LET'S FIND THE SOLUTION

As an industry, we share common challenges. By working together, we will have more success creating new innovative solutions to our common problems.

Traditional housing and job stability are changing. Many people can work remotely now or are more interested in changing jobs than ever before.

• The average person will change careers 5-7 times during their working life. Approximately 30% of the total workforce will now change jobs every 12 months. Source: the U.S. Department of Labor.

• A new mobile society is upon us, and our industry needs to adapt and respond to how society views and uses our products. Using 2007 ACS data, it is estimated that a person in the United States can expect to move 11.7 times in their lifetime based on the current age structure and average rates, allowing for no more than one move per year.

Most of us have moved homes once, or I guess 12 times in our life times! It is an exciting process but can be a bit painful as you move all the furniture. I cannot even fathom moving 12 times!

Not too long ago, my wife and I were moving our oldest son into his first college apartment. Along with the normal emotions, I felt a bit sick about purchasing furniture primarily made of MDF and/or par ticle board simply because it could be moved easily and was cheap. Knowing full well that the life span of the furniture was probably only two years, it was a bit frustrating. Not only was this wasteful in money and environmental resources, but I was supporting the indus try that is a challenge and threat to the hardwood industry.

So why was this furniture attractive to my son? Well, it was mobile. He could take it apart and move it with him as he moves from place to place. At least he believes he can take it apart and set it back up again! I am not so sure. As I was leaving the store with a cart full of disposable furniture, I couldn’t help but ask myself:

• Where is the solid hardwood furniture that is modern in design?

• Where is the furniture that is high quality and explains a story of environmental responsibility, specifically carbon sequestration?

• Where is the furniture that can be realistically dismantled and moved efficiently to the next apartment or home and then truly reassembled into the same high-quality piece?

I want my cake, and I want to eat it too! I want the same piece of furniture to answer all those questions. I believe by answering the above questions; the consumer would be more apt to purchase a more costly piece of furniture, knowing it would last longer and be better for the environment. I don’t want to buy any more furniture for my son only to see it in the alley behind his apartment in the late spring when he is moving out, and it is either broken or unable to be assembled correctly.

I don’t have the solution to this industry problem, but some of you do! I look forward to engaging in conversations about these challenges and many others that face our industry with all of you.