Made By Hickory Chair

Doing The Right Thing

My grandmother loved catching us doing something good.  She would smile, give us a big hug and thank us for seeing something positive that could be done for someone else.  It could be picking up a piece of litter, simply playing nicely with each other or running inside to get help for a baby bird that had fallen from its nest. 

We celebrate this spirit each day at Hickory Chair. We call it EDGE (Employees Dedicated to Growth and Excellence).  It is our journey of environmental stewardship and continuous improvement. We set internal goals and celebrate when we reach them (notice the circus tent!).  We celebrate recycling and repurposing efforts.  We love celebrating when we have designed the waste from the product itself so that there is nothing to be recycled or repurposed.  We celebrate safety, quality and other valuable goals.  

 We set a goal to become EFEC (Effecting Furniture's Environmental Culture) registered by the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AFHA) and reached it in 2008.  We entered the contest for the first SAGE Award that was co-sponsored by the AHFA and Cargill.  We won not because of making the greenest product but because of a company-wide culture of doing the right thing... conserving materials and time, recycling and repurposing, and other efforts to control waste and the associated costs.  In 2010 we earned Sustainable By Design (SBD) registration also from the AHFA.  When a drought hit in 2010 we encouraged our employees to conserve water... let us know when a sink or water fountain had a trip or a toilet that ran.  Once everyone knew it was important and worked together, we reduced our water useage by 50%! 

With the rising cost of energy, we asked our team to help us reduce our need for power.  We began by turning off lights when we left our office or work station for meetings or breaks and this lead to turning off computers at night, not printing pages if they were not essential and other acts.  Our maintenance department replaced bulbs with energy saving styles along with new ballasts.  They installed heat reflective roofing in areas ready to be replaced.  The company then signed up for the program that would allow our power company, Duke Energy, to cut our power if a shortage occured due to cold or hot weather.  These countless acts of wise use of resources were noticed.  Hickory Chair was chosen as a 2010 Power Partner along with The Kroger Company - Cincinnati, Ohio; Greater Clark County Schools - Clark County, Indiana; Fabri-Kal - Greenville, South Carolina, Techtronic Industries - Anderson, South Carolina, the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System - Charlotte, North Carolina, DataChambers/Salem Business Park - Winston Salem, North Carolina; Davidson College - Davidson, North Carolina Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center - Winston Salem, North Carolina and Wells Fargo / Wachovia Bank - Charlotte, North Carolina.

On May 2nd, Hickory Chair had planned a picnic lunch for all 450 employees to celebrate a 100% safety record for the year.  Duke Energy contacted us about presenting Hickory Chair's employees with the 2010 Power Partner Award.  In addition, the AHFA had completed the hand carved award for the SAGE Award.  We invited both organizations to join us for our celebratory lunch.  We are proud that for 100 years we have worked hard to do the right thing making heirloom quality furniture in a safe environment for our talented artisans and craftsmen while conserving raw materials, energy and other wasteful factors.  we are proud that over 87% of our products are made by these artisans and craftsmen in Hickory, North Carolina.  We were caught doing the right thing.  We intend to be caught again in the future!

 

1911 Collection - The Centennial Collection by Hickory Chair

Turning 100 years old this year is very special for all the employees of Hickory Chair.  We want to say thank you to everyone who has chosen Hickory Chair pieces for their homes these past 100 years.  We enjoy receiving emails with pictures of family heirlooms and special finds at antique stores that so many of you have shared with us. 

This week we have introduced a very special new collection at the Spring International Home Furnishings Market in High Point, North Carolina.  To create the 1911 Collection, a group of us perused our earliest catalogs.  As we reminiscedabout the products in these vintage catalogs beginning in the 1930's, we realized how beautiful and timeless many of the forms were.  We selected distinctive timeless pieces that we felt could be updated for today.  The result is a grouping of pieces that are respectful of their heritage but are decidedly modern! 

Normally you have to wait up to six months after market to see new pieces in stores, catalogs or web sites.  Not with Hickory Chair!  Our craftsmen in Hickory, North Carolina have already made pieces that have been ordered at market and are shipping them to the stores that ordered them!  Therefore, we have already posted the 1911 collection to our web site.   With over 87% of our entire product line made in Hickory by our talented craftsmen can offer custom finishes, sizes and other options that will allow you to personalize pieces for your home and made for you in just a couple weeks from order!

A Moment In Time For "The Cross Eyed Owl" Dining Chair

The great thing about classic design is that it is timeless.  The great thing about heirloom quality is that it can withstand use so that it can become an antique or an heirloom.  When you mix classic design with heirloom quality then you really have something special! 

If you have not visited ebay and searched for Hickory Chair you would likely be surprised with how many pieces the search will find.  Granted that there is a hickory bark furniture company that shows up when you type in Hickory Chair too, but on any given day you will find numerous heirlooms that the owner no longer needs but the quality of the pieces will not allow them to throw them away.  One could call this sustainable furniture since it can be repurposed or recycled to another family.
Yesterday a set of Chippendale dining chairs from Hickory Chair were sold on ebay.  The seller, Stenella Antiques, had a set of two 840-01 Chippendale Arm Chairs and eight 840-02 Chippendale Side Chairs that they had acquired from a family.  The set of chairs were in almost mint condition.  Two different requests came into Hickory Chair asking us to verify that they were truly Hickory Chair dining chairs.  Fortunately we were able to confirm that they were indeed our chairs. 

Hickory Chair made these chairs for many decades.  They were introduced in the early 1960's and were made for approximately 30-35 years.  In these years thousands of these mahogany chairs were crafted in the Hickory, North Carolina workroom.  These classic Chippendale chairs were nicknamed "the cross eyed owl back chairs" by fans. 

Recently Dean Farris, a designer from Naples, Florida wrote in his blog, Dean Farris Style about one of his favorite places, The Shackleford House, also known as The Pink House in Zillionville which is near Albany, Georgia. The dining room reminded him of the dining room at the Gasparilla Inn by Sister Parish.  As I surveyed the pictures I realized that our 840-02 Chippendale Side Chairs were used in an ivory painted finish.

Over ten years ago I stayed at the beautiful Roslyn Claremont Hotel in Roslyn, New York.  Upon entering my room I immediately recognized an 840-02 Chippendale Side Chair at the desk.  Today I found on their web site a room scene that showed that these heirloom quality chairs were still being used in the rooms.

Almost every day someone contacts Hickory Chair eager to learn more about Hickory Chair vintage pieces that they have inherited or purchased.  We try to help each person with any history about their piece.  It makes you feel proud to know that the pieces made by talented American craftsmen are still appreciated after the decades since they were made.  One hundred years and counting for Hickory Chair.  We are proud that we have capabilities that allow us to make over 87% of our entire product line in Hickory, North Carolina. 

Do you have a vintage Hickory Chair story to share?  Contact us at press@hickorychair.com.

I Spy - Moraya Bay Project by Renee Gaddis

Moraya Bay is an exclusive executive condo in Naples, Florida.  When they were ready for beautiful and inspriational furnishings they turned to Collins & Dupont Interior Design.  With offices in Naples, Bonita Springs and Ft. Myers Florida, they are conviently located to the property as well as the owners. 

After selecting Renee Gaddis, ASID, Green AP, one of the talented designers at Collins & Dupont Interiors for their project, she turned to Hickory Chair for inspiration.  As a graduate of HCC University, she knew that Hickory Chair's talented craftsmen could make the pieces that would bring her aesthetic to life. 

 As she researched the offerings from Hickory Chair, she chose a pair of the queen size Montauk beds from the Mariette Himes Gomez collection.  With their tall upholstered headboards these beds would allow the guest to sit and view the beautiful scenery or have the support they needed while reading or television.  As she envisioned the room and how the guests would the room they had a thought.  With a view like this room had one might never want to leave it!  All the room needed was a dining table but there was not room for it.  With memories of the craftsmen at Hickory Chair, an idea was born.  Why not design a Milo Table that could work as a breakfast tray, desk and dining table?  The request was made to the customer service department.  After reviewing the request and what it would entail to create a pair of custom height and length Milo Tables, the call was made that we could indeed make the tables and in the amount of time needed for the project.   

 
These custom Milo Tables were made to be 38 inches tall, 74 inches long and 16 inches deep.  These custom dimensions allowed the Milo to fit perfectly across each bed.  Weathered Swedish Grey paint was chosen for each of the pieces.  A pair of Kit Chairs and Ottomans were selected for the condo.  The designer a neutral Hickory Chair fabric and requested that our seamstresses apply a decorative tape trim be applied in a picture frame application.  The final result is both functional and inspirational.

It was attending HCC University and meeting the talented artisans and craftsman that make each piece to order that made this possible.  Who would think that a furniture manufacturer could make custom size wood products.  Hickory Chair makes this possible every day because its workroom is in Hickory, North Carolina.  While not every piece in its line is made in Hickory, the vast majority is.  What percent?  87% made in Hickory, North Carolina.  2011 marks our 100th anniversary making one of a kind pieces to order.  Why not allow a Hickory Chair craftsman to make a one of a kind piece for you?

 

My Hickory Chair Home - Beverly Hall, Roswell, GA - Part II

You may recall our feature on July 26th, My Hickory Chair Home - Beverly Hall, Roswell, GA where we featured the work of Don Easterling and Nina Nash. In this feature we shared a beautiful home that they designed that was filled with Hickory Chair pieces.  Due to popular demand, we have been asked to share more of their story with you. 

 Upstairs in the home is a bedroom that is warm and inviting.  The Montauk Bed and Boudoir Sofa by Mariette Himes Gomez are the key pieces.  The Bouidor Sofa is upholstered in a beige fabric with blue and green throw pillows.  The drapes have a beige background with blue and green printed fabric that ties the scheme together.  Flanking the Bouidor Sofa are a pair of Kit Chairs upholstered in a soft green fabric.  Their mahogany legs are carved to look like faux bamboo.  The oval Pleasant Street Cocktail Ottoman nests nicely with the curved front of the sofa and its legs repeat the faux bamboo turnings of the Kit Chairs. The Montauk Bed is upholstered in a soft green fabric and are flanked by a pair of Andrew Side Tables finished in Antique Ivory paint. 

 In the family room is a sectional that was made to order.  The two piece sectional was custom made from the Silhouettes collection by Hickory Chair.  To make the perfect sectional for their room they selected a dressmaker skirt (with a special request to make it touch the floor), pleated arms, one piece Luxury Spring Down seat cushions and knife edge back pillows.  In addition they chose the extended height and depth options to make it a really deep and luxurious place for the family to gather.  For the perfect size, they requested that the Left Arm Facing sofa be made 78-inches and the Right Arm Facing corner sofa be made 96-inches in length.  A luxurious dark green velvet was selected to upholster it in. 

In the study, a pair of Weston Swivel Chairs were chosen and placed in front of tall windows draped in a beautiful printed fabric.  A Spoleto Table was placed in between them.  Looking into the study from the hallway is a Milo M2M Console Table and a Mark Desk by Alexa Hampton.  The Milo Console Table is a custom piece.  They selected the 34-inch console height (also available in 20-inch, 24-inch and 30-inch heights), a 48-inch width and an 18-inch depth.  A mahogany top was selected and then it was finished in the artisan finish Antique Worn White to have the look and feel of an antique.  The Mark Desk was finished in the Birch painted finish.  Birch is a very soft green painted finish.

In another living room area the Sutton Sofa was selected that was upholstered in a navy blue fabric.  It is flanked by a pair of Sara Side Tables by Alexa Hampton that were finished in Birch finish.  TheJacques Tray Cocktail Table is the perfect complement with its metal base and Birch finished trays.   

Don and Nina skillfully listened to their customer's desires for style, quality, color and comfort.  We are proud that so many of our pieces provided the perfect solution for this family.  Have you been searching for solutions for your home?  We would love to help!

 

A Dream Home With Style - Tony Stavish, Chicago, IL

  Tony Stavish, a Chicagoland interior desginer, was chosen to bring his vision of an eco-friendly home office to the 2010 Dream Home at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, Illinois.  This is the latest honor in his 18 year career.  He is the owner of A. W. Stavish Designs.  We learned a bit about Tony from his web site, "Dubbed by House Beautiful Magazine as a rising star of Interior Design, Tony Stavish has, in the last eighteen years, created a unique voice in Chicago's design arena.

In the Fall of 2006, Andrew Martin selected Tony to be amongst the design elite in, "The Andrew Martin Interior Design Review". Additionally, Tony is now prominently featured on the Andrew Martin website.

House Beautiful featured three of his rooms in their 2004 Chicago Showhouse. www.housebeautiful.com, (keyword: 2004 Makeover Showhouse). In addition, Tony's work has appeared on the cover of numerous shelter magazines and, the book "Unmistakably French". ; Most recently, his own home graced the pages of, "Villa Décor", published by Gibbs Smith. His work has also been featured on HGTV's, "Small Spaces Big Style"."

He was chosen as the designer to create the Home Office portion of the Dream Home.  Each designer was challenged to make their room the ultimate in sophistication and comfort while being eco-friendly. Tony turned to various fabric companies whose fabrics were either linen, cotton or made from recycled plastic milk cartons. The Hickory Chair Camp Chair and Ottoman were upholstered in leather.  Their wooden frame was made from certified sustainable American hardwoods.  They were made in Hickory, North Carolina by a team of talented craftsmen and artisans.  The Hickory Chair-Pearson Interior Design Showroom at the Merchandise Mart assisted Tony with this project. Tony was selected to share his inspiration and story on the WGN TV station in Chicago.    

 The Dream Home will be open for the remainder of the year at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. 

Hickory Chair's Journey of Environmental Stewardship

As a maker of fine furnishings, we take pride that 87% of our entire product line is made in Hickory, North Carolina.  We make upholstery, dining tables, beds, armoires, cocktail tables and a host of other items.  Our 99 year old company has over 430 talented craftsmen that make these heirloom quality pieces.  This is special as so many furniture companies have lost the ability to make furniture domestically.  Another aspect that is very special is the focus each employee has on environmental stewardship.

 

Employees at Hickory Chair have continued their dedication to continuous improvement in an effort to increase quality, value, and personalized options for their customers. In 1997, they named their focused effort EDGE – Employees Dedicated to Growth and Excellence –and their results have transformed not only the product line itself but the way in which the products are made. One important outcome has been a commitment to improving the environment through a series of initiatives to reduce their environmental footprint and implementation of sustainable business practices.

 

In 2009 Hickory Chair began the process of earning Sustainable by Design registration by the AHFA. We are proud to announce that in April 2010 Hickory Chair has earned Sustainable by Design (SBD) registration. SBD is providing a roadmap for home furnishings companies to create a corporate culture of conservation and environmental stewardship by integrating socio-economic policies and sustainable business practices into their manufacturing operations and sourcing strategies.

In Hickory Chair’s case, Sustainability by Design is an extension of the EDGE culture and not a new thought process for the company. “Our employees are focused upon making fine furniture that is made to last in an environmentally friendly manner. We are proud that count less pieces of Hickory Chair furniture made in our 99-year history are being passed down from one generation to the next and not filling landfills. We believe that following the guidelines of not only SBD -Sustainability lity by Design but also EFEC – Effecting Furniture’s Environmental Culture will help us launch our second century responsibly and simply doing the right thing for the environment, our employees and the consumer who chooses Hickory Chair personalized pieces for their home” reflects Jay Reardon, president.

 

Hickory Chair has developed an Environmental Stewardship Policy which guides all activities in this area on the part of its operations and employees. The Policy states their overall goal as follows:

 

“Hickory Chair recognizes the importance of protecting the environment and conserving our natural resources for future generations. We are committed to responsible environmental stewardship in our dealings with customers, employees, suppliers, government, and our neighbors. The Hickory Chair commitment to responsible environmental stewardship is put into practice by integrating environmentally sound business practices into our strategic business plan and into our daily business decisions. ”

 

President Jay Reardon said, “At Hickory Chair, we believe the most significant thing we build isn’t furniture, its trust. Nothing is more important to our organization than the relationships we nurture with the employees, dealers and consumers we serve. It’s a conviction that fuels our quest for quality, creativity and excellence – and drives our commitment to listening constantly and responding thoughtfully. The Hickory Chair Environmental Stewardship Mission Statement expresses our conviction to act responsibly so that our employees, our customers, our suppliers, and our community can trust that we will manage our operations in a manner that demonstrates our commitment to sound environmental stewardship practices.

 

 The top management endorses the Hickory Chair Environmental Stewardship Policy and reviews it annually to ensure that its principles and goals remain in alignment with the company’s strategic business plan. The policy is communicated to all employees, prominently posted in the workroom and office and is available to the public upon request. Our goal is to recycle and repurpose all of our waste materials. Through EDGE, our employees are looking at ways to redesign our processes such that waste is prevented from being  created in the first place.”

 

Donna Musick, Hickory Chair’s Environmental Coordinator added, “The improvements generated by EDGE have made a tremendous di f ference on our ability to positively impact the environment, and can be grouped into three areas: better machine utilization which reduced energy consumption, process improvements that eliminated additional work or wasted materials, and the elimination of non-value added operations which improved productivity and reduced energy and materials usage, providing better values without compromise for our customers.”

 

Among the specific actions being taken by Hickory Chair are:

- Domestic wood is purchased from sustainable/renewable sources

- Beginning in 2007, catalogs and price lists meet FSC (Forest Sustainability Council) registration and are printed on paper that also meets FSC registration.

- Many of the fabrics offered are made of 100% natural/organic fibers

- New insulation and heat reflective roofing have been instal led to reduce energy costs

- Compressors have been updated which eliminated the need for a water cooling system, resulting in water conservation

- Wood dust is the primary fuel source for their boiler for the manufacturing process and facility heating, thus avoiding putting more than 2000 tons of wood biomass in the landfill.

 

Hickory Chair is proud to announce that in 2008 it became an EFEC (Enhancing Furniture’s Environment Culture) registered company. EFEC is sponsored by the American Home Furnishings Alliance (AHFA) and was created to assist furniture companies in evaluating their operations to ensure continuous improvement of their environmental stewardship. Hickory Chair is one of a smal l group of furniture companies that are now EFEC registered. EFEC is a voluntary environmental management system for furniture manufacturers. The registration requires companies to use management tools that help the company integrate environmental concerns into daily business practices resulting in better environmental performance and improved profitability for the company. EFEC companies enjoy the benefits of increased environmental performance, the recognition as an environmental leader in the furniture industry, improved performance, and efficiency as well as improved regulatory compliance with an enhanced ability to track environmental costs. In addition, financial savings from better management of resources and raw materials results in less waste and recycling.

 

In 2008 the company was awarded the first ever prestigious Sage Award by the AHFA and Cargill. The purpose of the Sage Award is to seek out, discover, and recognize true industry innovators from whom others can learn. Winners will have demonstrated wisdom, experience and leadership within the home furnishings industry in the areas of sustainable business practices, social responsibility and profitable growth.

 

“Hickory Chair has demonstrated great visionary leadership in its efforts to move beyond compliance to effective environmental stewardship,” said Bill Perdue, AHFA’s VP of Environmental Affairs. “By embracing the core values of EFEC, the company is creating a corporate culture that will emphasize sustainable business practices and focus on continuous improvement that will result in a significant reduction of its environmental footprint.”

Green Thoughts

A friend read an article over the weekend in the Charlotte Observer newspaper and thought of Hickory Chair. It wasn’t a green article, but the writer, Allen Norwood, made a green statement by saying "that the greenest thing you can buy is one that lasts forever. It never goes to the landfill or has to be recycled." The article focused upon the fact that buying quality made things saves you money because they last. That makes them 'green'.

It made me think about the amazing craftsmen and artisans at Hickory Chair work tirelessly to create heirloom quality pieces with great respect for how the products are made. They carefully select antique pieces whose form and function have transcended time. They interpret the piece as a reproduction or adaptation to make relevant pieces for modern homes. With careful execution of the design and fine craftsmanship the result is heirloom quality since the company began in 1911. Countless pieces have been passed down from one generation to the next. Every day pieces can be found in antique shops, on eBay or Craigs List.

The ease of finding vintage pieces of Hickory Chair mirrors the author's statement "that the greenest thing you can buy is one that lasts forever. It never goes to the landfill or has to be recycled." I am sure that the craftsmen that have spent their careers at Hickory Chair would be proud to know that their hands work has resulted in heirloom quality pieces treasured today and not discarded in a landfill.

A couple of great listings of vintage Hickory Chair on eBay are linked below! The great thing about vintage Hickory Chair pieces is that with their great proportion, classic form and scale, the can complement the new one of a kind pieces that the craftsmen make today at Hickory Chair.

Hickory Chair VIntage Scoop Back Chairs

Hickory Chair Vintage Huntboard