Material Waste: The Age of Throwaway Furniture

Can you imagine a day where popular shows like Antique Roadshow and American Pickers have too few items to uncover for broadcast? We might not be far off.

It used to be poor and middle-class families that carried the most rugged heirloom items; passing from generation to generation, but today our low and middle-income houses buy cheap, throwaway items that last only a few years. The resolution is to then purchase another cheap throwaway to suffice for a couple more years.

America will find a day where “the people,” meaning the general populous– the box store shoppers, the corporate victims– will awaken to what they’ve become, a tool to enrich a select few percent with no moral bounds and profit margins gleaming in their eyes.

The price, the catch to my spiel, and a good point nonetheless.

The truth is the cost of most furniture at box stores is CHEAP compared to Manchester Wood, sometimes even a ¼ of the listed tag price – BUT, it isn’t solid wood. It’s particleboard, or another cheap concoction that’s not only poor quality for you, but for the environment as well with endless amounts ending up in landfills across the country.

Manchester Wood has sold this tray table set since it's inception back in 1976. It continues to be a customer favorite, and an early product that's initial sets are currently entering a proven generational longevity.

At Manchester Wood we make products that are still holding in great condition from the beginning years of our inception. A loyal customer base that expresses their excitement on our heirloom quality, furniture that one day we hope arrives on an antique show.

We produce all our furniture with solid wood, cut from trees not far from our homes. Providing longevity and diversity—you can even paint and re-work our furniture, a cheap particleboard item gives you little to work with.

There are a million reasons why you should buy American made, and why you should buy furniture from Manchester Wood. We’ll end it on the price discussion, as we understand that weighs heavy on decisions, especially in a tough economy…

If you buy a product a ¼ the price of a Manchester Wood product, not only will you not get solid wood, but you’ll also get an item that you’ll easily have to replace several times over. We believe if you buy our product, in the long run it saves you a substantial amount of money, and a commitment to quality, responsibility for environment, and socially, as we enter an era of unmasking those placing much of America in unrest.

To view our honest, handcrafted, American made furniture, please visit: www.manchesterwood.com

The “American Working Man”

Johnny, a true American, cleans paint gun parts as we wrap up a day of finishing at Manchester Wood.

When one thing slows, another begins to flow, and with a continual slowing economy and Washington politics at a revolutionary stage, the people in “power” are to blame for much of the everyday man’s economic distress. With loose trade agreements, lobbyists with executive deals in mind, and politicians following Wall Street’s bottom line, it’s left the “American Working Man” out of a job — funny even to say “American Working Man” these days; the phrase becomes more ancient as they steadily pass.

This has left much of American small business, especially blue collar jobs, to fend for themselves; a faction that although can immediately be drowned out in a room, becomes the most important factor during the hard times.

Manchester Wood would like to take this blog post to thank ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, Today in America with Terry Bradshaw, AmericansWorking.com, MadeinUSA.org, StillMadeinUSA.com, and the others who have spoken in support and/or have showcased our products. Thanks to these folks American business has a voice and a potential awakening factor to the mainstream American consumer.

How Sustainable Are Our Practices?

A rooftop view of the backside of our plant where corn is grown on the property.

At Manchester Wood we live sustainability. From corn growing in our backyard behind our mill, to our leftover sawdust used for many local farmers animal bedding. We care about our environment, and we feel what pertains most to our customers is our lumber practices, a key element, as that’s our introduction to your home.

Every few years the standards lower for lumber grading, which is at a near constant drop in quality due to carbon dioxide emissions climbing in our atmosphere. The evolution of trees has been curved greatly by man, the practices as a World society we have.

With this honest review of a key natural resource, Manchester Wood is here to prove that we’re one of the leaders in an eco-conscious society with the product we provide. Not to mention the far exceeding quality compared to similar products made in China and Vietnam, where practices with natural resources are startling, and are leading to a quickly diminishing environment, which in turn, hurts our trees here in America, and the World.

In a recent press release, “Manchester Wood Commits to Producing Environmentally Sustainable Furniture,” our President Ed Eriksen addresses the need for small businesses to take on an eco-conscious approach:

“We understand that the move toward environmentally sustainable manufacturing needs to be initiated and promoted by small businesses. Our goal is to create top quality furniture from beautiful American hardwoods for homes and offices with minimal impact on the environment. In fact, we believe that by sourcing our wood from sustainable forests, we are greatly enhancing the crafts that we offer to our customers.”

Our raw North American lumber from New England before it's milled and crafted into our furniture.

If you purchase wood furniture from our major overseas competitors, you’re buying into their practices, and much of it goes unchecked. Manchester Wood partners with the most responsible and caring lumber companies in the World, with a careful eye on eco-systems, proper tree growth, and most importantly, providing a healthy piece of material for crafting.

We hope this information solidifies your decision in supporting businesses with healthy practices, and a quality in product to back it up. For more information on our commitment to environmentally sustainable furniture, click here.

To view our online catalog, click here.

Developing Our Furniture

Our sample-maker, Tony, prototyping furniture in the shop

We’re working away on developing new furniture this summer season. Expect future unveilings on new indoor and outdoor collections. Shaker, Mission, Contemporary, Solid Cherry, and Adirondack, among other genres of craftsmanship will see fresh, new looks for the 21st Century lifestyle.

Our process in developing furniture starts with concepts from the past, or designs fulfilling a place in the furniture world. Our sample makers, along with the company President, work together in constructing these new items, finding what works, then going back to the drawing board further to refine and perfect.

New indoor items will feature storage solutions in concealing ways as well as in size and structure, sleeker designs, a new painted cottage collection, and a higher-end collection providing a more prized piece of craftsmanship.

Outdoor items are taking major steps this year as well with “weathered” finished looks, and overall fresh designs that will showcase a large family of outdoor furniture possibilities for your home or vacation getaway.

A future Home Office piece, a Mission Compact Desk

Keep posted on these new items as well as any upcoming discount specials by joining our mailing list on ManchesterWood.com, our Facebook, and Twitter.

From designing to samples to our final product, everything is created in America, a unique standing in today’s marketplace.

Read about our commitment to producing American made solid wood furniture, click here.

Video: Our Drilling to Sanding Process

Heat of Summer: Finding Shade with our Equinox Rocker

Lemon Yellow Equinox Rocker and Adirondack Side Table

As the summer heats up, finding a break from the sun and relaxing in the shade becomes a desired activity as a time to rest the body and bask in the beauty of such a day. Our Equinox Rocker has become a staple for outdoor patios and screened-in porches for your relaxed time in the shade at your home, beach or lake house.

Much like our Adirondack Chair, the Equinox Rocker, as well as our Equinox Chair and Benches are apart of our prized Outdoor Collection. Built with the same solid wood and American made quality with heirloom longevity that we pride ourselves on (read our press release on ‘American Jobs and Illegal Timber Importation…’ at bottom of post), this is a product like the rest at Manchester Wood with a value far past the purchase price.

A colorful array of finishes are provided as well for any décor choices you prefer with Navy Blue, Pure White, Lemon Yellow, Forest Green, Firehouse Red, Sky Blue, and Green Apple.

Currently, not all finishes are shown on our Equinox Rocker page, but can be viewed on our Adirondack Chair here. Our Lemon Yellow rocker can be seen pictured in this article as well.

Lemon Yellow Equinox Rocker and Adirondack Side Table

When planning your furniture for that shaded, serene view, we hope you consider our Equinox Rocker to pass the time with a quality and country class that your future grandkids will hold dear.

Enjoy a rocking sway of relaxation with us this summer season.

To view our Equinox Rocker, click here.

To view our Adirondack Side Table (also pictured in photos in this article), click here.

Also, read more about American Jobs and Illegal Timber Importation in our press section by clicking here.

A Commitment to Sustainability and Social Awareness

Our Equinox Rocker and Adirondack Side Table with Vegetables and Fruit provided by Clear Brook Farm, an Organic Farm in Shaftsbury, VT

If you really take a solid look at our existence over the last decade, and our quantum leaps as a society over the last few years on social change and environmental issues, it’s easy to see that serious change is upon us.

December 21^st 2012 is a phenomenon that comprises a range of eschatological beliefs that a cataclysmic or transformative event will occur on that date. The supposed “end” of the Mayan calendar, which was set over 5,000 years ago presents, for some, a pending doom to the world, as we know it. Although, a New Age interpretation of this date marks the start of a time in which Earth and its inhabitants may undergo a positive physical or spiritual transformation.

Have we not become a more eco-friendly and spirit minded society? It’s easy to see the later situation holding a strong case.

We still have some way to go though in this New Age thought, but the numbers are growing, and once serious issues are now serious cases for a future much different then our recent past. When it comes to sustainability and environmentally conscious efforts in manufacturing furniture, we feel we’re on the front line.

Manchester Wood is committed, whether through our products, our voice, or through our writing, to continue on the pledge of a more free, successful society, in which all can be blessed with the life they deserve. Through a healthy environment and a social freedom that continues to rapidly evolve.

Good food, good products, and a healthy spirit seem to be the beginning formulas of a new commerce era in America. We hope you join us.

To read more about our commitment to producing Environmentally Sustainable Furniture, click here.

For more information on Clear Brook Farm, click here.

4th of July $10 Off Adirondack Sale: June 24th – July 5th

Kid's Adirondack Chairs are only $69.95!

Manchester Wood celebrates America’s Independence with offering the highest quality American made summer staple for over the last 35 years: the Adirondack Chair; with $10 off every chair purchased and FREE SHIPPING anywhere in the continental U.S. from June 24^th until July 5^th. It requires typing “4thSale” in the Coupon Code box at checkout on ManchesterWood.com.

Our Adirondack Chairs have become a lake and beachside benchmark, an emblem of comfort, craftsmanship, and relaxation. We’re proud to say our chairs have graced many docks, porches, and ocean sides over the years, and a small token of our appreciation comes in this $10 off sale.

Lemon Yellow Adirondack Chair on Glen Island, Lake George, NY

Choose any of our 7 finish colors for both Adirondack and Kid’s Adirondack Chairs. The sale brings our Kid’s Adirondack Chair down to a mere $69.95! That’s a true savings, and a great way for the young ones to join Mom and Dad this summer at a very reasonable price.

Sit back… relax… and take a piece of the Adirondacks home with you this Independence year.

To view our Adirondack Chairs, click here.

To view our Kid’s Adirondack Chairs, click here.

Manchester Wood designs and produces quality, affordable, eco-friendly solid wood American furniture in the Green Mountains of Vermont and Adirondack foothills of New York.

DIY Branding: Lake George Photo Shoots

Manchester Wood's Adirondack Chair on Lake George, NY (click photo for full-size)

Over the past couple weeks we’ve been doing several photo shoots at Lake George, New York showcasing our Outdoor Furniture. Nestled in the valley between the Hudson River and St. Lawrence, Lake George rests in the Great Appalachian Valley; the roots of Adirondack furniture.

So it’s an easy choice of landscape when documenting our product on this historic land, a lake with an aura of the past, a place far away from existence, even though the boats roar by at a near constant these days there is still something about the beaches, islands, and majestic waters that bring a peaceful and reflective pace. We think some of these photos help show such an experience.

Manchester Wood's Adirondack Chair Glen Island, L.G., NY (click photo for full-size)

Lake George is a hard place to leave once you’ve arrived, and we’d like to think so are the Adirondack Chairs we produce at Manchester Wood.

We started this blog title with “D.I.Y.” – Doing It Yourself is a key element to our brand, whether as a company, or as it’s people. Our founder started this business in the basement of his home in the mid-50’s after arriving home from the Korean War to a bustling factory where we work today. When he sat down with J.C. Penney, the man, he explained how his company and himself were just “honest farmers trying to a make a living.” We aren’t farmers anymore, well some of us are in fact, but the honest pitch is a living testament, as shown in the picture below.

Manchester Wood's President rafting out an Adirondack Chair during shoot, top picture in article is result.

In order to get that first shot of our Lemon Yellow Adirondack Chair on that stand alone rock in the middle of the lake, the company President elected to hop in a $20 blow-up raft and paddle out to get the shot, with chair in tow. With seagulls and waves interjecting at times, he made it, and the picture through that effort was well worth it, as seen at top of this piece.

Hardwork and honesty are major staples of our efforts here at Manchester Wood, whether this can bring you inspiration to do what it takes for your brand, or if it helps buy into ours, we hope this sneak look gives you the understanding of how fully faceted we are, with a beautifully crafted Adirondack Chair to boot!

View our Adirondack Chairs here, or the rest of our Outdoor Collection here.

Graduation Season: Perfect Furniture Gifts for Young Professional

As Graduation season winds down, Manchester Wood reviews a few select items for young professionals making the stride from school to the workplace, building a home and an environment for their future.

Portable Folding Work Desk

Our Portable Folding Work Desk is an immediate choice item for the new graduate looking for that small piece with a work mobility that fits the 21^st century life style. An updated TV Tray Table with a more modern use. It’s light with a very large table surface for a quick, immediate, sprawled workspace.

From dorm life to adulthood, finding that entertainment center for the young adult can be a pricy and taunting task. Manchester Wood covers several TV/Media Stands that have a longevity and class that’ll give a young professional a focused and intelligent purchase in both quality and character. The Hanover Media & Gaming Stand is our immediate choice when gifting the youth moving through a transition with their entertainment pieces. With its concealed look, it’s easy to hide away those gaming consoles and other, sometimes youthful items to a particular guest. The look and feel spells modern functionality with a traditional design making it easy to fit in any home design or setting.

Along the lines of storage with our entertainment consoles comes our Jelly Cabinet. It’s the perfect addition to a kitchen or area where storage space is needed. A smaller item too, which makes it great for a new home or apartment space. With it’s door hinged on the left and ample shelving there is room for canned goods or other products that need a place. When closet or pantry space is sparse, this item is a smart choice.

Start off the next generation’s adulthood with a gift that will last a lifetime, with a product and brand that’s socially conscious background supports the American economy and American Made furniture.