“What I am really proud of is that back when we started in 2006 sustainability was unknown in the furniture industry,” said Gat Caperton who was a founder of SFC and continues to be a board member. “In fact, the industry was turning in the opposite direction with manufacturing going to China where illegal and unsustainable materials and pollution were all happening at an alarming rate. And now sustainability is well known throughout the industry. More and more people strive for it, even those who don’t do a good job like to claim they do because we have succeeded in elevating the awareness.”
“Because we intentionally “overbuild” our products, they don’t break down and end up in a landfill. 100, 150, 200 years from now, the solid-wood furniture we make in the Stickley workshops this week will still be going strong. A Stickley piece is very likely to continue to be used and cherished generations from now. How many other items that you’ll buy this year can you say that about?” – Stickley Furniture
North American solid wood is now thought of as a renewable crop. Logs are pulled out of mixed forests on private lands one at a time, as they peak, before the tree can decline, die, and then rot or burn. This works like weeding a garden. Timber harvests bring light into the forest and allow a fresh succession of plant and animal species to flourish.
Willis Furniture has always carried high quality, made-to-order furniture from manufacturers like Stickley, and Gat Creek. Each piece is handcrafted and customized to our customers liking. By ordering custom solid wood furniture you are helping to reduce your carbon footprint on this Earth. You are also reducing waste, and receiving timeless, quality furniture that will last for many years.
Numerous furniture companies are manufacturing overseas, and to maximize profits they will use cheap labor and lesser quality materials. Like “fast-fashion” many of these products end up in a landfill which has become a huge problem over the years.
Furniture is typically an investment piece; therefore, you want to ensure the design is timeless and the materials and construction are durable so that when you are done, you can pass it down to future generations or resell it instead of taking it to the landfill. Also, buy things that can be repaired and refinished — like solid wood instead of synthetic particle board.