unions did not drive jobs overseas. We did, or rather the lack of labor did. There simply were not enough skilled workers to fill the job vacancies. Many experts trace this back to the decline of shop and industrial arts classes in the junior high and high schools. I also believe many kids of my generation actually listened to our parents- “go to college, get a degree, I don’t want you working in the factory or punching a time clock….” So we became lawyers (a LOT became lawyers!), a few doctors, many managers, executives, account representatives but few became brick layers, carpenters, electricians, mechanics, woodworkers or…plumbers.

I wandered around some more, checking out the “space age foam” mattresses, kitchen tables and chairs. I spied some activity in the back. Two guys with tools in hand where hovering over some wooden parts and a rather beat up cardboard box. They politely said, “hi” and I inquired as to what they where doing, “a repair,” I asked? “Oh no,” they replied, “we’re putting these chairs together, we just got a big shipment in.”

So there you go-furniture in a box, some assembly required. They said about ten years ago, manufactures started shipping furniture unassembled. The stores had to absorb this cost or had to pass it on to the customer.

And I guess it saves on overseas shipping.

Is there anywhere to buy furniture without assembly, furniture well built enough your children’s children will call heirloom?

Thanks,
Roger


New Online Store Launched! -- Finally, after what seems likes years of starting and stopping, I have an online store! I have had an Etsy store for a few years now, but I wanted my own. You can purchase some of my staple products; flag cases, soap rest, writing pens, rolling pins, cutting boards, etc. Click the link to explore! www.hoosierwoodworksstore.comGetting this store up and running has been more....

A "Modern" Stair Sweep -- "Here you go," Dick said handing me the ancient stair part. "I need this to be left-hand." I've always enjoyed working for Dick, a contractor who specializes in custom homes in the upper price range. He always gives me unique and interesting jobs -- jobs other trim carpenters/woodworkers are too smart to take.... more.

 

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New Online Store Launched!

A "Modern" Stair Sweep