Appalachian
Appalachian Hardwood Members Hear Furniture, Workforce Training Updates Hot Springs, VA–The two-year run for furniture makers and retailers is slowing with inflation on the rise, reports a veteran domestic manufacturer. Doug Bassett, president of Vaughan-Bassett Furniture (VB) in Galax, VA, spoke at the 2022 Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers, Inc. (AHMI) Summer Conference. He said 2020 and 2021 were “black swan” years for the domestic furniture industry. COVID-19 had many people at home and evaluating their home furnishings. These consumers purchased new living room, dining room and bedroom furnishings to upgrade their homes. “There was unprecedented government spending to prop up the economy — .6 trillion in government outlays over three years,” Bassett said. “Many people spent this on their homes.” VB sales grew from million in 2019 to million in 2021. The company reduced the number of offerings and focused on popular and profitable items. He said imported furniture was at a disadvantage during the same time period. Freight costs for shipments from China or Vietnam increased from ,000 per container to ,000 (or more). There were also supply chain disruptions with missing components, factory slowdowns, and shipping delays. COVID outbreaks in Vietnam and Malaysia halted production. “We are here in Virginia, making bedroom furniture that we could deliver in days and selling it like crazy,” Bassett said. Just one year later, however, the boom has slowed considerably. Fuel and freight prices and inflation have reduced demand. Bassett said the company has 100 new accounts that were formerly dependent on imports. He was cautious that lower shipping costs and higher production have imports back. “We will see but many tell us they will not be as dependent on international supply chains moving forward,” he said. Please turn to page 50 Photos By Gary Miller Story By Tom Inman Bob Cafiero, Meadow River Hardwood Lumber Company LLC, Rainelle, WV; and Helen and Jim Tanner, Tanner Lumber Co., Elkins, WV Rick Armstrong, Homer Gregory & Co. Inc., Morehead, KY; Gary Miller, National Hardwood Magazine, Memphis, TN; and Tony Honeycutt, Mullican Flooring, Johnson City, TN John, Emma and Wendy Bowman, AHMI, High Point, NC Peter McCarty, TS Manufacturing, Dover-Foxcroft, ME; Pandora Barr and Dean Alanko, Allegheny Wood Products Inc., Petersburg, WV; and Mark Haddix, Farm Credit of the Virginias, Elkins, WV Bruce Horner, Abenaki Timber Corp., Kingston, NH; and Robyn and Scott Cummings, Cummings Lumber Company Inc., Troy, PA John Pysh and Sandy Jacobson, Pennsylvania Hardwoods LLC, Pleasantville, PA; John Crites II, Allegheny Wood Products Inc., Petersburg, WV; and Jeremy Pitts, Nyle Dry Kilns, Brewer, ME Brian, Jennifer and Emma Turlington, SII Dry Kilns, Lexington, NC; and Lowery Anderson, Roy Anderson Lumber Company Inc., Tompkinsville, KY Jim Burris, Corley Mfg. Co., Chattanooga, TN; and Matt Begley, BPM Lumber LLC, London, KY Mark and Kim Vollinger, W.M. Cramer Lumber Company, Hickory, NC; and Tom Sheets, Blue Ridge Lumber Co. LLC, Fishersville, VA John Pysh, Sandy Jacobson, John and Marsha Toncich, Francheska Smith and Max Kutz, PA Hardwoods LLC, Pleasantville, PA 34 SEPTEMBER 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE Bob Hurst, Eagle Machinery & Supply Inc., Sugarcreek, OH; and Doug Bassett, Vaughan-Bassett Furniture Company, Galax, VA www.RealAmericanHardwood.org Dana Spessert, National Hardwood Lumber Assoc., Memphis, TN; and Craig, Mason and Mandy Albright, Messersmith Manufacturing Inc., Bark River, MI www.RealAmericanHardwood.org Justin and Alissa Tanner, Tanner Lumber Co., Elkins, WV; Rick and Kathy Armstrong, Homer Gregory & Co. Inc., Morehead, KY; and Ray White Jr., Harold White Lumber Inc., Morehead, KY Additional photos on next page SEPTEMBER 2022 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 35
