Why Buy American Made Furniture?

(Photo: Matt Sayles, Invision via AP)

“Once upon a time, here in the great land known as America, everything was made by hand, everything was made from scratch, from simple foods to complicated machines that would change the world and the way we lived, communicated and developed,” began business tycoon Martha Stewart in her recent USA Today article ‘American Made’ salutes innovation.

At Manchester Wood we constantly champion the importance found in quality locally made goods, and are happy to see that Martha Stewart is helping to reach out to a wider audience in need of deeper awareness. As we consume products with no ethical standard more and more, we mark the extinction of well-crafted items with heartfelt practices as they are swept under by the epidemic of our country’s over-consumption.

Stewart continued, “As commerce grew, people started to do less and less of the handmade and the homemade, and manufacturing consolidated the making of things. “American Made” started to become “Made in China” and other foreign lands where labor is cheaper and more plentiful…

…I am not alone in thinking that we are in the midst of a shift in the culture, a moment when a generation of creative entrepreneurs are defining a New American Economy.”

We couldn’t agree with you more Ms. Stewart, and we believe that Manchester Wood, our family-run, handcrafted solid wood furniture business, is part of this unfolding definition that is becoming our “New American Economy.”

Be a part of the resurgence in conscious American consumerism and support American made furniture by visiting and shopping at ManchesterWood.com.

To read the whole article Martha Stewart: ‘American Made’ salutes innovation, published by USA Today, please click here.

The ‘TV’ Tray Table at Manchester Wood

Rectangular Folding TV Tray Table Set of 4

We’ve been discussing this past week how the paradigm of TV tray tables as a genre has shifted. No more is the foldable tray table seen – as it was initially intended – for dinners in front of the television with the family gathered around.

Would it still be modern thought to consider our TV tray table sets actually TV tray tables? We don’t necessarily believe so but we’re also well aware the term has been around since the 1950’s, yet you’ll begin to find Manchester Wood has been slowly progressing past the namesake to something more contemporary in folding tray table design.

The ‘TV’ tray table in the age of advancing technology age has become a more portable folding tray; a mobile desk for laptops and tablet computers.  This is exactly what our popular Portable Folding Work and Laptop Desk has been providing since its inception a few years ago.

At Manchester Wood, we’ve been a solid wood furniture provider for over 35 years. We pride ourselves on innovation in which classical inspiration meets present fashion.  Alongside our traditional ‘TV’ trays, we also offer an array of newly designed tray tables that include folding wood and laptop desks  .

From our Contemporary designs, to our Contour, Oval, and Rectangular tray sets, all are available in either quantities of 2 or 4 trays.  They all display the distinguished quality and handcrafted precision that has made Manchester Wood the leading provider of solid wood American made furniture.

Although we’re well aware the ‘TV’ aspect of our tray tables is fading away, we acknowledge and accommodate these changing needs with open arms and creative minds to offer you the best in portable folding tray tables as we have been since 1976.

To view our TV Tray Tables, please click here.

Manchester Wood’s Halloween Costume Giveaway!

As the leaves turn, the temperatures drops, and we enjoy clear, crisp, and peaceful foliage air, Manchester Wood is excited to offer this month’s giveaway prize.  In keeping with the spirit of the season this month of October we’re offering our Step Stool FREE of charge to the best Halloween costume – past, present, or future – from childhood to adulthood, with submissions accepted via email (service@manchesterwood.com), Twitter (@manchesterwood), or Facebook with 5% off ALL our solid wood furniture items to the runner-up.

As with the rest of our hardwood furniture, the Step Stool is 100% made in the USA using sustainable North American timber. It is also part of our $64 Gifts for US Jobs Collection, which endeavors to provide ours customers with affordable products while simultaneously boosting the US economy.

Our Step Stool in Golden Oak finish

Our Step Stool can help you reach that top shelf or cabinet with ease. It’s also great for helping children reach the sink or the phone. Featuring a durable, solid wood design, the Step Stool is sturdy and stable, so you won’t have to worry about your footing while using it. Despite its sturdy design, it is also extremely light and portable.

We look forward to seeing your costumes!

God bless you,
Ed & Priscilla Eriksen
Manchester Wood: American Made Furniture

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.
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To view Manchester Wood’s online catalog, click here.

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Solid Wood Bookshelves at Manchester Wood

Manchester Wood’s solid wood bookcases are second to none.  From the Mission Underwindow Bookshelf to our Mission and Cottage Bookshelves and all the other types of bookcases we sell, we pride ourselves on the quality of our handcrafted American made furniture.  We back this up with a 100% quality guarantee on all products.

The Mission Underwindow Bookshelf with Adjustable Shelf  is small in size, but big on books. Although originally designed to sit under a window, its compact profile means it can fit in any number of tight spaces and the adjustable shelf allows maximum book storage regardless of size.

All of the solid wood bookshelves in our Mission Collection are produced from classically inspired modern designs to create solid wood furniture that offers ample storage space with three, four, or five shelves. These stylish solid wood bookcases also feature adjustable shelves to allow for items of varying heights, inspired from our “underwindow” design.

Our Cottage Bookshelf is another solid wood furniture piece that fits into small spaces but offers a lot of storage. It’s made of solid maple and is available in milk white, sage, or black lacquer finish. The Cottage Bookshelf is a solid wood bookcase that is ideal for a child’s playroom.

Manchester Wood proudly manufactures all of our solid wood furniture, including these solid wood bookshelves and solid wood bookcases, in the USA. All our items are held to the highest quality standards during production. The solid wood that we use for our eco-friendly furniture comes from sustainably managed forests in the Northeast of America.

To view our solid wood bookshelves, please click here.

Solid Wood Furniture Care Do’s and Don’ts

Richard sprays a finishing coat on our Adirondack chairs at Manchester Wood’s manufacturing plant in Granville, NY.

Whether for the home or the workplace, solid American hardwood products add a level of beauty, value, and durability second to none. Additionally, solid hardwood products, such as solid wood furniture, flooring, cabinetry, molding or furniture, can last a lifetime if one follows the guidelines listed below:

First and foremost, always remember that the three seemingly harmless occurrences below are hardwood’s worst enemies:

• Water left to puddle or stand can dull or mark the finish and, if the exposure is extreme, even warp hardwood.
• Dirt, dust and grit can dull and scratch.
• Sunlight’s ultraviolet rays, over time, can cause discoloration.

By making the following hardwood Do’s part of your routine you will find that hardwood care need not be difficult or time consuming.

• Do

Wipe up any spills immediately, using a soft, dry cloth starting at the edges of the spill and working toward the center. For hardwood furniture, use coasters, pads, cloths or runners to protect against spills and water rings.

• Do

Dust frequently, using a soft, lint-free cloth. For hardwood floors, regularly sweep with either a dust mop or broom that features exploded tips. Placing protective mats or rugs in entrances is also a helpful preventative measure to trap dirt.

• Do

Limit sunlight exposure with sheer drapes, curtains or blinds. And occasionally move area carpets to maintain a uniform appearance in a hardwood floor’s finish.

• Do

Avoid radical swings in temperature and humidity. Use a humidifier in winter and an air conditioner in summer to maintain room temperatures near 70 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit and relative humidity at 50 to 55 percent. Keep hardwood furniture away from heat sources if possible. If you must put furniture near an air duct, use a shield or guard plate to direct heat away.

• Do

Read and save the manufacturer’s care and maintenance instructions. And be sure to keep the company’s contact information for future reference.

• Don’t

Use cloths or mops dripping with water. Wood should not get wet or soaked. If it does, dry immediately.

• Don’t

Use a feather duster that could scratch the hardwood surface, or an upright vacuum with beater bars that can dent a hardwood floor’s finish. Instead vacuum frequently using a vacuum with special hardwood floor attachments.

• Don’t

Mop sealed-and-waxed hardwood floors, not even with a slightly damp mop, and never apply wax to a floor with a urethane finish.

• Don’t

Use area rugs with rubber or vinyl backing. Some materials in the backing can react with certain floor finishes, discoloring or causing the finish to become dull.

• Don’t

Expose hardwood to plastics, oils or solvents. Over time, plastic can stick to the finish and its colors can leach into the wood. Oils and alcohols, in things like nail polish remover, perfume and liquor, can dull and stain.

• And the most important Don’t of all

Don’t hesitate to incorporate hardwood into most every room. Today’s finishes make hardwood products an attractive choice that’s easy to maintain and extraordinarily beautiful.

Sections of the above tips are adapted from information on hardwoodinfo.com.

For more information on hardwood care, read Charles Sutton’s book, “How to Care for Your Old and New Wood Furniture,” sold by The Furniture Library, a research center in High Point, N.C.

Wood Desks Home Office: Mission Compact Desk

Mission Compact Desk

Developing wood desks for home is one of our specialties  at Manchester Wood thanks to the care and attention to quality that we put into the both the design and production processes. Our new Mission Compact Desk is no different. This American made solid wood desk is crafted for many uses:  in the home office, perhaps for use as a great recipe desk in the kitchen, maybe as a laptop computer desk in the study, or just the perfect size for a work nook in a small living space.

Our Mission Compact Desk is designed for those who need a good work area in a smaller space.  With a surface of over four and half square feet and classic mission lines, this hardwood desk stands out from cheaper outsourced knock-offs.

Whether the Mission Compact Desk is used in a work area for adults or by children for homework and play, its heirloom quality construction ensures that it will last for generations. A durable stain coats the finish — with either choice of Golden Oak or Chestnut — and prevents discoloration from accidental spills.

Like all of our American made furniture pieces at Manchester Wood, the Mission Compact Desk comes with our 100% quality guarantee.

Enjoy it for a lifetime and pass it on to your grandchildren.

To view and purchase our new Mission Compact Desk, please click here.

Stores Desire Made in America

Photo Courtesy of The City Wire

“I think people want to buy USA made. I want to be the proof in the pudding — yes, you can buy American made [here],” Beth Cook told The City Wire a Business, Political, and Cultural News source in Northwest Arkansas this past Monday about her store “B LaRue,” a boutique retail outlet in Rogers, Arkansas now carrying Made in the USA products. “I just want to encourage small business in America…We make quality products. And we need jobs.”

The City Wire’s article entitled “Rogers store looking for Made in America” continued with a report that shows the greatest impact outsourced goods have are in furniture and household equipment, which mainly derive from China.

“In the last decade, manufacturers rushed to China to take advantage of low wages there, which meant U.S. job losses… according to a recent report by the Boston Consulting Group, a global-management advisory firm” (The City Wire).

It’s reading articles like this every week on our news feed, whether local coverage somewhere in America (like Arkansas) or national that puts Manchester Wood and other American made manufacturers in a growing ascent towards domestic consumer justice. And for the furniture world we’re one of the few proudly left standing.

Beth Cook, The City Wire these are some of the many Americans helping raise that kind of consumer awareness on Made in USA products, and Cook’s support for Made in America in her store shows her dedication to the cause. She knows for a small store in a small town in Arkansas it’s “not likely to help the economy overall, but she hopes maybe her decision will help save one or two jobs for Americans” (The City Wire).

Cook, like many store owners beginning to stock Made in USA items not only can see the clear picture of helping create more jobs here, but also the quality and craftsmanship of Made in America “that carries a lifetime guarantee…there’s a lot of pride in American products,” she concluded.

It’s great to see people not only acknowledge the support of their fellow person by purchasing something they made, but also realizing the quality and longevity of the products like ours entirely American made solid wood furniture at Manchester Wood. These are not landfill, cheap throwaway pieces of furniture that last a few years, but a nice solid Northeastern hardwood piece to give your grand-kids. Buy American. And if you’re looking for American made furniture, buy Manchester Wood.

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.

References

Sims, Scarlet. (2012, 02 06). Rogers store looking for Made in America. The City Wire. Retrieved from http://www.thecitywire.com/node/20249

Win a Manchester Wood Chairside Storage Table!

Manchester Wood's Chairside Storage Table - Top Selling Item of 2011!

This month’s FREE item from Manchester Wood, an American made solid wood furniture company who runs a monthly giveaway series is offering this February their top selling item of 2011, the Chairside Storage Table.

With its amazing hidden storage design and Americana flavoring, this sturdy American crafted Chairside Storage Table is a customer favorite priced at $199.95, but now you can own it for FREE!

To enter the drawing for this prized piece of American made craftsmanship, invite 10 friends to “like” Manchester Wood’s Facebook page (www.Facebook.com/ManchesterWood).

Then, email service@manchesterwood.com the names of the friends who liked the page, your name, and your shipping address. This will enter you into the select raffle drawing! As with all our products, FREE shipping will be provided.

Manchester Wood offers this monthly giveaway series as a token of gratitude and thanks to their loyal consumer base that knows the quality and craftsmanship of our furniture Made in the USA.

God bless you always,

Manchester Wood: American Made Furniture

Helping the New American Consumer: Sales, Giveaways, and more!

The many reasons why Manchester Wood is the best American made furniture provider.

When it comes to classic Americana solid wood furniture with ranges in design from Adirondack, Shaker, Contemporary, Slate Top, Glass Top, Mission, Cherry, and more, Manchester Wood is a leading manufacturer of quality Made in USA furniture. Our small “mill,” as our 50-odd craftspeople would claim it, is just West of the Green Mountains in Vermont, and rests at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in New York.

With major press outlets such as NPR and ABC World News with Diane Sawyer discussing Made in the USA products and the dire need of re-growing in the marketplace for the countries well-being as a people, both monetarily and ethically. Manchester Wood is happy to say that we’re at the forefront of affordability in the quality of our heirloom furniture that is important to us, and we plan for everybody to participate and own American made solid wood furniture produced from our plant.

In order to see this plan actualized, to see Wal-Mart or Target consumerism enter more towards a world of smart shopping and ethical consumption of products, Manchester Wood is offering an extension of gratitude and thanks for our amazing customers with monthly giveaways, more sales on items, and other prizes and raffles as we continue the year in offering incentives towards the pursuit of higher consumer understanding.

This month (January) we have two great offers available with a FREE cutting board for ANY purchase, and 10% off ALL Outdoor Furniture! Simply type “FREE” for cutting board, “Early” for 10% Outdoor Furniture discount in the coupon code box at checkout.

Sign-up on our mailing list to receive these updates on all our deals by clicking here, or by visiting our website, ManchesterWood.com, our Facebook, Twitter, or Blog.

We thank you for being on the cutting edge of the new rise in American consumerism! God bless you!

A sale of Thanksgiving: 10% off ALL items!

A photo of our 10-year, 20-year, and 35-year employees!

As we extend our products to you this Holiday season we do so in Thanksgiving by offering 10% off all our items starting on Thanksgiving day (Nov. 24^th) through Cyber Monday (Nov. 28^th). We’ve been so grateful to serve you during the past 35 years with the best in American made furniture.

All you have to do is type “Thanks” in the coupon code box at checkout to receive the discount.

Manchester Wood prides itself on the fact it has been producing quality American made solid wood furniture for more than 35 years. Being a US made manufacturer gives a sense of resilience, fortitude, and an honest, real understanding of the bigger picture: helping your fellow man.

We understand times are hard, but they are getting better! A thanks is surely in store this season as an awakened spirit is hitting America! The old drudgeries of a system played to larger corporations are falling to the wayside as small businesses, like ours, hold resurgence at a time when it’s needed most.

We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your response to not only buy our furniture, but furniture made with pride and joy for living in a land so open to opportunity.

Through American made related articles, quotes of inspiration, employee prayers and updates in celebration we post on our Facebook and Twitter; to our news, insights, and sale offers we share on our blog and mailing list, we trust Manchester Wood has and will continue to provide you with more than the finest American made furniture, but also the happiness it invokes in making it for you.

God bless you this Holiday season, and remember give “Thanks” at checkout this upcoming Thanksgiving weekend!

To view Manchester Wood’s online catalog, click here.