Made By Hickory Chair

J. Hirsch Interior Design & The Neely Farm Clubhouse

Our friend and HCC University graduate, Janie Hirsch ASID, shared some truly inspirational images with us from a project in Georgia.  Janie owns J. Hirsch Interior Design.

Janie tells us, "These pictures are of the Neely Farm Clubhouse, a neighborhood clubhouse in Norcross, GA.  It is in the original country retreat home from the Frank Neely farm that used to be on this property years ago.  It was built in the 1930's and the bricks are from the original Fulton County court house that was torn down in 1884 and stored at Oakland Cemetery.  They were then carried by train to Norcross and hauled by wagon the remaining 6-7 miles to the Neely farm."

She goes on to tell us that "every piece of upholstery in these pictures are from Hickory Chair!"  We are proud to have the opportunity to hand make each piece in our workroom in Hickory and to share these inspirational images with you! 

James River Collection Breakfront, Ashley Club Chairs by Mariette Himes Gomez and Cindy Side Chairs (now retired) shown.

 
Spool Chairs by Mark Hampton, James River Collection Isaac Wing Chairs and Ashley Club Chairs shown.

 
Colefax Lounge Chairs, Issac Wing Chairs from James River Collection, Spool Chairs by Mark Hampton and Country Occasional Chairs from Archive Collection shown.

Issac Wing Chairs from James River Collection and Wyland Storage Ottoman shown.

Colefax Lounge Chairs shown.

 
 This amazing room filled with handmade Hickory Chair upholstery is adjoined by an inviting dining room.  The Marlboro Side Chairs from the Winterthur Country Estate Collection are shown.

 Do you have pictures to share of an inspirational use of Hickory Chair?  Email them to press@hickorychair.com for submission for a future blog! 

 
 
 

  

 

Remembering September 11, 2001

Six degrees of seperation connects everyone people say.  The impact of the tragedies of the fateful September 11, 2001 touched every American and countless individuals around the world.  Here at Hickory Chair thousands of miles from New York City and Washington DC we were not spared loss.  Customers whose offices were in the World Trade Centers, a boyfriend of a sales rep's daughter, a brother, a cousin, a friend and others were lost that day.  Their memory remains with us with our determination to never forget. 

We Americans have always had grit, determination and an entrepreneurial spirit.  It began with the first settlers who left their homes and families from other countries and sailed to America to create a new life for themselves and their families. Imagine their dreams and courage to leave everything behind.  Todays America needs the grit, determination, dreams, courage and entrepreneurial spirit that our forefathers had.

All around us are great examples of this spirit.  Boys earn their Eagle Scout award and girls their Gold Award, men and women join the police and armed forces, young people go to college to better themselves, new companies are started every week, existing companies reinvent themselves to be competitive in a world market. Unfortunately others choose opposite paths.  Companies close or move their manufacturing offshore.  Making success in 2011 requires hard work, grit and determination. 

Hickory Chair is blest to be amongst the companies who have reinvented themselves.  The employees have the grit and determination to challenge the standard American manufacturing model that has failed over these past 10 years.  Instead of giving up their work they pulled together and focused on what adds value with determination to give the customer what they want and eliminate the things they do not want to pay for in the price of the furniture.  Over production, closeouts, repairs, rework and waiting to be made are wastes that should not be in the cost of furniture.  Since 1997 when our challenge began (four years before 9/11) we began the journey of lean manufacturing.  Today we stand strong with 100 years of manufacturing in America.  We stand strong with over 87% made in Hickory, North Carolina.  We stand strong working with as many American suppliers as possible.  We are focused on remaining strong by continuously working together to make our furniture in a lean environment focused on giving our customer exactly what they want.

We believe that the independent spirit we Americans have always had is perhaps part of our success.  We have moved from making batches of one style in one finish to making one piece at a time custom to order.  We know our customer wants unique pieces for their home.  They choose independence.  We are blest that our talented artisans can stand strong to the challenge of one of a kind pieces.  Join us as we honor 100 years of making as we all pause to honor the memory of those lost 10 years ago.

Doors & Drawers Make A Great Canvas

 
Finding the right signature or statement wood furniture piece for a room often means a trip to an antiques dealer or custom woodworker for many designers.  While that is appropriate for some projects it certainly is not necessary when you stop to consider the talented artisans and craftsmen at Hickory Chair's Hickory, North Carolina workroom.  In this 100-year-old workroom you will find hundreds of eager artisans ready to make your idea into reality.  Shown above is the Renata Stand by Alexa Hampton for Hickory Chair.  One Renata Stand is very classic while the other is very transitional.

 
 
 Since over 87% of our pieces are made in America, we have the flexibility to make modifications to height, width, depth and architecture to personalize our wood products to order. We can change finishes to a different Hickory Chair finish or match to your stain or paint color.  We can change hardware to a different style in our line or install the hardware you send to us to a piece.  With your creativity and our determination we can make one of a kind pieces to order in just a few weeks.  Above is the Taylor Chest by Thomas O'Brien for Hickory Chair shown in two very different custom applications.  Speaking of two very different custom applications are the American Empire Tall Dressers shown below.  A designer in Michigan was able to create a custom piece for their client by requesting 7 different Benjamin Moore paint colors along with hand applied checkerboard and polka dots.

 
While each of these items have been made special through finish and/or hardware options you are not limited to just these options.  For example, why not ask that we remove the crown from a classic piece to make it more transitional such as the Vauxhall Cabinet from the Winterthur Country Estate Collection?

 
One designer in Florida took it on themselves to have a chest hand painted by a local artist.  I guess they did not know that we could have personalized our Continental Chest by Mariette Himes Gomez for them. We are sure the client must love their special piece.  Do you have an idea for an item?  Just contact your Hickory Chair dealer or showroom.  They can contact their Hickory Chair Customer Service Representative for you with your custom request.  Why settle for something standard when we can make a one of a kind heirloom quality piece for you?

 

 

Celebrating American Ingenuity & Workmanship

Most of us are excited to celebrate Labor Day this weekend.  This means a day off on Monday for many professions but really the day has a much larger meaning.  It is a day of tribute to all American workers in every profession.  It is a day of thanks for all those who labor in our country.  It is a day to remember all of those who have worked, lived, retired and passed on before us. 

American companies have faced tremendous challenges throughout their existence.  Imagine starting a company in the 1700's or 1800's before telephones, cars, electricity, computers and the internet!  If you consider the challenges all of the companies with 100 plus years have faced...

• Wars: Spanish American, World War 1 & 2, Korean War & Vietnam War
• The Depression
• Distasters such as fire, hurricanes, earthquakes, floods
• Recessions
• Oil embargos
• Banking disasters
• Offshore competition
• Buyouts, mergers, acquisitions
• etc.

1911 must have been an interesting year.  Hickory Chair began 100 years ago in September 1911!  For Hickory Chair this Labor Day allows us to celebrate 100 years of making fine furniture.  It makes us proud to be the team that with our great foundation of the thousands of dedicated craftsmen that preceeded us that are today making almost 90% of our entire product line in our Hickory, North Carolina workroom.  Not only was the Hickory Chair Company begun but also IBM, Colt, Whirlpool, Nivea, Fila, US Naval Avaition and a significant  list of other companies were begun.  Each of these great companies must have something in common.  Perserverence, determination, ingenuity, vision, skill, understanding of what their customer wants at the price they are willing to pay and other great attributes. People want to know what our secret is at Hickory Chair.  We beleive it is passion... companies 'hire hands' every day.  We believe that we have 'hands, heart and head' invested by our nearly 500 employees.  We believe and trust in our talented team and in return they treat each piece they make with respect.  It is as if they were making each piece for their own home.  It is this spirit that we celebrate this Labor Day. 

We are proud to be an American manufacturer making a fine product domestically.  America was built by individuals with grit, determination and a dream for a better life for themselves and their children.  We can celebrate America and our Labor Day holiday best by purchasing an American product.  Join me won't you?