American furniture manufacturer battles China imports

Since 2001, more than 2.7 million American manufacturing jobs have been outsourced to China. And, the University of California-Berkeley estimated that nearly 14 million jobs, both blue collar and white collar, are vulnerable to moving overseas in the next few years.

The outsourcing trend has greatly reduced the amount of American-made furniture available on the market, making it extremely difficult for consumers to find furniture produced in the USA.

"China has taken over 90 percent of the manufacturing of bedroom furniture sold in the United States," said Manuel Bettencourt, an Oregon furniture manufacturer, in an interview with Oregon's Mail Tribune.

Almost every day brings new outsourcing announcements as the furniture industry moves away from American-made furniture manufacturing in favor of cheaper imported furniture.

Working conditions and manufacturing processes in the U.S. are held to higher standards than those overseas. Recalls and other quality concerns about overseas products have affected a number of industries in recent months.

"While cheap labor and questionable quality is what one would expect from imported furniture, there is much to be said for handcrafted, bench-made furniture produced in the USA," said Steve Simons, co-founder of Seat Company.

Consumers concerned with quality are finding American-made furniture by going directly to the manufacturer. Companies like the Seat Company have found a recipe for satisfying the needs of these discerning consumers, allowing them to compete with cheaper imports.

"Design and quality coupled with incredible customer service is a package only American companies can provide," said Simons. "As we are learning, this is what the consumer really wants for their home."

For more than six years, the Seat Company has prided themselves on being one of a select few companies left that manufactures and sells American-made seating furniture directly to the consumer. Instead of chairs and couches coming from China, India or Malaysia, the Seat Company produces and ships from their factories in Mississippi and Georgia.

Many furniture manufacturers prefer not to deal with the hassles and liabilities of shipping direct to consumers. Companies willing to take on this challenge can offer unique advantages for their customers.

"We can give U.S. customers additional benefits like faster turnaround on orders, broader selection, and custom-built furniture," said Simons. "When you call us to order, you'll speak with either the owners or a member of the manufacturing team who actually produces the couch or chair that you want. That's true customer service. For the typical importer in today's furniture world, that's simply not feasible."

For more information about The Seat Company and their American-made furniture, visit them online at http://www.seatcompany.com.