September 2023 Special Needs Living Akron/Canton

QUALITY LOCAL CRAFTSMANSHIP

Dutch Craft Furniture

BY SARAH SMITH

Being in downtown Berlin was not part of the original business plan for Dutch Craft Furniture. The business had secured a space in the country to rent and needed to set up the necessary billboards to advertise. It was during a meeting about acquiring billboards that the possibility of renting space in town first came up. From that moment on, it became evident God had an infinitely better plan than the one Dutch Craft Furniture’s owners had created. The store opened for business in January of 2009 and has steadily grown to a team of fifteen members in the last 13 years.

Dutch Craft Furniture partners with local Amish artisans throughout the Holmes and Wayne County areas for a complete line of furniture, both solid wood and upholstered. The area is well known for its custom wood working, but the addition of upholstery and quality mattresses has been a wonderful expansion to the product line.

Another growing demand in the industry has been for completely custom spaces, from closets and pantries, to home offices, bathroom cabinets, and entertainment centers. These larger projects include an initial meeting for design ideas and measurements, after which the company creates a quote with a 3D blueprint of the space to visualize exactly what the best layout will be. Delivery and installation are key components of this kind of work, and customers will appreciate the expertise of Dutch Craft Furniture’s team, from years of custom cabinet installation and trim carpentry in prior careers.

Do not settle for a lesser quality!

“We just ordered our 15th and 16th pieces, two dressers, a few weeks ago,” said Jim and Patti Giomini. “Obviously, we are thrilled with Dutch Craft Furniture! Many of the pieces were modified to fit our needs. The staff always provides expert design help. They are exceptionally talented, accommodating, and friendly. The hardware selections cover all tastes, and the wood choices and finishes are the best. Deliveries are always perfect, and they will treat your home as their own. We are already looking for our next project.”

From the very beginning, customer feedback has been an indicator of growth and direction. The new styles and stain or paint colors seen in the showroom and on the website start out as a custom request for a specific job. Frustration about long lead times prompted the decision to keep the most popular dining and living room furniture in stock and ready for immediate pickup or delivery. The company invested heavily in its own delivery teams for Ohio and surrounding states, to accommodate customer schedules and maintain core service values. The addition of a new, larger warehouse allows Dutch Craft Furniture to stock bedroom furniture for quick shipment as well. Dutch Craft Furniture’s employees photograph and edit items for the website to maintain the most realistic visual possible of grain textures and color variations.

Amish furniture is an investment that will last for many years, so the website and the sales department focus on educating customers about the hundreds of options that are available. There are pros and cons to all the various hardwood species, depending on how the furniture will be used, the overall style of the space, and personal preference to color and grain texture of the wood.

Stop in at Dutch Craft Furniture’s 10,000 square foot showroom in Berlin or shop online at dutchcraftfurniture. com. Let the experts help you determine if Amish furniture might be just what you need to create a living space that you love coming home to.

Dutch Craft Furniture is located at 4774 US Route 62 in Berlin.