On occasion I take a call that goes something like this:
“I was looking at a piece of furniture and I want to know where it’s made.” (Describes the piece, which is easily identified.) “Is it made in China?”
“Most of the pieces by that manufacturer are made overseas, yes, but the country of origin can vary.”
“That’s what I wanted to know.” He hangs up.
Though glad to answer this type of question, I’m left with many more of my own. Was the country of origin a determining factor in his purchase decision? And if so, did he apply the same criteria to other purchases as well — his car, for example? How about his polo shirt and khaki pants? His home theater system?
The fact is, globalization has arrived in the furniture industry, and, just as with automobiles, apparel and home electronics, there is no putting the genie back in the bottle; but whereas Sony and Lexus have become synonymous with quality, many people question the value of imported furniture. Since all indications are that importing is a growing trend, this bias may rapidly become obsolete.
True, foreign countries are quite capable of sending over poorly made products; but they are also capable of making pieces of superior craftsmanship, and as demand grows, so does their skill level.
