Good Day Salisbury…
On behalf of our store in Delmar, I would like to thank all patrons both past and present for your choice to spend your hard earned money with our local, family business. In reference to the angst that many of you have expressed regarding internationally sourced products, please note that as a retailer, we would LOVE to carry more domestically produced products. As a family, we are incredibly patriotic and are intentional in our efforts to seek out American made products. In fact, nearly all of our upholstery as well as all of our mattresses are made in America. In the case of our mattresses, we actually chose to not only partner with domestic suppliers, but actually chose partners who make their products in Maryland and Virginia; meaning we not only support American jobs, but regional manufacturing jobs.
The reality of the manufacturing climate in America has made it very tough to competitively produce products in this country. Consumers demand the highest quality, at the lowest price. Unfortunately, this nation’s current trade and regulatory structure makes it very difficult to accomplish both of these goals in a competitive manner. In our industry, I would suspect that ALL furniture retailers would prefer to deal with domestic suppliers. The sad reality is, however, that there are very few domestic manufacturers that can exist in these conditions.
As for this “American Job” conversation, are me, my family and the nearly 80 local people that we employ not Americans? Are we not the ones that local charities seek out for donations? Are we not the ones who sponsor your kid’s little league teams? Are we not the ones who contribute to great local causes and local families all across Delmarva? Are we not the ones whose tax revenue builds local fire houses and schools? In a landscape where manufacturing is vanishing, we, the small business community are the backbone of local economies and local philanthropy. Our money stays here and improves things in our local neighborhoods. So, when you buy from a local business like us, no matter where the product initially comes from, Delmarva is the benefactor. Taxes, payroll, donations etc all go to local causes that we can experience right here. We would all do well to remember not to punish the local family business for the failed national landscape of manufacturing.
In closing, I want to make it very clear that we take great pride in our business and taking care of our customers. In the event that anyone would like to have a discussion regarding service concerns or the origin of their product, I can be reached directly at jbarnes@furniturelandde.com. We sincerely consider ourselves fortunate to live in one of America’s best communities (Delmarva), and stand ready to listen and serve at your request.
Most Respectfully,
Justin B. Barnes
V.P. Operations
FurnitureLand
DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
18 comments:
I guess 24/7 advertising on WBOC didn't work should have used sbynews.
Looks like it has worked just fine....
very well said
Its a shame that Justin has to get on here to defend statements made by the willfully ignorant. To the original poster. Have you been living under a rock? If made in the USA was so important to you why did you not verify the country of origin prior to purchase? Dont complain after you got what you wanted.
I agree with Justin 100%.
Well said Justin! Please run for mayor of Salisbury. We could use someone who gets it.
A sincere and truthful response. Thank you!!
We greatly appreciate your business here, and will continue to support you and other local businesses. Yes, the cheap Chinese imports are undercutting honest American production, and I am hoping a fairer trade agreement will be the next President's priority to bring good jobs back home where they belong.
Perhaps have your salespeople tell customers when they are looking at a genuine American made piece of furniture, that's definitely a selling point. We always ask, and check labels, and take the origin of manufacture into consideration when making our decision.
Please continue to attempt to source quality American made products, the more demand there is, the sooner Americans will be able to fill that market opportunity.
Thank you again for all you do in this community!
The worse furniture I have ever purchased
I respect this man
Why not WAIT until Trump became president? ?
When I went into Furniture, I was treated rudely and looked at as if "you can't afford anything". I went to another big furniture store in De. and was treated great, bought full living suit and a bed.
almost all furniture is held together by 2" staples. same for furniture land, outten (SUCKS) and J.J.
it is cheap junk with plywood. you can hardly buy anything good. Hey furniture land, JJ and others, just dont tell people that what you are selling is top grade. it is not. and it is NOT nearly the cost you are selling it for. you are gouging people really.
I put out the original remark just to advise others that the information on the show, and the Gaines family that it makes you think the way she designs on the show and the furniture made on the show is made by a friend and business partner. And that they are making according to Chip Gaines, he shows pictures of the silo where in the future furniture is to be made is not correct. I said on the blog that I would continue to buy the furniture, that I like it, that I just thought people (buyers) have the right to know all the facts. This was not a criticism of your company, actually it told people where people could buy the furntiture around here. Every person has the right to make decisions based on facts not a criticism of your stores.
5:07, Your message was very respectful and that is why I published it.
How about you sell the furniture 25 percent over cost instead of the 200 percent mark up you sell as. Also maybe not using a bank that charges 25 percent interest on the item. Other wise Mr. Barnes you might come across smug and dishonest.
Recently, my wife and I purchased fine American made furniture from Furnitureland BECAUSE it was American made. Good financing was also a strong factor. We made it a point to strive to buy American made.
We've bought the cheap junk that Jonni Janosik piles to the ceiling of his showrooms and warehouses and sorely regretted it. He has in all likelihood prospered doing so.
But you must remember Jonni and Larry BUILT these established businesses from American made products.
Is furnitureland experiencing slowdowns because of higher priced American products or an ongoing recession as the middle class shrinks?
Salisbury and Cambridge were once great places to work. I have been through TWO factory closures by businesses who thought they couldn't compete using American workers. My present employer encouraged early retirement for the over 55 crowd. I didn't bite though I'm 58.
I have gone from being home owner to a double-wide resident. I have had to go the government for aid whereas I was once fiercely independent.
I can't run their businesses for him. The customer makes the decision to buy or not. I do hope Trump is elected and enact the tariffs as he promised on imported goods. Walmart is even getting into the act of slowly restocking American made goods.
When I was a union employee many businesses benefited from my spending. Now that my kind is sinking who benefits from my deflated standard of living?
Bob, You nailed it. We have been sold down the river and most people choose not to see the truth. No country can survive with a consumer based economy. Manufacturing jobs that pay a living wage are gone.
Are they closing? or is this just self promoting.
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