The U.S. household furniture industry: status and opportunities
2009
Buehlmann, Urs | Schuler, Al
Over the past two decades, large sections of the domestic residential upholstered and nonupholstered furniture industry have relocated manufacturing operations to offshore countries with lower production costs. As a consequence, the U.S. market share of imported, nonupholstered wood household furniture has risen from 19 percent in 1992 to 64 percent in 2008 and imported, upholstered household furniture rose from 5 to 28 percent over the same period. While the U.S. furniture industry has struggled over the last two decades, current economic developments may provide the industry with an opportunity to alter its' fortunes as circumstantial evidence exist that some of the competitive advantages of offshore producers are weakening. For example, production costs in offshore manufacturing locations and transportation costs are increasing, the value of the U.S. Dollar is diminishing against trade partners' currencies, and the public perception on trade is growing less favorable. Also, some observers indicate that mass customized and green furniture will offer advantages for domestic furniture manufacturers. The authors argue that these ongoing changes in the global economy may have created an opportunity for domestic manufacturers to strengthen their competitive position and regain some of the losses incurred over the past two decades.
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