Benefits of Buying Furniture Made In the USA

   Most products consumers buy these days are produced overseas. Most electronics Americans buy come from China. The clothing we buy is largely either from Asia and much of the furniture is made in China. This includes commercial furniture and home furniture.

There are many reasons why manufacturers moved their factories and plants to Asia. Labor is much cheaper there and labor standards are lax or nonexistent. There are fewer environmental restrictions, in fact fewer government regulations in general. Some of the natural resources such as wood for the furniture are also closer and there are fewer restrictions on harvesting it. The result is many forests have been clear-cut in an unsustainable manner. There are also fewer restrictions on quality control, so often corners are cut and some materials that are cheaper or banned in the US or Europe because of safety concerns or hazards to human health are allowed. For these reasons, many companies were willing to abandon their scruples or overlook these degradations in favor of a healthier bottom line. Also, due to the fact that the US is in recession, many American consumers were looking for the cheapest price, even though they knew they may have to sacrifice on quality.

In recent years there has been a resurgence in American manufacturing. This is also true for the furniture industry. With the economy rebounding and many Americans looking for the “Made in USA” label the manufacturing base in the US has made a recovery is certain industries. One of those industries is the commercial furniture industry. Companies such as Affordable Seating have been moving their factories back to the US from China and other countries. There are several reasons for this. One of the main reasons is shipping costs. As fuel and freight charges continue to rise. The costs saved on cheap labor fewer regulations has been offset by the high cost of transport. Also the shipping time takes much longer and for restaurant furniture manufacturers have been losing business as customers become impatient wait weeks or months waiting for their furniture to arrive, putting business on hold.

Another main reason commercial furniture has seen a resurgence in the US is because many customers are demanding products made in the USA. This is not just for patriotic reasons. While many consumers fee l good that their purchase is supporting American jobs, one of the primary reasons for the increase in demand for furniture made in the USA is because American furniture has a reputation for being high quality. In the demanding food service industry where commercial furniture is expected to withstand heavy usage, many in the restaurant and hospitality industry have found it is saves them more money in the long-term to pay a little more and get quality commercial furniture that will last a long time. Instead of having to replace chairs every few years, it is cheaper to pay more and get high restaurant seating that will last longer.

In addition to getting higher quality furniture the production and shipping time for furniture manufactured in the USA is shorter and restaurant owners can get their furniture faster. This is mainly due to geographic reasons. The distance is much shorter so consumers can get their chairs and tables in days instead of weeks. The manufactures can pass the lower shipping costs onto their customers. Also many American manufactures utilize JIT (just in time) manufacturing that allows for greater efficiency, improved quality, and faster turnaround times. This also gives customers and advantage that want to customize furniture such as restaurant booths or if they want a custom stain made for a bar stool.

Many American manufactures offer more comprehensive warranties that their competitors in Asia. They can afford to offer longer warranties because they know the furniture will last longer. Consumers also know if there are any defects they can count on support from American companies that are regulated by US laws. Often times products manufactured overseas come with outsourced support. This often results in slower response times or support from poorly trained agents who have limited knowledge or expertise on the product. Also if a damaged item such as a chair or a bar stool needs to be shipped back and replaced if the manufacturer is overseas it can be a very lengthy process. Customers that buy furniture made in the USA know that support is at most only a few hours away.