Builder Spotlight Fall 2023

Furniture manufacturers across Ohio have been facing a slow season these past few months. Many companies saw the need for creative solutions to make new connections and pick up more business. Slow seasons affect all of the market and create a greater dependency between retailers, manufacturers, and consumers. Times like these cultivate the partnerships they can establish and maintain.

One of these sustaining partnerships occurred this year between Berlin Woodworking out of Berlin, Ohio, and Vaughan Basset in Galax, Virginia. Vaughan Basset was looking for dining chairs for their new dining room collections and was recommended to contact Berlin Woodworking.

Gary and his son, Anthony Troyer, were eager to take on the project at their chair shop in Berlin. They agreed to begin designing and prototyping chairs for the Vaughan Basset tables in May 2023.

“This opportunity filled our slow season,” Anthony Troyer stated. “We had back-to-back orders of prototypes that we had to finish before July 4th…our shop was ready for the job.” Communications stayed steady and Berlin Woodworking worked hard to meet Vaughan Bassets expectations. It wasn’t long before the prototypes were approved and they had their first official bulk order from Vaughan Basset.

Though many complications and challenges with this project could have occurred, Berlin Woodworking’s team took to the high-volume orders very well. Their work environment grew into a healthy community, and they’ve continually met deadlines for the new bulk orders. “Vaughan Basset is a great company to work with,” Gary and Anthony Troyer commented. “Their vendor relationship is incredible and you can tell they care about us.”

“We strive for service,” Gary Troyer added. “I enjoy the connection with our customers and suppliers.” Berlin Woodworking desires to treat every order with the utmost importance and grow alongside its retail partners. They value every store owner and the values they stand on, including the mom-and-pop shops they hope will continue being successful.

This kind of connection is what we hope to see throughout Ohio. Berlin Woodworking has proven that partnerships in the furniture industry are about more than products. They are a means of creating a livelihood, community, and meaningful relationships. Every interaction matters.