Vermont Furniture Sale Helps United Way Hurricane Relief Fund

Last Saturday we ran a promotion at Vermont Woods Studios Furniture to raise money for local Vermonters who lost their homes and businesses in the floods that resulted from Hurricane Irene.  We promised to donate 100% of our profits to the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund that the United Way set up for our area.
Happily we had a couple nice sales Saturday and I can report that we raised $306 for the Fund.  That amount was matched 50% by local employer Entergy.  I guess it's a small amount when you're looking at a disaster of such enormous proportions but the truth is most businesses in Vermont are small, just like us.  But we're banding together and it's amazing to see the recovery take shape as a result.
Manjula and Dennis are cooking up additional fundraisers and planning to run them about once per month throughout the next year.  Stay tuned for updates.  That's Manjula delivering our donation to Carmen Darby, the Windham County United Way Director.  Thanks to both of you for all the good work you do for our community.

Join Our "Buy American Made" Holiday Shopping Challenge

I'm really not an early Christmas shopper.  In fact I'm not a shopper at all.  When the kids were little they used to like to holiday shop at the local craft fair... that was fun.  But the boys are teenagers now and I can't imagine getting them to do that anymore.  A couple times in recent years, I was able to convince Ken and the boys to make an overnight holiday shopping trip to Boston where we wandered around downtown and at the Wrentham Mall picking up a few gifts. I enjoyed that but the kids seem to have outgrown any kind of activity that involves parents.


Anyway... yesterday in the office, Dennis floated the idea of buying only American made things for Christmas presents.  Pretty cool idea, don't you think?



But the thing is, this is shopping we can't leave till the last minute.  It will take a bit of research and planning.  Isn't it ironic that many American made gifts would have to be purchased online and shipped here from across the country, whereas imports are available anytime, in every store in town, at a moment's notice?
So at Vermont Woods Studios we'll plan to start our shopping now and share our research with you as we go.  Saturday I tagged along with Annette at the Brattleboro Farmer's Market.  That's probably a reasonable place to start... maple syrup, handmade pottery, wooden bowls.
Why not join us in our "Buy American Made" Holiday Gifts Challenge?  If you have gift suggestions, pass them along in the comment section below or send photos and links and we'll post here or on our Facebook page.
They say that if each of us in the USA spent just $3.33 on American made goods, that would generate 10,000 jobs... a pretty decent Christmas present in itself, I say.

Vermont Woods Studios

100% American Made Furniture

American Made Holiday Gift Buying Challenge: My Pledge

By Dennis Shanoff

Here at Vermont Woods Studios, we have always (and only) sold 100% USA made wood furniture. Vermont made furniture to be more precise.  And the reasons this matters are many and compelling. Let’s start with superb, lasting quality and built from a natural and sustainable material. Well that’s good for your wallet and very good for the planet. And when you factor in the US jobs it creates and the local economies it helps support, well to me that’s when it becomes very compelling. Our product and service choices really do matter and can make a difference.
This past year ABC news ran some Made in America feature stories. You may have seen all or part of these week long series specials on the nightly news. They did a great job of raising awareness of how little we have in our homes that was produced in this country. And the obvious “reason this matters” drawn from these segments was how it has impacted the US economy and our jobs market.
So it did get me thinking that maybe I could shift at least some of my buying to US made goods (as challenging as that sounds).  I would do my part plus I certainly have been experiencing some quality issues with my offshore made products, especially tools. Why is my father’s power drill from the 1950’s still working while I am on at least my 5^th one!
And my next thought was that I couldn’t be alone in this thinking and that sooner or later a “Buy American” movement would begin. If ABC news couldn’t push this movement, no one can! Well the whole ABC coverage did inspire and encourage me to think more about this and ponder what a small movement with “spreading potential” could do? When could we make a really big difference? How about the time of year when we really ramp up our spending? What would be an easy to adopt theme? And then it hit me, holiday shopping is right around the corner. How many Secret Santa office parties will there be? How many school children will be partaking in a holiday gift exchange? And how many families and friends will be having an old fashion Yankee Swap! So why not an American Made theme holiday gift party this year? And that’s just what we are going to do here in our Vermont Woods Studios office and that’s what I am going to do when it comes to my family and friend gift buying.
In the coming weeks I will be posting on this blog the results of my findings and ideas. So if you are curious as to what I find or if you want to share your thoughts or findings please come back and post your comments here (or even better-- on our Facebook page).
Now imagine if a million holiday gatherings follow this Buy American theme this season… well that will really matter!

Join Our "Buy American Made" Holiday Shopping Challenge http://ping.fm/DWMz6

Join Our American Made Holiday Shopping Challenge

I'm really not an early Christmas shopper.  In fact I'm not a shopper at all.  When the kids were little they used to like to holiday shop at the local craft fair... that was fun.  But the boys are teenagers now and I can't imagine getting them to do that anymore.  A couple times in recent years, I was able to convince Ken and the boys to make an overnight holiday shopping trip to Boston where we wandered around downtown and at the Wrentham Mall picking up a few gifts. I enjoyed that but the kids seem to have outgrown any kind of activity that involves parents.


Anyway... yesterday in the office, Dennis floated the idea of buying only American made things for Christmas presents.  Pretty cool idea, don't you think?



But the thing is, this is shopping we can't leave till the last minute.  It will take a bit of research and planning.  Isn't it ironic that many  American made gifts would have to be purchased online and shipped here from across the country, whereas imports are available anytime, in every store in town, at a moment's notice?
So at Vermont Woods Studios we'll plan to start our shopping now and share our research with you as we go.  Saturday I tagged along with Annette at the Brattleboro Farmer's Market.  That's probably a reasonable place to start... maple syrup, handmade pottery, wooden bowls.
Why not join us in our American Made Holiday Gift Giving Challenge?  If you have gift suggestions, pass them along in the comment section below or send photos and links and we'll post here or on our Facebook page.
They say that if each of us in the USA spent just $3.33 on American made goods, that would generate 10,000 jobs... a pretty decent Christmas present in itself, I say.

Vermont Woods Studios

100% American Made Furniture

Don't Miss Vermont's Fine Furniture Festival This Weekend http://bit.ly/pHxJGb

Made in America: How College Students Can Create 500,000 American Jobs http://ping.fm/UCjPd

Immerse Yourself in Floodstock And Help Vermont Hurricane Victims http://bit.ly/nXFpre

How College Students Can Create 500,000 American Jobs

Have you seen any of the ABC News Made in America specials on World News with Diane Sawyer?   This week they're talking about the impact college students could have on our economy if they purchased USA made dorm room accessories and linens from American companies.

It's tough to do since universities are unwittingly pushing imported goods through their campus stores, but it is possible, as demonstrated on the show.  And in fact this room was $92 cheaper to furnish with American made items than similar imported ones.

 Sawyer notes that the average college student shopper spent $800 this season or a total of $46 BILLION.  If that money had been spent purchasing American goods, it could have provided almost half a million American jobs!


So it turns out it can be cheaper to furnish a college dorm with American made items than imported ones?  Maybe some smart college presidents will commission their business school faculty and students to get on this and transform their campuses into American Made spaces.





Oh and if they're looking to add American made furniture to the dorms, Vermont's own New England Woodcraft has been building solid wood furniture for college dorms right here in the USA for over 50 years.

It looks like this Vermont-made furniture is pretty well equipped to handle college students, wouldn't you think?
And while we're on the subject of USA made furniture, I can say that 100% of our furniture at Vermont Woods Studios is 100% made in America... in Vermont to be precise.

Your purchases here employ our 5 staff members who operate the website and take care of sales and customer service, plus about 15-20 furniture makers and many additional support people including shippers.  You are making a difference when you Buy American and we are grateful for your support.

Floodstock in Wilmington Vermont Helps Hurricane Victims

Here's another fun thing to jump into this weekend while you're out leaf-peeping:  Floodstock VT,  Music Made to Save a Town.  You probably remember that our neighboring town, Wilmington Vermont was devastated by Hurricane Irene which wiped out most of the downtown businesses.  Store owners lost everything and employees lost their livlihoods.

Can you imagine having your life change course like that in a matter of a couple hours?  Flood insurance was simply not available to these businesses so now the hard-working people who made Wilmington such a charming place to visit have to figure out what to do.  Few have the money to rebuild their store let alone re-stock their inventory.

Enter the good people who have created Floodstock-VT 2011, this weekend's 2-day music festival hosting eight bands from three states.  They will perform at multiple venues in the village of Wilmington, VT with 100% of the proceeds generated at every event to be distributed directly to businesses who can and want to re-open.  Every person involved in bringing you Floodstock, and every venue, is volunteering and working without compensation.  You can donate or buy tickets online.  More info on concert schedule here.  Hope to see you there!

Vermont Woods Studios

Vermont Fall Foliage and Furniture Festival

I can't believe it's leaf-peeping season already... an annual outdoor extravaganza that comes with great ambivalence among Vermonters.  Most of us are not really read to think about the winter ahead yet, but on the other hand, Fall is pretty spectacular up here in New England.

Over the last decade a popular new stop on the Vermont Foliage Tour has emerged and that's the Fine Furniture Festival in Woodstock, VT.

It's an annual gathering of Vermont's fine furniture makers-- undoubtedly some of the best, most meticulous craftspeople in the world.  Here you'll get to see, feel and sit in beautiful, handcrafted solid wood furniture that's unlike anything you've seen in the stores.  You'll get to chat with craftsepople whose pieces live in luxurious penthouses and mansions around the world.  And you'll find that they are approachable, down to earth and passionate about the integrity of their work.

Honestly, if you're interested in furniture with authentic old world craftsmanship and/or creative modern style, Woodstock is the place to be.  And acquiring this kind of heirloom furniture is not out of reach-- not when you're shopping in Vermont.

OK, it's a totally different product than what you'll find in "luxury furniture stores" like Restoration Hardware or Crate and Barrel.  It's American made with sustainably harvested wood and it's made (and usually guaranteed) to last a lifetime so naturally the price will be higher than the imported furniture you're used to seeing in stores.


But if you're looking for value, you won't find a better opportunity than this.  You'll be purchasing direct from the furniture makers and your furniture will be made to order just for you.  Shipping is no problem either.  These professionals have been shipping their work around the globe for years and they know how to do it right.
So... designers, architects, homeowners- we'll hope to see you in Woodstock this weekend.  It will be a highlight of your foliage tour I promise!

Photos:
Shackleton Thomas Furniture
Bill Laberge Furniture
Shackleton Thomas Furniture

Vermont Woods Studios Furniture Sale Helps Flood Victims, http://ping.fm/YmLPM

Artisan Spotlight: Steve Holman, Fine Wood Furniture Artisan, http://ping.fm/lcSTm

Interior Designer Spotlight, Susan Jay Design Selects Vermont Made Chairs, http://ping.fm/cm9SJ

Vermont Tourism – Fall Foliage Spectacular - Leaf Peeper Alert http://ping.fm/bX3fX

Artisan Spotlight: Steve Holman, Fine Wood Furniture Artisan http://ping.fm/hiexz

Shaker Style Furniture Almost Fall Sale! http://ping.fm/Ae0jT

Handcrafted Furniture: Sale To Benefit Vermont Hurricane Victims http://ping.fm/LZdnf

Furniture Sale To Benefit Vermont Hurricane Victims http://ping.fm/eHTs4

Furniture Sale To Benefit Vermont Hurricane Victims

It's been over two weeks since Hurricane Irene blew through Vermont destroying homes, businesses, roads and wildlife habitats.  Since then Vermonters and good samaritans from throughout the region have been working around the clock to rebuild and restore the area.  I'm amazed at how fast the roads are being rebuilt.  Route 9 between Brattleboro and Bennington was ripped to smitherenes but, with the help of the National Guard and others, our incredible road crews have already gotten it passable. Shannon said she even got to drive on a newly paved stretch of Route 9 on her way in today.

Shaker Furniture Sale Benefit But there is much work left to do.  As with all disasters the news media moves on, but so many people are still in need of assistance.  At Vermont Woods Studios Furniture we are trying to think of ways to help.  One thing we are doing is donating 100% of profits from all furniture sold online or in our showroom this Saturday, September 17.  If you have been thinking about buying furniture, this would be a great time to do it!  All of our Shaker Furniture is on sale that day; we have 6 Dining Room Sets on Sale that can be installed in your home for Thanksgiving Dinner plus (how cool is this?) our donation will be matched by local employer Entergy-VY.  Talk about leveraging your hard-earned money. So it could be a win for you and others-- in a big way.  If the promotion is successful, we'll sponsor similar events periodically to continue to help out where we can.
Thanks for your continued well-wishes as Vermonters work to rebuild after the storm.

Artisan Spotlight: Steve Holman, Fine Wood Furniture Artisan http://ping.fm/hiexz

Shaker Style Furniture Almost Fall Sale! http://ping.fm/Ae0jT

American Made Furniture Sale To Benefit Vermont Hurricane Victims http://ping.fm/7nC2z

Shaker Style Furniture Almost Fall Sale!

By Dennis Shanoff

For those of you that live in four seasons land you may agree with me when I say fall is in the air. Here in Vermont you can find some leaves already changing color and you just may be taking the screens out and closing the windows at sunset. And not to mention the shorter daylight hours… So this just may be the time you shift your thoughts towards those indoor projects.

Well if updating some of your home furnishings are on your ‘to do” list and you appreciate the beauty and timeless styling of Shaker Furniture we just may have what you are looking for? If that is the case then you will be glad to hear that starting today all of our Vermont Made Shaker Style Furniture collections and pieces are on Sale.
So if you are interested please browse our online gallery where you will find 6 Shaker Style Furniture collections which include dozens of finely crafted Shaker inspired pieces for every room in the home. And all our Shaker furniture is traditionally handcrafted in Vermont and is available in Cherry, Walnut and Maple hardwoods. And did I mention every piece is delivered for free and backed with a lifetime guarantee!
We welcome you to visit our online “Finest of Vermont” Shaker Furniture Gallery! Hope you enjoy your visit and please get in touch with us if there is anything we can assist you with. Thanks for visiting us today!
And also those of you who might be interested in getting a new dining room set delivered by Thanksgiving (and save a bundle!) should check out our "Dining Furniture Sets" Sale. Just order by September 30th to ensure Thanksgiving delivery. Get all the details on our sale page.
Note! Like us on Facebook and you can save additional $50! (And learn about new designs, upcoming sales, and other happenings here and throughout Vermont)

Wood Furniture: Why North American Hardwood Furniture Is Eco Friendly

Wood furniture is the most eco-friendly furniture.  I guess there are different opinions on this but you have to admit that wood is naturally green.  It's sustainable, biodegradable and renewable.

The National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA)
puts out a brochure periodically that reports statistics for the American hardwood industry.  Are we harvesting our hardwoods sustainably in the USA?

According to NHLA the hardwood inventory in the USA has grown by 98% during the past 5 decades.  I'd say that's pretty sustainable.
Here's another cool fact NHLA cites: Wood represents 47 percent of all raw materials used in the United States but the energy used to produce wood products (including furniture) accounts for just 4 percent of the energy used to make all manufactured materials.  Wow!  It makes sense though when you consider all the hard-core industrial processing that's required to make a piece of metal or plastic furniture, right?

At Vermont Woods Studios Furniture we specialize in eco-friendly solid hardwood furniture that's made from local and regionally harvested wood.  To help keep our forests healthy and sustainable, we're excited to be supporting the Vermont Council on Rural Development and their ambitious Vermont Working Landscape Partnership Program as part of our forest conservation mission.

I just have to throw in one last random but amazing reason why wood is the greenest raw material for furniture-making:  the EPA estimates that each year our American forests remove the greenhouse gases emitted by 139,000,000 cars!  You gotta love wood.

Load The Latchis: Donate Food For Vermonters In Need

Vermont Woods Studios is a Drop Off Location for Load the Latchis- a food donation program for Vermonters in need. This event sponsored by Peter Case (Fish in the Morning) of WKVT, the Latchis Hotel and The Brattleboro Savings and Loan was originally planned to help stock the Brattleboro Drop In Center.  But after Hurricane Irene, it has been postponed and expanded to serve the most needy throughout all of Windham County.

If you want to help your neighbors in need, bring dry, non-perishable goods to our Vermont Woods Studios office/showroom at 2531 Fort Bridgeman Rd in Vernon (next to the Post Office) anytime during business hours between now and Wed Sept 14 at 2pm.
We will then bring the food to Fish and Co in Brattleboro and work with them to distribute it throughout the county to the areas that were hardest hit by Irene and to those who need it the most.  Help... we're hoping for a HUGE turnout from Vernon!!

PS-- Looking for post-Irene status information or to volunteer to help Irene victims in the Brattleboro area?  Fish's blog has all the news on who's open, who needs what, when, where and so on.

Vermont Furniture Makers Are Back In Business

Hurricane Irene, the Wicked Witch of the South has taken over Vermont.  Many people are still digging out and assessing the damage which will take years, even decades to recover from.
Those of us lucky enough to escape Irene's viciousness are eager to help others out but in most cases we have no access to affected areas yet.  Washed out roads are being re-built but makeshift temporary access is only available to road crews and emergency vehicles.
In the meantime, businesses are eager to get back to work.  The vast majority of woodworkers, furniture makers, retailers, hotels, inns and restaurants are ready, willing and able to serve you today.  Please don't hesitate to patronize Vermont businesses.  They still offer some of the best quality goods, services and experiences in the world.  And the sooner they get back up and on their feet, the sooner they can help the rest of Vermont recover from Irene.  So come have a good time in Vermont!  Buy your favorite, American made furniture, ice cream, cheese, maple syrup and more.  Be a part of our recovery.  Thanks from all of us!