Expressions In Woodcraft Issue 4 2023

Ohio’s Amish Country Furniture District well positioned to comply with STURDY Act

Contents...

8 Ohio’s Amish Country Furniture District adapts to STURDY Act

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16 A First Look at “Generation Z” 32 Breaking News 40 SPECIAL: Preview Showcase Section 66 Index of Advertisers

FEATURED

16 ON THE COVER: It hasn’t been that long that “imperfect” wood, such as shown on this offering from Ebony Woodworking, would have been relegated to the burn pile. But today, live edge selections are incredibly popular, and show no signs of slowing down. It’s the ultimate in sustainably unique furniture. —See pages 34 and 48

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From The Publisher...

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elcome to a special edition of Expressions In Woodcraft.

Volume 12 | Number Four 2023

Jerry Klingerman: Owner, Publisher Karen Yoder: Publication Coordinator/ Graphic Artist Meredith Klingerman: Assistant Editor Published by: Dutch Country Publishing, LLC P.O. Box 248 Fredericksburg, OH 44627 Phone 330-275-8097 Fax: 888-892-0728 Send inquiries to: editor@eiwmagazine.com

facebook.com/eiwmagazine

This publication and its contents are copyright 2023, Dutch Country Publishing, LLC . Individual copyrighted items, trademarks, etc. contained within are the property of their copyright holders. No part of this publication may be reproduced or redistributed by any means without the expressed, written authorization of the publisher.

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When we introduced the magazine in 2013, the first issue went well. But between the first and second issues, we sat down and asked ourselves: How can we make the magazine more interesting to readers, and more attractive to advertisers?

What we came up with was the idea that, beginning with Volume 1 Issue 2, became our “Spotlight on Featured Designs” section. That section was an instant hit, and it’s been in every issue.

In this issue we’re introducing our first-ever “Preview Showcase” section, which begins on page 40. Here, our advertisers get to tell you a little more about themselves in an additional half-page space. We hope you enjoy reviewing that section as much as we did putting it together.

This issue also is special because it’s the first time in our 10year history that we’ve reported on legislation that directly affects (in a big way) furniture manufacturers in our region, as well as nationwide.

With the passage and implementation of the STURDY Act, case goods builders now have some very specific safety-related requirements they need to meet.

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Admittedly, I was not familiar with this issue. Given that I’ve been involved in the furniture industry for 20 years, you might find that surprising. So, I needed to educate myself.

What I found was shocking. The number of injuries and deaths associated with dresser tipover accidents gave me pause, and helped me to understand why so many people (especially parents of children who lost their lives in a tipover) worked so long and hard for this legislation.

No one wants more laws, regulations, etc. governing their lives or business, but the fact is, the STURDY Act is here. The article that begins on page 8, is our assessment of the situation, as well as an overview of what’s happening in Ohio’s Amish Country Furniture District (hint: a lot!).

In terms of the specific requirements, after a lot of thought, we decided to leave that to our friends who are building furniture and adjusting to the law.

Our article examines what led to the law’s passage, and how Ohio’s Amish Country Furniture District is responding. We encourage you to contact the builder of your choice to learn more As always, thanks for reading!

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Amish Country Furniture manufacturers weigh Sturdy Act compliance options

Time to get STURDY

By Jerry Klingerman Note: The following article is not intended to give any type of legal advice or to state specifically what laws, rules, etc. govern the subject matter discussed.

This is for informational purposes only.

In addition, we strongly encourage retail furniture stores to work directly with our manufacturing base to learn the specific solutions being implemented.

Our purpose with this article is to give some background on how the STURDY Act came to be, and how the furniture manufacturing community here in Ohio’s Amish Country Furniture District are responding.

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very 60 minutes someone in the USA enters an emergency room as the result of a furniture tipover incident. Since the year 2000, 581 people including 470 children have been killed in furniture tipover incidents. On average, 22,500 hospitalizations for tipover accidents occur annually. Many of those incidents, particularly where younger children and toddlers are concerned, have involved a dresser or other clothing storage device. Any time someone — especially a child — dies needlessly it’s a tragedy, especially if that tragedy could have been avoided.

This was the driving force behind the federal government passing the “Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth” or “STURDY” act.

By now everyone who either builds or sells furniture has heard of the STURDY Act, which was passed by the 117th Congress, and signed into law on Dec. 22, 2022. The law (which was passed as part of an Omnibus spending bill) went into full force on September 1.

In the unlikely event that you’re not familiar with this, briefly the law requires that case goods (dressers, armoires, wardrobes, and other clothing 8

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storage units) manufactured after Sept. 1, 2023 be compliant with a ruling that, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which is the enforcing agency, “seeks to reduce the unreasonable risk of injury and death to children up to 72 months of age associated with clothing storage units tipping over.

Even though it’s intended to protect children, the new law does not apply to children’s furniture exclusively. It applies to “free-standing clothing storage units, including but not limited to chests, chests of drawers, drawer chests, armoires, chifferobes, bureaus, door chests, and dressers, which are 27 inches or greater in height, 30 lbs. or greater in mass, and contain 3.2 cubic feet or greater of enclosed storage volume.”

As is quite often the case, when a law is passed, a designated government agency then writes “rules” which implement the legislation, and have the effect of law. In this case, implementation was assigned to the CPSC which was tasked with implementing the STURDY Act. CPSC is one of the more active government agencies and has a long track record not only of alerting consumers to potential hazards, but also of being the driving force behind product recalls or modifications, when hazards are revealed. It also holds manufacturers and retailers accountable for defective products, levying fines that often run into the millions.

Unfortunately, as is the case with the STURDY Act, recalls and enforcement normally only take place after injuries or deaths have occurred. That is, products that pose a threat to the public are modified or recalled as a result of someone being injured or killed.

Side note: In a previous position, I was the recipient of dozens and dozens of press releases

from the CPSC. Where specific brands are concerned, there is no way CPSC would have waited so long to take action with this many deaths and injuries involved. (In fact, as we conducted research for this article, the CPSC website lists more than 250 product recalls in 2023 alone.) It’s probably fair to say that because there was not a specific brand or model of furniture involved, it was a difficult issue to tackle.

For years, this fact was the source of much frustration among advocates who championed legislative efforts. Groups such as Parents Against Tipovers (PAT), which is comprised of parents whose children were killed in tipovers, long voiced their frustration at the lack of legislative intervention. (See sidebar, “Meghan’s story.”) But, again, no specific product brand or model could be singled out, so there needed to be an industry-wide solution; and that proved to be a herculean task.

Indeed, as PAT indicated in a Sept. 1 press release celebrating the STURDY Act becoming law, the effort to address the issue of tipovers goes back at least 20 years. According to Consumer Reports, “The legislation originally passed in the US House

of Representatives in September 2019 but did not come to a vote in the Senate,” before that term of Congress ended. In the next Congress, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) sponsored the legislation that became law in the House, along with Sen. Robert Casey, (D-PA) who sponsored it in the Senate.

Prior to the STURDY Act being passed, safety concerns were mostly addressed by a wall anchor system that either was included with many massproduced furniture items, or could be purchased at a variety of retail stores. While the CPSC launched a campaign called “Anchor it!” to promote wall anchors, that was not a substitute for strong legislation. Expressions In Woodcraft spoke to a number of furniture builders on a wide range of topics with respect to the STURDY Act, including the wall anchor system.

The builders we spoke with believe, to a person, that many consumers are unlikely to use a wall anchor system. First, there is the task of actually installing the system: Gathering tools, finding a wall stud, attaching the furniture, etc. Next, is the fact that the system has to be reinstalled any time a Continued on page 10 >>>

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five employees, including the owner) are well positioned to comply with the law. He explained room is rearranged. While this might not happen that, “We hand-craft our pieces. You have a huge often, it does happen, and requires the entire advantage,” because local builders can make process to be repeated any time furniture is moved. adjustments themselves, as needed, as opposed to Finally, the wall anchor system does not take into large manufacturers. “You can tinker with your account the fact that renters are reluctant to install pieces in a way that giant manufacturers can’t. They the wall anchors for fear that they will lose their have huge assembly lines, and it’s incredible the damage deposit when they move. costs they have to make these All that being said, how changes.” Mullet said overseas Key points: have manufacturers in Ohio’s producers, and even some USAmish Country Furniture • Consumers and advocacy groups have based producers are “going to been trying to get some type of tipover legis- struggle to make the simple District responded to the STURDY Act? Briefly put, they lation passed for nearly 20 years. and quick adjustments that we • Since 2000, 470 children, and 111 adults are being very proactive. This can make,” and that “it’s going have died in tipover accidents. is now the law, and local to be expensive for them • Every 60 minutes, someone in the USA manufacturers have been while.” goes to the emergency room as the result of preparing for its Complying with a tipover accident. implementation for many government regulations, etc.

• The STURDY act covers a very specific months. can be difficult, and might group of case goods/clothing storage units.

Major case in point: • Manufacturers in Ohio’s Amish Country seem daunting to some In June of this year the Furniture District have been preparing for people. But Mullet is very Hardwood Furniture Guild compliance well before the Sept. 1 deadline optimistic the situation and (HFG), a Millersburg, OHpassed. said, “I have unwavering • Due to its high-quality, sturdy nature, based organization that belief that this STURDY Act is many case goods built by Amish furniture provides advocacy, education a great opportunity. It’s manufacturers are not difficult to bring into and marketing for furniture actually a blessing for us, as compliance. builders, finishers and small batch producers,” when supporting organizations, held • Consumers can expect a rise in prices based on compliance, but many manufactur- compared with the Big Box an informational seminar for producers. “We’re already ers are still determining work flows, the its members near Charm, OH. building products that are amount of time involved, etc. to determine HFG Executive Director durable, they’re heavy, (and) their added costs.

Kendrick Mullet, who has a they’re robust.” He said local strong background in the local manufacturers are “going to hardwood furniture industry, led the seminar and have to make very few changes” to bring their outlined the law, its ramifications, requirements and products into compliance, and that represents a solutions. A significant portion of the HFG’s huge opportunity versus Big Box producers, who are membership was represented at the meeting. This going to face manufacturing challenges — and was a hands-on event, and Mullet did a point-byspend lots of money — to bring their products into point analysis of the testing, labeling and certificate compliance. requirements that were enacted as part of the law.

Mullet told the members he has been in contact The analysis was thorough, and one point of with third-party testing facilities that are testing interest is the fact that the HFG even worked with a pieces from companies that mass produce case local printing shop to come up with a product label goods and “all of those pieces; they’re not passing.” that meets the law’s very specific requirements.

He said those manufacturers are using thinner, Mullet expressed his belief that, by the very cheaper materials that simply won’t stand up to nature of the Amish-built furniture industry, the individual manufacturers (which average three to Continued on page 14 >>>

STURDY Act Continued from page 9

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STURDY Act Continued from page 10

hardware suppliers (Keim Lumber and Hershberger Hardware) are offering interlocking slides that help STURDY requirements, and “everything that they make the furniture meet requirements. In summary, put into their pieces of furniture” to make them key changes builders are implementing include: compliant “is going to increase substantially their • Using interlocking drawer slides costs. There have to be big adjustments made.”

• Shortening drawer boxes slightly In Mullet’s view, this presents a huge opportunity • In some cases, adding counterweights for furniture manufacturers in Ohio’s Amish Country • Manufacturing some pieces (namely Furniture District. “We’re going to level the playing nightstands) to a height of 27 inches or less. field. Our furniture is going to be better quality, for A recurring theme seemed to include that most better price and better value, as these Big Box will be keeping full-extension drawer slides manufacturers adjust to these rules. He continued, (because other measures will bring the products into “I think retail stores are going to seek out Americancompliance). Manufacturers realize that using 3/4 made products that are well built and that meet drawer slides is a partial solution, but they also these tests.” Speaking directly to the audience he know that in recent years consumers have enjoyed said, “I encourage you to embrace it, to adhere to it and become accustomed to full-extension slides. (and) recognize the positive Drawer box depth also will long-term affect it’s going to figure into the solution. In “I have unwavering belief that have…don’t lose sight of the some cases, shortening a big picture.” this STURDY Act is a great drawer box by 3/4of an inch, Since the meeting the HFG or an inch, will help with the opportunity. It’s actually a reports that many overall process of making a manufacturers have found blessing for us, as small batch piece compliant. they can make their pieces And, while some producers,” when compared with STURDY Act compliant with manufacturers already have the Big Box producers. just a few additions/ calculated the surcharges — Kendrick Mullet, Executive Director, modifications. They “passed necessary to bring their the tests very quickly with the Hardwood Furniture Guild products into compliance, simple additions of interlocks other are still working to and counterweights. It’s safe to determine that. One manufacturer reported that they say that quality hardwood furniture continues to are “adding a moderate cost to our pieces to cover stand the test of time, with many Ohio the cost of the changes.” He said they had not yet manufacturers, especially in Amish communities, determined the actual amount of labor time successfully transitioning to become STURDY Act involved, but “It dose take some added time in the compliant.” whole process.”

At Expressions In Woodcraft our conversations Closing thoughts: with local manufacturers indicate that most case The STURDY Act is a major change, but goods builders have been working on compliance manufacturers in Ohio’s Amish Country Furniture well in advance of the Sept. 1 deadline. We also got District have found that, for the most part, their an up-close look at one of the interlocking slides products can be brought into compliance with just a that are being offered. It seemed to operate few key modifications. Overall, this is a learn-assmoothly and, if a builder’s piece is otherwise you-go process, but if this region has proved compliant, could prove to be a key part of satisfying anything over the years it’s that they can respond the requirements of the law. quickly and positively to challenges.

We encourage retailers to contact the local See sidebar, “Meghan’s Story” on page 28 manufacturers of their choice to learn the specific of how furniture is being made STURDY Act compliant. We will say that, locally, two leading 14

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Gen Z poised to flex its muscles They’ve never known a time without the Internet.

They’ve never used a VCR, and most probably don’t own a DVD player. They don’t even know how to operate a rotary phone.

“They” are Gen Z, and they are quickly storming into their power buying years.

By Jerry Klingerman

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on’t look now, but the Selfie Generation is coming of age.

If marketing to Millennials proved daunting or even a bit scary, you might want to sit down: Gen Z is about to enter its power buying years.

With Millennials now cruising into ~gasp!~ their 40s, the generation right behind them is now beginning to flex its muscles in the workforce and the marketplace.

Definitions vary, but “Generation Z” or “Gen Z” as they are referred to, are defined by those individuals born from the mid1990s to the early 2010s. They range in age from schoolkids to 27 years old +/-.

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While Baby Boomers and Millennials combine for disposable income spending power approaching $1 Trillion annually in the USA, Gen Z’s buying power currently sits at a staggering $360 billion annually, and that figure grows every year.

Further, Gen Z is expected to make up 25% of the active workforce by 2025 (don’t look now, but that’s barely a year away!) And like the Millennials who made marketing waves before them, Gen Z also is a massive group in terms of its sheer size:

The US Census Bureau reports that Gen Z encompasses 25 percent of the current US population. At approx. 70 million, they come in just behind Millennials (73 million) and just ahead of Boomers at 68.5 million.

Admittedly, a good portion of this generation is still in school; but just as many of them are not, and they’re already in the workforce and leading “grownup” lives. Side note: Virtually every source we used for this article reported something interesting, if not curious: Even Gen Z’ers who are not yet adults have influence on buying decisions. Parents of Z’ers across the board admit that they rely on their children to have input in purchasing decisions. So, if that $360 billion figure were adjusted accordingly, it no doubt would be much higher!

Expressions In Woodcraft has written extensively about Millennials going back to our very first issues 10 years ago. So it feels a bit weird to begin talking about the next generation. But, like it or not hear they come!

The good news is, they do bear some striking similarities to their Millennial counterparts. (Pro tip: Do NOT directly compare Millennials to Gen Z. Goodness knows why, but there is a notorious Continued on page 20 >>>

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Gen Z Continued from page 17 generational rift between these two groups.)

Probably the best way to explain the similarities is, where Millennials remember when various Social Media apps were introduced, Gen Z has always had those tools. We are not, by the way, referring to Facebook. Make that remark within earshot of a Gen Z-era individual and you’ll most likely be met with eye rolls and/or laughter. To them Facebook is for “old people.”

Multiple sources report that the most popular Social Media apps among Z’ers are, in order: • TikTok • Snapchat • Instagram According to Ypulse.com, 76 percent of the entire demographic is on TikTok. That figure represents the first time the platform has surpassed all other Social Media platforms for Gen Z use. (Instagram is #1 across all age groups.)

Stick with us here. You may be wondering how this affects you, but it does — or, as was the case

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when Millennials began entering the market, it will. The point of presenting you this information is this: While they’re on TikTok, these young people are being exposed to advertising messages. Translation: this is how marketers are reaching Gen Z. From a social science standpoint, the massive adoption of short-burst video-based Social Media is cause for concern. We’ll try not to go too deep into the weeds, but TikTok is quite purposely designed to trigger a dopamine release in the brain’s pleasure centers. That is, there’s a certain amount of satisfaction in watching those 15- to 30-second video snippets…one after another. As Ypulse.com reports, “45% of Gen Z TikTok users spend three or more hours a day on TikTok, with 18% saying they spend five or more on the app daily.”

In fact, the effect is so powerful that it has led to a phenomenon that Wall Street Journal writer Julie Jargon has named “TikTok brain.” (see sidebar) If you’re wondering why younger people seem to have zero attention span, this is why.

Continued on page 24 >>>

What is dopamine, and why is it important when talking about Social Media The pursuit of a reaction in the reward system in your brain drives endless scrolling through TikTok videos. The platform is a "dopamine machine," John Hutton, a pediatrician and director of the Reading & Literacy Discovery Center at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, told Jargon.

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that the brain releases when it's expecting a reward. "A flood of dopamine reinforces cravings for something enjoyable, whether it's a

tasty meal, a drug or a funny TikTok video," Jargon explained in the Journal.

Dopamine produces feelings of pleasure and motivates you to seek more. "When you scroll and hit upon something that makes you laugh, your brain receives a hit of dopamine," neuropsychologist Dr. Sanam Hafeez told Bustle.

"When you see something you don't like, you can quickly pivot to something that produces more dopamine," she explains. Repeating this cycle could eventually train your brain to crave the rewards you get from shorter content.

Source: theweek.com

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Gen Z Continued from page 20 Again, not to go too deep into the science (or the social ramifications), but as Forbes.com adds, TikTok is like “digital crack cocaine.” That is, it’s designed to make the viewer want more and more. A growing number of reputable people and organizations (such as Dr. John Hutton; see sidebar on page 21) agree, and are reporting about this.

TheWeek.com cited Jargon’s article when it said, “The platform hosts an endless stream of bite-size videos, delivering entertaining content in as little as 15 seconds. Young people who binge-watch shortform content like TikTok or Instagram Reels find it harder ‘to participate in activities that don't offer instant gratification.’”

TikTok is the market leader here, but virtually every Social Media or video platform that supports user-uploaded content is in on the act. Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc. all allow some formed of limited-length videos to be shared online.

All of this is not necessarily new, but it’s definitely become far more deliberate.

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Given what we shared earlier about buying power and the age ranges that encompass Gen Z, this is what we would say: These apps are where your customers live. This is how they consume content.

Let’s look at it in another slightly different way.

How do you want to reach new buyers?

Newspaper? They’ve barely ever read one, and certainly won’t subscribe. Ever.

Radio? They don’t “listen to the radio.” They use Spotify or other music apps so they can hear exactly wat they want, when they want, even/especially in their cars.

Television: Gen Z (and Millennials) don’t “watch TV” in the historical sense. They don’t tune in to real-time broadcasts to see what’s on. They are using streaming apps like Amazon Prime, Netflix, Hulu, Paramount+, Apple TV, etc. to “watch TV.” Are you beginning to get the picture?

It’s not just how this generation consumes content that’s different. How they shop also is very, very different.

The good news is, like their Millennial predecessors, Gen Z shoppers do, in fact, like going to physical stores to shop. But they will have done their homework online before they set foot inside.

Their research will almost certainly have been triggered by something they saw on Social Media, and will have been followed up by product research that — with almost 100 percent certainty — will include checking out reviews. We’ve previously reported that Millennials are more apt to trust online reviews from people they don’t know, more than recommendations from friends and family. Gen Z is the same.

Consider: “A whopping 97% of Gen Z shoppers claim that they get their inspiration from social media. This suggests that partnering with influencers and content creators is highly important.”

(The Influencer Marketing Factory) That’s very powerful, but in some ways, it makes sense. Online reviews are an aggregate of how people truly feel about a product. Throw out the

“outliers,” meaning the very best and very worst reviews, and you’re likely to get a very accurate picture of how good or bad a product is. (This is why Jeff Bezos is one of the richest people in the world!). Another previously used example is the shopper who comes into your store with images on their phone or iPad. That’s happening more and more with today’s furniture shoppers, and it won’t be long before it’s simply how things are done.

Reaching Gen Z customers will most likely prove to be the biggest challenge for bricks-andmortar businesses; far more challenging than Millennials. That’s not to say it can’t be done. It’s being done right now. But as Gen Z ages out of their mid 20s, and into their 30s (when they start hitting even more buying power) their purchasing processes and decisions will be driven in very different ways than previous generations. Again, these kids are living (and have lived) 100 percent digital lives. That’s where their buying journey begins, expands and ends.

Continued on page 26 >>>

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Gen Z Continued from page 25 We also need to make mention of the “influencer” effect. Brands of all kinds are paying wellknown influencers or people who otherwise have large Social Media followings, BIG money to promote their brands.

The concept itself isn’t new, it’s just been updated for the 21st century. Example: In the early days of network television, brands sponsored TV shows and paid starts like Lucille Ball and Andy Griffith to take a moment (sometimes live) within their shows to promote their products.

That same thing is very much being used today, but — just as Andy Warhol predicted 50 years ago — almost anyone can become an influencer and ern their “15 minutes of fame.” There is lots and lots of money being paid to influencers today.

Two of the most prominent examples (of people you may never have heard of) are the YouTube king Jimmy Donaldson, aka “Mr. Beast,” who went from an unknown teen to now earning hundreds of millions of dollars in his 20s, to Ryan Kaji, a 10-yearold who has been a YouTuber since age three, and now has amassed a $140 million fortune, all of which began with him unboxing toys and reviewing them. (Yes, you read that right: In seven short years, a child has made $140 million, unwrapping toys and playing with them.) At just 10 years old, he is arguably the most successful influencer who was not previously a celebrity.

Celebrity influencers is a completely different ball game, but they, too, can amass amazing paydays for endorsing products.

Snapchat.com for business says, “Put as simply as possible, to effectively engage Gen Z consumers, businesses have to understand the way they operate and then adapt their marketing strategies accordingly… If you want to reach Gen Z, you’ve got to be willing to meet them on their own digital and compositional turf.

Let’s end with a positive lookahead: Baby Boomers still have the most buying power — by far — at $548 billion annually. Next come the Millennials, with 400+ billion, but a close third is Gen Z, 26

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with $360 billion.

What does all this mean for you, as a marketer of fine-quality hardwood furniture? Probably not a whole lot, yet. But let’s qualify that: Gen Z is not the only demographic group using TikTok or Instagram. Millennials, too, are all over those platforms.

Both of those demographic groups know full well that when they log into their favorite apps, they’re going to be “served” advertisements. So, while they might binge their favorite shows ad-free, they accept seeing ads on other platforms.

Just as we’ve always said, ignore these changes at your peril. That doesn’t mean you have to become an expert on advertising on these apps. The experts are already out there. All you need to do is connect with them. But in terms of Gen Z, it is worth noting that this pretty much the only way you’re going to reach effectively them. (Targeted saturation mail also will reach them, but with a lot of wasted coverage.) The beauty of these apps is you can laser-target your audience with lots of data points so you know you’re reaching your target audience.

This is our very first look at Gen Z in these pages, but it won’t be our last. Just as we followed Millennials from their early 30s into their 40s, we’ll continue to chronicle the next generation of buyers.

We’ll conclude with good news, as reported by theshelf.Com: “For Generation Z, money is a HUGE motivator. When it comes to things that matter to Gen Z, 62 percent of those polled say that success matters to them. More than any other generation, they would say that challenging themselves, upskilling and making progress are high on their list of important values.

Twenty-something Gen Zers are shopping for homes already. And they’re not doing the tiny house thing. They want 2,000+ sq ft and are willing to buy a fixer-upper at a lower price to get it.” Another source reported that 46 percent of Gen Z wants to buy a house by 2026.

Remember: Houses need furniture!

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Meghan’s Story: How one mother refused to accept the staus quo There are many (too many) stories of tragedy involving from PAT said, “We now finally have a strong, effective furniture tipovers. One of those is the story of Meghan and enforceable mandatory safety and stability standard Beck, who died at age three in 2004 as the result of a that addresses the real-world causes of dresser and other tipover accident. (You can read Meghan’s story at clothing storage furniture tip-overs. www.meghanshope.org.)

Expressions In Woodcraft contacted Amato for comUnfortunately, as her parents discovered in the afterment regarding the passage of the STURDY act, and our math, the circumstances of Meghan’s death are not community’s response. She said, “We are thrilled to hear unique. They are, in fact, eerily similar to hundreds of about the work the Amish woodcraft industry has done to other known cases: A child is put to bed, or down for a be compliant with the STURDY Act and the new mandanap, and parents or caregivers return later only to distory standard. She added, “PAT has strongly encouraged cover that the child has died — without warning, and all manufacturers and retailers to make and sell clothing without a sound. The child dies as a result of a dresser tipstorage furniture that is compliant with the new mandaping over on them, and, because the furniture is on top of tory standard as quickly as possible, especially now that them, they were unable to cry for help or otherwise make it's been more than two months since the mandatory rule a sound. went into effect.”

Many parents of tipover victims were sad, frustrated Amato also said, “We also strongly suggest that retailand angry to learn that tipover deaths and injuries are not ers educate consumers both in their showrooms and at “freak accidents,” but altogether too common. But the point of sale that they are selling compliant furniture Meghan’s mother, Kimberly Amato, refused to accept that and why that is important for the safety of children who nothing could be done to live in or visit their prevent future injuries and homes. deaths from tipovers.

Amato continued She became a tireless by saying, PAT advocate not only for edu“strongly encourage(s) cating parents about the retailers to educate dangers of tipovers, but consumers about the also for legislation to comimportance of anchorpel manufacturers to make ing all furniture with construction changes that doors, drawers and reduce tipovers. shelves, even those Amato is a founding outside the scope of member and vice chair of the furniture covered “Parents Against Tipovers,

by The STURDY Act, or “PAT.” She also is a to reduce the risk of “CPSC Anchor It” commutip-over injuries and nity leader (and appears in Kimberly Amato (Front row, center) celebrates with other members of deaths to children a CPSC video public serv- “Parents Against Tipovers (PAT), all of whom are holding signed copies wherever that furniice announcement) and is of the STURDY Act, and pictures of their respective children who died ture is sold and in the in tipover accidents. US Sen. Bob Casey, and Rep. Jan Shakowsky, who home.” a vocal advocate for sponsored the legislation, are shown in the back row at left. tipover prevention and Finally, “It's impormandatory and stronger furniture safety standards. Amato tant for consumers to realize that this new safety standard is a voting member of ASTM’s subcommittee on furniture only applies to dressers and certain types of clothing storsafety, and her organization, Meghan's Hope, is a memage manufactured after Sept. 1, 2023.” Which means that ber of the International Association for Child Safety. current inventories and items purchased second-hand Amato “has been interviewed by numerous local and aren’t compliant. So, Amamto said, “For this reason, we national TV and print media outlets, presents locally and strongly recommend all furniture with drawers, doors, nationally on the subject of tip-overs, and is considered a and shelves be properly anchored to the wall to protect thought leader when it comes to advocacy and tip-over against tip-over.” awareness and prevention.”

Upon the STURDY Act becoming law, a news release 28

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OHFM to be held at single location in 2024 For a handful of years now, we’ve reported that the annual Hardwood Furniture Market is held in two separate locations in Ohio’s Amish Country Furniture District. The biggest issue was, even though there were nice, new facilities in both locations, there just wasn’t enough room for all of the exhibitors who wanted to display available at a single location.

That has officially changed.

On April 2 and 3, 2024, the annual Ohio Hardwood Furniture Market (OHFM) will be held at a single location at the Mt. Hope Auction campus in Mt. Hope, OH. Yes, it will be in more than one building, but the bottom line is attendees will no

longer have to drive from Millersburg to Mt. Hope to see all of the displays.

This is especially important, since this year’s introduction of the “Showcase House,” which proved to be extremely popular. Expressions In Woodcraft will report more on this in our next issue, but briefly, the Showcase House was a complete house (sans roof) built inside the Mt. Hope Event Center.

Furniture builders from across Ohio’s Amish Country Furniture District who are members of the Hardwood Furniture Guild submitted proposed pieces to place in each of the rooms, and a nineperson panel chose the winning entries.

Hardwood Furniture Guild Executive Director Kendrick Mullet told The (Homes County) Bargain Hunter, “We received an overwhelming response with 323 entries across 25 different categories of furniture,” Mullet said. “A panel of nine judges then had the tough task of selecting the winning piece in each category, and it took them all day to sift through and choose the winning pieces that went into designing the home.”

Next year’s Showcase House will build on the excitement an success of this year’s.

Over the years the show dates also have fluctuated a bit as well, but the Early April date (mostly) ensures that winter weather won’t be an issue, either. Now, as surely as we say that, an early spring snowstorm could surprise everyone, but for the most part we can count of winter being over.

When you add in the fact that Ohio’s Amish Country is a joy to behold in any season, especially spring, you get several great reasons to attend the 2024 OHFM! Lead times normalize, furniture sales nationwide show steady growth In the aftermath of th global pandemic, furniture lead times in Ohio’s Amish Country Furniture Dis-

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trict skyrocketed like never before. Consumers nationwide took the opportunity during those stay-athome days to redecorate thier homes. As a result, lead times that had never really gone beyond 12 weeks ballooned to as long as 32 weeks (or more).

Today, lead times have returned to a window that is generally six to 10 weeks, give or take week or two — and not counting for Quick Ship items.

Most of the builders we’ve spoken with in recent weeks have voiced the exact same sentiment: While they were grateful for the work, they’re just as happy to be able to return to normal lead times.

Nationwide, it looks like the furniture industry can expect solid growth for the foreseeable future.

Statistica, which tracks and reports on a

wide variety of market-based statistics including furniture sales, reported earlier this summer that US furniture sales will increase just under four percent for all of 2023. Further, the market is projected to continue its upswing for the foreseeable future.

While no one expects the crazy growth of 20202021, its’ good to see an optimistic forecast.

Send your news items to: editor@eiwmagazine.com

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Welcome...

To our first-ever “Preview Showcase” section. In this special edition of Expressions In Woodcraft we gave our supporters the opportunity to tell you a little more about their business.

We hope you enjoy reading these pages as much as we had putting them together. Enjoy!

For additional copies, or to be included in the next one, please contact us at: Editor@eiwmagazine.com 330-275-8097 Fax: 888-892-0728

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INDEX Of Advertisers

Business Name Address A&L Furniture OHIO 8286 SR 241 A&L Furniture PENNSYLVANIA 112 four wheel dr AnnDrew Enterprises 3470-B St. Rte 39 Ashery Oak 8959 TR 652 Ashery Woodworking 9628 Massillon rd Barkman Furniture 2550 TR 121 Blu Furniture 6679 Blough Ave Brookside Wood Products 11212 Ely Rd Buckeye Rockers 1624 CR 600 Buss Woodcraft 3820 Buss Rd Country Bedding 2696 S. Carr Rd. Country Comfort Woodworking 10683 Massillon Rd. Country Corner Woodworking 8495 Fredericksburg Rd Deer Valley Woodworking 32441 CR 12 Dutch Valley Woodcraft 5833 TR 610 Ebony Woodworking 6470 TR 603 Emerson Woodcraft 11604 Emerson Rd. Farmstead Acres Wood 9106 CR 201 Farmside Furniture 8418 TR 654 Farmside Wood 11833 Harrison Rd Finishing Designs 6455 TR 351 Flat Ridge Furniture 4500 TR 119 Fredericksburg Finishing 8600 CR 201 Gable Valley Wrought Iron 13613 Burkhart Rd Gliders By Miller 9111 TR 659 Hardwood Furniture Guild 6 W. Jackson St. Hermies Table Shop 8977 TR 652 Hickory Lane Woodworking 5884 Tr 608 Hidden Hollow Wood and Upholstery 9165 TR 656 Hillside Chair 8413 TR 652 Horseshoe Bend Chair 6169 S. Kansas Rd. Meadow Wood Furniture 6110 S. Kansas Rd. Millcraft Furniture Ltd. 4201 CR 168 Miller’s Woodshop 1398 TR 661 Millwood Wholesale 7969 TR 662 North End Woodcraft 208 N. Carr Rd. Outdoor Retreat 8668 Alabama Ave. SW Pioneer Woodworking 9210 SR 241 Quad M Rustics 4929 TR 356 Quality Fabrications 7108 TR 569 Quality Wood Products 543 SR 95 Rainbow Bedding 3550 TR 166 Ridge View Woodcraft 6464 Harrison Rd. RT Wood Products 13070 Nisley Rd. Rustic Barrel Design 3552 CR 160 Salt Creek Bedding 13155 Salt Creek Rd. Salt Creek Tables 10191 Salt Creek Rd. Schlabach Finishing 8261 Winklepleck Rd Superior Woodcrfts 12022 CR 20 Timberside Woodworking 2853 CR 200 Troy Lane Woodcraft 8237 Nonpariel Rd Troyer's Woodcraft 4911 Mt. Hope Rd. Wengerd Wood Products 8618 CR 201 Y&T Woodcraft 10861 Lautenschlager Rd

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City Fredericksburg Rebersburg Millersburg Fredericksburg Dundee Millersburg Navarre Apple Creek Baltic Wooster Apple Creek Fredericksburg Fredericksburg Fresno Fredericksburg Millersburg Apple Creek Fredericksburg Fredericksburg Apple Creek Millersburg Millersburg Fredericksburg Orrville Dundee Millersburg Fredericksburg Fredericksburg Fredericksburg Millersburg Apple Creek Apple Creek Millersburg Dundee Dundee Orrville Navarre Fredericksburg Millersburg Fredericksburg Loudonville Sugarcreek Fredericksburg Fredericksburg Millersburg Fredericksburg Fredericksburg Dundee Middlebury Dundee Fredericksburg Apple Creek Fredericksburg Apple Creek

State OH pa OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH OH IN OH OH OH OH OH

ZIP 44627 16872 44654 44627 44624 44654 44662 44606 43804 44691 44606 44627 44627 43824 44627 44654 44606 44627 44627 44606 44654 44654 44627 44667 44624 44654 44627 44627 44654 44654 44606 44606 44654 44624 44624 44667 44662 44627 44654 44627 44842 44681 44627 44627 44654 44627 44627 44624 46540 44624 44627 44606 44627 44606

Phone 330-674-5725 814-349-8020 330-893-4280 330-946-2600 330-275-8918 330-893-2520 330-600-4794 330-749-3758 330-897-2193 330-462-1315 330-621-2246 330-964-3664 330-695-4408 740-622-1386 330-466-8321 330-279-2102 330-749-0207 330-695-2089 330-359-0381 330-695-5100 330-600-8315 330-893-3474 330-473-3216 330-466-0240 330-359-0151 330+231-5125 330-946-2700 330-231-7143 NA 330-359-5991 330-521-4522 330-698-0370 330-893-0022 330-359-5757 330-359-6109 330-466-1828 300-600-118 NA 330-893-3729 330-695-2478 419-368-3165 330-852-3127 NA NA 330-763-1829 NA NA 330-852-1125 574-825-4692 330-359-0966 330-601-6603 330-763-3758 330-439-3565 330-464-3432

Fax Ad on Page 330-674-0341 12 814-346-1025 68 330-893-4281 18 330-946-6100 13 330-698-3200 69 330-893-2522 36 330-600-2636 18 330-682-8732 30 330-897-2197 70 330-698-3200 22 330-698-3200 15 330-698-3200 7 330-695-9876 27 740-622-0677 30 330-698-3200 22 844-415-1713 34 330-682-0740 25 330-695-2189 71 212-591-6227 15 330-695-2027 3 330-695-3200 39 330-698-3200 35 NA 23 330-516-1630 27 330-359-2080 7 NA 9 330-682-0740 35 330-682-0740 29 330-698-3200 23 330-359-5997 33 330-682-0740 11 330-698-3200 39 330-893-0044 24 330-359-5588 20 330-359-6208 4 330-698-3200 31 330-809-1471 31 330-698-3200 13 330-893-0729 67 330-473-1359 Back Cover 419-368-3166 38 330-852-1956 34 330-695-2189 38 NA 32 330-698-3200 29 330-359-2116 67 NA 23 330-852-1126 21 574-825-4592 19 330-698-3200 19 330-698-3200 11 330-641-9332 37 330-695-2189 2 330-828-0886 12

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