- The Hardwood Furniture Guild has changed its name to the Ohio Furniture Guild (OFG) to better reflect the diversity of its members’ products.
- The OFG aims to attract more retail stores to partner with its members, boosting the furniture industry in Ohio.
- The area’s furniture industry, known for its quality and craftsmanship, has become a significant part of the local economy and identity.
Recognizing it is an organization that has exceeded the limits of its name, the Hardwood Furniture Guild has rebranded with a new name, becoming the Ohio Furniture Guild (OFG).
“The Hardwood Furniture Guild has always been bigger than the market we have once a year,” said OFG Executive Director Kendrick Mullet. “What started as an effort against low-quality imports has turned into a cohesive network of community businesses. We add value at every step, building a supply chain that’s hard to match.”
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Members create not just hardwood furniture, but outdoor furniture, upholstered items, mattresses and other products.
In an effort to continue growing, and building on the momentum gained over the years, the group of competitors and collaborators is working to accomplish bigger things in Holmes County, where the group originated, and in surrounding counties from where businesses have become part of the guild.
There are an estimated 400 area businesses in the woodworking industry, including builders, finishers and related suppliers, generating hundreds of millions of dollars for the local economy through wholesale and retail sales, according to Mullet.
Phil Tieszen, executive of marketing at The Keim Co., serves on the OFG board as marketing chairman. He spoke of the continued growth of the guild and the range of members who make it up.
“We are supported by finish shops, suppliers, marketers and designers, all adding to the industry’s growth in Ohio,” Tieszen said.
This is the Ohio Furniture Guild
“We see major potential for growth within the furniture industry and for increasing awareness of the guild,” Mullet added. “We are committed to finding new stores that would make excellent partners for our partners.”
In 2023, there were 232 Ohio Furniture Guild members from Holmes and surrounding counties, including Wayne and Tuscarawas, Stark and Knox. Membership increased by 10 in 2024.
“Our rebranding isn’t focused on increasing membership numbers, but rather on attracting more retail stores to collaborate with our builders,” Mullet said. “We truly appreciate the opportunity to share more about the Ohio Furniture Guild and the work our members do.”
Ohio Furniture Guild is a nonprofit organization that is a part of the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce. Ir has 15 volunteer board members. They are: Marion Yoder (D. Yoder Hardwoods), Aaron Weaver (Kidron Woodcraft), Phil Tieszen (Keim), Gabe Yoder (L&J), Mark Rambach (DSI), Tom Jeffries (Rea & Assoc.), Joseph Miller (J. Miller Woodworking), Neil Gingerich (SSB Bank), Crist Miller (Farmside Wood), Matt Beachy (Troyer Furniture), Les Miller (Mullwoods), Cliff Sprang (Kaufman Realty), Paul Nisley (Penwood), Aden Hershberger (Superior Furniture) and Leon Mast (Keim).
Economic development director shares impact of furniture production
Holmes County Economic Development Executive Director Mark Leininger addressed the impact the furniture industry has had on Holmes County over the years.
“Furniture production has been a major component of the local economy for several decades,” Leininger said. “Farmers first gravitated to the work 40 years ago as a way to make productive use of farms that no longer paid the bills.
“As farmers often do, fledgling furniture makers cooperated with one another in developing the new industry,” he said. “The cooperation resulted in an integrated network of specialty shops that work with one another to produce an array of furniture products that are unmatched for style, quality and price.”
Leininger said as a result of that effort, a number of national restaurant and retail brands, such as Starbucks and Room and Board, choose Holmes County companies when sourcing furniture for eateries and showrooms.
“Given the prominent role it plays in our local economy, furniture production, like cheese making and Amish home cooking, have become an integral part of the community’s identity,” Leininger added.
Henry Ford would be proud
Holmes County Commissioner Dave Hall said Henry Ford would be proud of the entreprenurial skills and production of the Holmes County woodworking force. He pointed out that as a network the woodworking industry has created a lot of jobs.
“I think Henry Ford would be very proud of the way the woodworking industry in Holmes County has come together and put a good, quality product out,” Hall said. “If you take a tour, you can see one entity making spindles and another makes the flat part of a table, while another group will be making chairs. Then they fit it all together to make a great product. They do really well networking and getting everyone on the same page.
“Our woodworking industry is now known nationally and internationally,” the commissioner continued. “It is a quality, heirloom product that is shipped all over the world. They work together as a network, and these shows they put on bring in people from all over the country.”
Source: Hardwood Furniture Guild rebrands to expand reach beyond Holmes
