Expressions In Woodcraft Issue 3, 2025

There’s Never Been a Better Time to Sell Amish-Built Furniture INSIDE:>>>

There’s Never Been a Better Time to Sell Amish-Built Furniture

“A furniture show in every issue.”

Volume 13 | Number Three 2025

Jerry Klingerman: Owner, Publisher

Karen Yoder: Publication Coordinator/ Graphic Artist

Meredith Klingerman: Assistant Editor

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Dutch Country Publishing, LLC

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Fredericksburg, OH 44627

Phone 330-275-8097

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This publication and its contents are copyright 2025, Dutch Country Publishing, LLC. Individual copyrighted items, trademarks, etc. contained within are the property of their copyright holders. No part of this publication may be reproduced or redistributed by any means without the expressed, written authorization of the publisher.

I might have written this before, so forgive me if I repeat myself, but there is an old Chinese proverb that says, “May you live in interesting times.” The thing is, it’s meant more like an insult than well wishes!

I don’t think anyone would argue that we live in “interesting” times. Of course, I’m sure every generation believes that, but we’re definitely seeing it now!

In terms of the furniture industry, we’re waiting for a couple of “shoes” to drop.

First and foremost, there are the tariffs. As our lead article on the following pages points out, there are some very stiff tariffs being placed in imported furniture — as high as 50 percent!

Will that in itself push more buyers toward US-built (read: Amish-built) furniture? I have to think the answer is, “yes.” Why would you spend as much as 1.5 times the amount of money for an inferior product, when you can have high-quality furniture that lasts a lifetime? The affects of the tariffs on imported furniture have yet to ripple through the marketplace, but I would be hard-pressed to see any other result.

Then there’s the housing market. The vast majority of economic indicators are positive or heading that way as we write this. One of those markers is inflation, which has retreated rather dramatically. That’s good news — or at least it should be — for housing because the Federal Reserve normally points to inflation when justifying the interest rates it charges. (Their stated

goal usually is to keep inflation in check.)

On paper, positive economic trends and lower inflation should translate into lower home mortgage rates.

But that hasn’t happened yet.

I’m no economist, but all the “talking heads” are saying pretty much the same thing: The Federal reserve is now keeping interest rates artificially high.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve is scheduled to meet Sept. 16-17. At that meeting they are widely expected to drop rates by one quarter point. That’s a start, but it might not be enough to further spur on the economy.

Once the Fed drops interest rates by at least half a point or more you'll probably see a renewed boom in the housing market. Right now, a lot of first-time buyers are still priced out of the market due to higher interest rates.

In addition to that, would-be move-up buyers are staying put right now. That's been good for the remodeling market, but every credible source reports that the USA is millions of housing units short right now. The simple fact is, eventually, we’re going to need more new houses. Lots more.

Only time will tell if/when/how much interest rates will be reduced, but at this point virtually every segment of the economy is waiting and watching.

Thanks for reading.

Opportunities at an all-time high Tariffs + Buy American + STURDY Act = big opportunities for Amish-built furniture retailers

By Jerry Klingerman

Hasthere ever been a better time to sell highquality, Amish-built furniture?

Probably not.

If you take away the sales boom that occurred during the Pandemic, there probably hasn’t been a better time to sell Amish-built furniture. Several things are coming into or have come into play that allow us to make that statement:

First and foremost, A renewed interest in American-made products is sweeping the nation. Honestly, it’s been building for years, but these days, it’s been turbocharged! I personally first noted the uptick in “Buy American” sentiment nearly 15 years ago in talking to hundreds (maybe thousands) of consumers across major cities in the Midwest.

The nation was just beginning to crawl out of The Great Recession, and people wanted value for their money. The interesting thing — and a positive benefit for high-quality furniture manufacturers and retailers — is that they didn’t necessarily care if something cost more. They wanted quality

Next, there is the STURDY Act.

Signed into law in 2022, implementation of the STURDY act began in 2023. Everyone involved in

the manufacture and sale of furniture knows about the act, but builders in Ohio’s Amish Country Furniture District were (and still are) uniquely positioned to comply with the act, mostly due to the fact that the shops are “lean and mean,” that is; most builders in this region have five or fewer employees including the owner, which means they can react to market conditions — and/or laws and regulations — with far greater ease than large companies, and certainly with greater ease than large overseas operations.

Several proven STURDY-compliant solutions are being produced locally, and furniture retailers easily can show STURDY-compliant products that are produced here.

Finally, there are the new tariffs on imports.

As of August 29, the USA is set to charge the following tariffs on imported furniture. Note that the highest rates are charged to countries that were exporting the largest amounts of furniture to the USA:

• Vietnam (the largest furniture exporter to the U.S.): 46% tariff

• China: 34% in addition to an existing 20% tariff, for a combined effective rate of 54%

• Cambodia: 49%

• Thailand: 36%

• European Union: 20% (With furniture-exporting countries like Italy, Poland, Turkey, Portugal included.)

Now, we can’t predict how these tariffs actually will affect the market, but it stands to reason that retailers will not absorb these costs: They’ll pass them along to consumers.

And while The Home Furnishings Association notes that “these tariffs may not significantly reshore furniture manufacturing due to high labor costs, automation challenges, and supply chain issues in the US,” that statement does not specifically take into account the fact that Amish-built furniture didn’t need to be reshored! (Reshoring is the practice of bringing back to the USA the manufacture of products that once had been

produced here, but had been outsourced to other countries.)

In other words, no significant costs related to the production and transportation of Amish-built furniture will occur due to the implementation of tariffs. It’s important to note that tariffs either are or will be charged on some imported raw materials such as lumber, but the hardwoods used in Amishbuilt furniture are sourced mainly from Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and other Midwest or Appalachian states — so that should have no effect either.

Some items used in the overall process (most notably pigments used in stains) will increase in cost, but overall, no one in the local industry expects to see significant costs on their side.

What does all this mean for retailers?

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Big opportunities

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First and foremost, lesser-quality imports are going to have a harder time competing against higher-quality, American-made furniture. Again, retailers who stock imports are very unlikely to absorb tariffs ranging from 20 to 54 percent — they’re going to pass them on to consumers.

Prices overall for imported furniture are highly likely to increase, which means American made — Amish-made — products will make much more sense for consumers.

Who will pay?

Younger buyers are likely to be hardest hit, particularly those who shop at big box stores that sell imports: like IKEA. Depending upon whose information you deem most reliable, the breakdown for IKEA goes like this:

Seventy percent of their goods sold in the USA are sourced in the European Union. Again, some of

this information changes frequently, but the best information we have at press time says this means IKEA can expect to pay a 20 percent tariff on items it ships to the USA.

Notably, IKEA’s shopper demographics skew younger: Their buyers range in age from approximately 24 to the early 30s. This validates what Expressions In Woodcraft has said for years: By the time they reach their 30s, perhaps 35, younger buyers get tired of their disposable income turning into disposable furniture. That age range translates from recent graduates getting their first jobs and first “real” apartments, to young marrieds settling into their first home.

Perhaps a bit of sticker shock while shopping at the Swedish behemoth will push more younger buyers into showrooms filled with USA-made, Amish-built furniture. It’s true that they might have to save a little longer to make those purchases, but

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Attention to detail is a key hallmark of Amish-built furniture, with each piece receiving individual attention, down to (literally) the last screw.

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in the end, having high-quality furniture that lasts a long time is a far better value.

Education is the key to sales

So, yes, there’s never been a better time to sell Amish-built furniture. But it’s also more important now than it’s ever been to be able to educate your customers. If we can say one positive thing about the youngest generations (LOL), it is that they do their research. They are savvy consumers, and will check multiple sources before they end up in your store. So you need to be prepared for them! And not just you, as the owner or manager. Anyone who spends time on the sales floor needs to be able to answer good, sometimes pointed questions.

But regardless of the buyer’s age, education is the key. There are two popular sayings that come to mind that support this:

1. People will always pay more if they perceive the quality is better.

2. A confused mind always says “no.”

Let’s talk about quality first.

This is where you can totally differentiate your products from the imports. Very few of them are constructed with hardwoods. Many/most are built from engineered wood products or composites. Amish-built furniture is made of USA-sourced hardwoods, and is built to last a lifetime and beyond — literally.

Next, it’s critical to make sure your customers understand all the key points about Amish-built furniture and how this factors into a higher price tag. It really is true that if people don’t understand what they’re buying, they won’t.

Questions you are likely to hear:

Q: Why does this furniture cost more?

A: Amish-built furniture is constructed of USsourced hardwoods, and hand-crafted in small shops that normally range from one to five

employees, including the owner. It is built one piece at a time, as ordered by the end customer. It is not mass-produced. The workers are craftsmen, and are paid very competitive wages.

Q: Is it really built by the Amish? How do you know?

A: Yes! We know because we buy directly from the Amish builders themselves. There are no middlemen or large distributors in this process. When you choose a piece of furniture, we order it directly from the builder, and they build it specifically for you, based on your choices. All of the catalogs we show you represent different builders we have relationships with, and the items on our floor are only a fraction of what’s available.

Q: What’s the difference in the construction?

A: Each piece normally features at least two or more methods that connect the pieces. That includes high-quality screws, dowels, dovetail joints and glue. Simply put, it’s built to last.

Q: What does Hardwood mean?

A; Hardwood means real, solid wood. That includes Oak, Cherry, Maple, Hickory, Walnut, Elm and more. Cheaper furniture often is built with “presswood” that is layered between veneers or laminates. Those substances are far more susceptible to warping, water damage and simply wearing out. Hardwood furniture often lasts for generations.

Q: How long does it take?

A; That depends. Generally speaking you should count on receiving your order in eight to 12 weeks. Some builders can turn around their best-selling items quicker, but eight to 12 weeks is a good benchmark.

Customization also is a huge thing. First-time buyers of Amish built furniture likely will not be aware of the wide variety of choices they have. From wood and stain choices, to hardware, and even design customizations, they might not know the wide variety of choices available to them.We all

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Local entrepreneurs provide vital business service Fax machines alive and well in Ohio’s Amish Country

By Jerry Klingerman

Editor’s note: We’ve said many times that it is not our place here at Expressions in Woodcraft to make judgments or conclusions about how the Amish approach technology or really anything having to do with their lives and customs. We are observers, simply letting our readers know how certain things work.

In response to an erroneous news story, famed American writer Mark Twain once said, “The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.”

The same could be said about the fax machine.

While some people might believe this “outdated” technology has been relegated to the dustbin of the 1990s, in reality nothing could be further from the truth. Fax

machines are still very much in use in a handful of industries: The legal profession, real estate, banks/mortgage lenders and medical offices are just a few examples of industries that still regularly use faxes.

Add to that list Ohio’s Amish

Country Furniture District.

One of the very first articles we published in this magazine, way back in 2013, was about communications. Back then, things were beginning to change but, oh my…How things have changed since then!

At that time, fax machines had been in wide use for about 10 years, give or take a few years. Email –which had been in use among the English for almost 20 years – was just beginning to make its way into the Amish-built furniture world. We pointed out then, as we will point out now, that among Ohio’s Amish churches, there is a great deal of variance in what different church districts allow, with respect to technology.

That’s still the case. But in those intervening 12 years or so, a lot has happened. Specifically, a number of Amish church districts have loosened their restrictions on certain technology. What our experience shows is, many more furniture manufacturers — but certainly not all — have access to instant communication than ever before.

I recall when one of the first furniture marketing groups began working together back in the mid2000s. They had some great designs, and were one of the first groups to put dedicated sales representatives on the road. But what they found was this: A lot of larger retail furniture stores wouldn’t even talk to them. Why? They said, “If we can’t email you, we won’t even meet with you.”

Now, I wouldn’t say that’s the official policy of most retail stores, but it’s probably a functional policy. That is, as technology has become so entrenched in the English world, people can oftentimes be reluctant to use methods that they consider “old,” including fax machines. It’s interesting to hear people talk about fax machines, as if they were referencing the Stone Age. But the fact it is, fax machines are very much alive and well, especially in Ohio’s Amish Country Furniture District.

There still are a fair number of furniture builders (and other Amish-owned businesses) who have technology limitations that preclude them from owning any type of computer or fax machine. So, some communicate via fax, using thirdparty services: Two local companies, AJ’s

Express Business Services, Inc. and Open Road Services, provide fax delivery and pickup services to Amish-owned business throughout the area.

Both of these companies have “routes” where they pick up and deliver faxes from local furniture manufacturers (and other clients) on a regular basis.

Expressions In Woodcraft spoke to these businesses to try and get an in-depth idea of the valuable service they provide.

With 22 years of service to the community, AJ’s Express Business Service is the oldest of the two services. A true family business, Co-owner Julianna Yoder reports that five to seven people are involved in the day-to-day operation of the business, including three generations of family. From Julianna and her husband, Allen, the business also includes Julianna’s two brothers, and she and Allen’s two oldest children. Julianna says, “It’s great to work with each other while providing a service to our community.” She reports that “We have loyal

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>>> Hickory Lane Woodworking knows just what you need to com bine maximum comfort with a more formal chair: The Carson Side Chair. Shown here with Brown Maple/Onyx legs, this model also features beau button tufting in the back, and high­grade foam in both the back and seat, ensuring years of beauty and comfort. — See ad on page 16

Surf’s up! Fresh off the introduction of it’s “Surfboard Table,” Amco Outdoor Lawn Furniture has just in troduced a new line of bar height chairs to go with it! The chairs are available in a number of fun, stylish colors, so you can match your table or mix and match! — See ad on page 35

For a traditional looking table that isn’t short on style, be sure to check out the York Double Pedestal Table from Hermie’s Table Shop. The supports for the solid top table form an “X” that is split in the middle by a cross beam, further adding to the interesting shapes created by this design. — See ad on page 33

>>>Shown here in Brown Maple with unmixed LO stain, the Sydney Dining Collection from Dublin Valley Wood is a beautiful combination of comfort and tradition. The little ones will enjoy sitting at the optional bench, while adults will find surprising comfort in the scooped seats that also feature curved slats that hug the back. Add to that a beautiful solid top leg table, and it’s a winning combination!— See ad on page 45

>>>Anywhere storage is at a premium is a great spot for the Portland Bed by North End Woodcraft. With three drawers on either side, you’ll add the equivalent of a large dresser. Now, the side tables included with the bed are movable. So you can keep them as part of the unit, or move them wherever they’re needed the most. — See ad on page 29

>>> Dining Solutions by Farmstead Acres presents the Paris side chair. This model packs a lot of features into a clean design. The top is gently curved, as are the side supports, and the two wide slats in the back. The scooped seat allows for long, enjoyable family meals with no rush to get up, while the back legs carry through with the curves from the upper portion of the chair. — See ad on page 3

<<< Who says dressers are boring?! New from Farmside Wood is the Europa dresser. Rounded corners and inset drawers — and no hardware — create an exceptionally clean look here. The shown Rustic Walnut on Natural finish only serve to complement this attractive model. — See ad on page 13

^^^New from Quality Fabrications is the Harmony End Table! The sleek, modern, unique look is created by the slatted style base which has an angled look. The top has a beveled edge and a slight overhang from the base. Sharp! — See ad on back cover

<<<Check out one of the latest offerings from Brookside Home Furnishings! The CL1 530 Coffee Bar features pocket­style doors and a pull­out shelf with power strip for your coffee pot! At just 42 inches wide, it has a smaller footprint, but features lots of storage, including glass doors and a lighted glass shelf on the top. Shown here in Brown Maple with OCS 230 Onyx base and OCS 113 on the top, this piece is almost certain to be an instant hit. — See ad on page 17

^^^This attractive piece is the WC 2660 Library Desk, which is part of the Winchester Collection by Dutch Valley Woodcraft. It measures 26” deep by 60” wide and 30.5” high. Shown here in Brown Maple with Sandy Moon stain, it also has inset drawers and excellent tapered legs. A perfect solution for home or office! — See ad on page 42

New from Hillside Chair is the Reno chair! This attractive new model features a thick cushioned seat, and sits

The M010937 Magabout Enlight from Superior Woodcrafts packs a lot of features into a compact design, including drawers for storage, a cupholder on the top pullout, a USB/110 charging port on the outside and the 2nd drawer, with a tilt­out trash bin and Kleenex holder on the opposite side. It’s a very useful piece! is a comfortable, modern and stylish design. The cushioned seat offers maximum comfort, while the angled legs make for an eye­catching design. — See ad on page 20

>>> The Coastal Chair from Hidden Hollow Wood and Upholstery is a comfortable, modern and stylish design. The cushioned seat offers maximum comfort, while the angled legs make for an eye­catching design. — See ad on page 11

<<<Ebony Woodworking reports that the Walnut River Table is a difficult model for them to keep in stock! With its stylish metal base,and “river” effect in the middle of this thick solid Walnut top, it’s easy to see why! — See ad on page 42

>>>New from BLU Furniture is the Ivory Collection. This handcrafted hardwood collection combines clean, rounded lines with modern functionality and heirloom craftsmanship. Designed for contemporary living, the Ivory Collection offers thoughtful storage, sculpted silhouettes, and enduring beauty. — See ad on page 5

^^^The Mid Century Bookcase from Timberside Woodworking offers a real twist to the old “barrister” enclosed bookcase. It sits on a stylish angled base, and offers plenty of storage behind the glass door. Picture a pair of these on either side of your office desk! — See ad on page 39

^^^The Zion Dining Table from Kountry Knob Tables has a look all its own. The “elongated oval” construction of the top is carried through to the base, which has a reed style. It’s a sleek, modern look that should appeal to younger buyers who want both high quality and ng­edge design. Shown here in Rustic Hickory in FC Almond finish. — See ad on page 29

<<<At home in either your corce or home Office, the Buckeye Rocker is long on comfort and style. Padded surfaces all around are paired with a classic design, for a chair that is sure to please for many years. — See ad

Designed for compact spaces, your customers are sure to enjoy the clean lines of the Medora side and arm Country Comfort Woodworking. The wide lumbar support in the back is set by matching slats on either side, and the entire chair features gentle curves throughout. — See ad on page 21

Don’t let the rugged look of the Harrisburg Chair from Horseshoe Bend Chair fool

<<<There are a lot of design elements at work in the new Bowerston occasional collection from Troy Lane Woodcraft. The appealing combination of inset drawers, thick tops, a storage shelf in the base and truly unique legs are sure to make this collection a hit. The collection includes sofa, coffee, chair side and end tables. — See ad on page 45

<<<New from A&L Furniture is the gorgeous Lake Mills Drop Down Desk. At just 36 inches wide and 16 inches deep,it has a small footprint, but from the top shelf to the bottom, it’s loaded with storage and style! It has a definite Mid­Century Modern look, and is the perfect option for those who want a smaller desk, but also “something different.” With the leaf dropped, there is plenty of space for a laptop, papers, office supplies, etc. There’s also a power grommet inside. Shown here in Sap Cherry w/Almond stain. Sure to be a hit on your sales floor! — See ad on page 33

Brand new from Emerson Woodcraft is the Conway #2014 Collection! Shown here in wire­brushed Red Oak and OCS 118 Antique Slate w/White finish, this new set features a threeslat ladderback chair and a solid top table with post­style legs. The cushioned chair offers excellent comfort, and also is available in a swivel stool.

— See ad on page 7

^^^While Finishing Designs offers a number of quick­ship dining set, they are, first and foremost, a full­service finish shop that custom finish services for dining furniture. They are conveniently located just off St. Rte. 241 between Millersburg and Mt. Hope, for easy access. Contact them today to see how thier expertise can fit into your plans. — See ad on page 13

<<<A touch of industrial­style hardware gives the Bayfield Wengerd Wood a unique look all its own. Other design features include a curved top, three wide slats (with an extra­wide slat in the middle) for comfort and a scooped seat. This model goes with almost any table, but would be a real hit for customers who choose tables with a metal base. — See ad on page 2

>>>it doesn’t get much more unique that the Astro Single Pedestal Table from Five Star Tables! The spoke design subtly channels Mid­Century Modern, and is sure to be a conversation piece in whatever room setting you choose. — See ad on page 21

<<<Looking for big comfort in a smaller space? Look no further than the Orlando Small Accent Chair Country View Furniture! With thick cushioning, you’ll enjoy lots of support in the back and seat. The gently sloping arms are a natural fit as well. This model fits easily into any decor, including home, home office or professional space. — See ad on page 24

^^^You don’t have to be a grandma or a new mom to enjoy the old­time comfort of the High Back Mission Glider from Miller Gliders, LLC (new name; same comfort you’ve enjoyed for years!) Thick cushions and a timetested glider mechanism combine to make this a chair everyone in your home will want to experience. — See ad on page 17

>>>The Last Frontier bed by Meadow Wood Furniture definitely looks like it would have been right at home in pioneer days! Now, you can use it to create an incredibly attractive look in your bedroom. The bed features a live edge headboard and footboard, and is accented by large, sturdy hardware. It all combines for a stunning look! — See ad on page 43

<<< Outdoor dining has come a long way, thanks to builders like Woodside Poly, which just introduced this new two­tone dining collection. The legs, supports, etc. are shaped like real logs, but actually are sturdy, weather­resistant poly lumber. Available with both chairs and benches, this set is sure to be a family favorite for years to come! — See ad on page 11

>>>The new Glasgow occasionals group by Deer Valley Furniture projects a clean, minimalist style, yet provides plenty of function. This brandnew offering features extremely clean lines, combined with contrasting colors on the legs and hardware. Perfect for those who prefer a more minimalist approach that also channels Mid­Century Modern. Gorgeous! — See ad on page 28

Big opportunities

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know this, but the vast majority of potential buyers who are just learning about Amish-built furniture will have no idea that custom choices are very easy to accommodate — and not at all expensive.

People tend to get excited once they realize the variety of choices available, and that their furniture is being built specifically for them.

One other note: regardless of your own tastes, it’s important to keep some modern designs and colors on your floor. We all remember the days when S2 Oak, Fruitwood and similar colors displayed on traditional-looking dining sets were the most popular items, but those days are gone. Long gone. Today’s consumers not only want quality, they want furniture that reflects their personal tastes. You’ve probably long since updated your display items, but

it’s good to keep current. Also, make sure you have lots of wood, stain and hardware samples for customers to review.

Pro tip: Ask the finish shops!

If you are already buying here, then you likely know your finishers on a first-name basis. If you’re new, or not yet buying here, the best place to see the hot-selling items is finish shops. They are a good place to put your finger on the pulse of the buyers.

Finally, there is financing. Like it or not, most Americans can’t plunk down $2,500 or more with a check. They’ll very likely be looking to put it on a credit card, or perhaps will be open to short-term financing. Like every other part of the process, anything you can do to make the buying experience easier makes it much more likely that you’ll end up with a sale, rather than, “We’ll be back,” only to never be seen again.

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providers, reports that they use a similar process. Owned and operated by David and Cherene Immel since 2017 they, too, drop off and pick up folders with faxes to be sent to retail customers, and incoming faxes to the builders. Their children also help with the business, and sometimes even run the route.

Cherene says a typical day at Open Road Services will find them hitting the road “Around 8 a.m. I make my first stop in the Kidron area and from there head south making stops close to Mt. Eaton, Mt. Hope, Benton, Fredericksburg and finally in the Apple Creek area. On most days, I stop at around 25 shops.”

Going in and out of shops is a slowerpaced, laid-back kind of thing, with Cherene commenting that she is “at times welcomed by the family dog. We also are sometimes greeted by the shop owner or their son/daughter who is working in the office. Usually a brief greeting is exchanged, a mention of the weather and sometimes a short conversation about a recent happening in the area.”

customers who have been with us all of those 22 years. We are grateful for each one of the businesses that have allowed us to serve their companies over the years.”

A typical day on the fax route begins early, and takes between seven and nine hours, depending on volume. Julianna reports, “Our average day begins with our drivers starting early in the morning delivering and picking up the faxes from our customers. They then return to the office where we send out all the faxes and sort all the incoming faxes, and prepare the folders for the next morning's deliveries.”

Open Road Services, the second of the two local

Julianna Yoder also attests to the warm, fiendly environment picking up and dropping off faxes, saying, “Our drivers have also made many friends and enjoy seeing the builders and giving each other a hard time, making jokes and having a good laugh or serious conversation. It’s been great to get to know our community through the route.”

As is often the case when doing business in Ohio’s Amish Country, the relationship often extends beyond simply doing business.

Julianna Yoder said, “We have formed many relationships and friendships with our customers over the years.”

David Immel agreed, saying, “We've been invited to many things, weddings and so forth.” He added, “There's a closeness there that's, that's fun. And that's fun with this business in general. It's definitely

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different than if you're working at a retail store or something. There's a closeness there that you don't have in other places.”

Both families value not only the relationship they’ve built with their customers, but also the service they provide.

Julianna Yoder said, “We take our service to our community very seriously and consider it an honor to provide a service that keeps them connected to their customers.” She added, “We are very grateful that we can provide this unique service to our community. Our customers and their needs are very important to us and we are always very happy and willing to hear from our customers on any new services we can provide to them.”

Cherene Immel said, “We recognize that by providing the Amish with this service, we are able to help them be successful in their business while also allowing them to stay true to their traditional values. We enjoy being able to work from home and feel blessed to do what we do.”

Both services now offer some type of email service as well. The incoming email is printed out and delivered just as a fax would. David Immel said this is a valuable thing because, “With email it's more reliable. There's also proof that it was sent, because we have the backup if we need to go back

into it.” He continued, “And the big thing is they're able to send color pictures and so forth with fax. You know, it's very rare for somebody to have a color fax, although we do have that.”

And finally, as for fax machines being outdated technology, well, that’s just not the case. Julianna Yoder said, “In most areas of the progressive electronic ‘English’ world, fax machines are seldom used and many have moved away from this mode of communication, However, in our unique community they are still relevant and serve a purpose in keeping our community connected and in communication with their customers. She added, “We are grateful to be a part of that process.”

No fax machine? No problem! If you’re not aware, there are actually a couple of different ways to send and or receive faxes via the Internet. Both of the local fax services can print your email message for one of their customers. Responses can be received by them, simply turning a handwritten or typed response into a scanned message that they in turn email back to you. Now, this might take a day or two, but it works.

You also can use an Internet to fax service. Personally, I have used a service called “Faxage” for several years now and have found it to be extremely reliable – and very affordable. Plans start at under $10 a month (far cheaper than an additional dedicated land line). There’s no need to have a dedicated fax line, or any kind of land line at all to use a fax service like this. It’s all Internet based. If all this sounds like an extra hoop or two through which to jump, well… It is. But the manufacturers who follow this process, accept it all in stride. It’s simply the way things are. And honestly, when you’re talking about ordering a piece of furniture that can take six to 12 weeks, an extra day or two on the front end of the process really isn’t a big deal.

Moving stats show California, New York exodus

South Carolina has jumped to the top of “most people moving here” list.

In a surprise revelation, U-Haul says South Carlina was the state that welcomed the most new movers in 2024. This is a departure from recent years where Texas and Florida topped the list, usually in that order. The top areas that received those new residents were Greenville, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.

For 2024, U-Haul reported that South Carlina was #1, with Texas second, North Carolina third, Florida fourth and Tennessee fifth. South Carolina jumped up three spots from 2024, while Florida got bumped down two spots from second to fourth.

What are the hottest metro areas? At mid-year 2025, U-Haul says Texas wins here, with Austin and San Antonio seeing the biggest influx of out-ofstate movers. Interestingly, San Antonio saw the highest influx of new residents of Florida — not a state we usually associate with out-migration.

Austin’s newest residents hailed mostly from California, but also from Florida, too (numbers one and two, respectively).

Miami-Dade county is the second most-popular metro destination with Nashville/middle Tennessee

coming in at third — probably not surprising, as we’ve read numerous reports that the housing market in Greater Nashville is tight, and crazy hot!

Those revelations aside, the top states losing people remained fairly consistent: “California leads the pack for outbound moves—for the fifth consecutive year, it ranked 50th (last) in the U-Haul Growth Index.” Following the Golden State are New York, Illinois, Louisiana, South Dakota and Massachusetts.

U-Haul also reported a surprise steep climb in outmigration for Colorado, which fell 31 spots in the Who’s moving in/Who’s moving out list.

Source: “The U-Haul Growth Index is based on net one-way U-Haul truck arrivals minus departures for each state annually, derived from millions of moving transactions. It serves as a meaningful proxy for migration trends—especially selfmoves—though it does not capture all moves or professional movers.”

USA still plagued with housing shortfall

As previously reported in Expressions In Woodcraft. the USA is experiencing a shortage of new housing units. Sources including Zillow and realtor.com report that the USA is short somewhere between 4.7 million and 7 million new units. The 7

million figure from Realtor.com includes a shortage of rental units, with the Zillow numbers are singlefamily homes.

In addition, mortgage lender Freddie Mac indicates that approximately one million new households haven’t been formed due to the lack of affordable housing. Translation: Younger couples who would like to either rent or buy their own place can’t because it’s not affordable.

The lack of new single-family homes continues to put pressure on the rental market, driving rents in major metro areas higher than ever before. Excluding New York, Illinois and California, the average rate for a two-bedroom apartment in the top 15 most populous cities now stands at just over $1,300 a month.

Interest rates at 6.58 and holding

As of Mid-August 2025 Freddie Mac reports the current national average interest rate for a 30year mortgage is 6.58 percent. To put that into per-

spective, that same $1,300 average rent payment could buy a $203,000 home at 30 years with a 6.58 percent interest rate before taxes and insurance.

To put that last figure even more under the microscope, that same $1,300 a month would buy a $242,000 house if interest rates fell to five percent. In a nutshell, this is a small, but good illustration of what interest rates are doing to would-be first-time home buyers.

As mentioned in the Publisher’s Message, all eyes are on the Federal Reserve as it prepares to meet in September. The Fed is under enormous pressure from the current administration, which has called them out numerous times for keeping rates at levels that it believes are artifically high, and which continue to price younger buyers out of the housing market, keeping them locked into the rentals.

Got news? Send it to: editor@eiwmagazine.com

2026 OFM Show set for April 7-9 2026 show dates announced, Showcase House details revealed

The Ohio Furniture Guild (formerly the Ohio Hardwood Furniture Guild) held its summer meeting recently, and shared some important updates with members

Held at the Keim Home Center in Charm, OH the meeting served as an opportunity for Executive Director Kendrick Mullet to update the members on several aspects related to the Ohio Furniture Market, and other newsworthy happenings. In addition, there was an update on decorating styles, and a sales presentation designed to promote an intensive sales training program being offered to OFG members.

(Above and right) Jordan Mullet gave an in-depth two-part presentation to the Ohio Furniture Guild membership, designed to assist them in having conversations with, and exploring expanded opportunities with their retail clients.

To begin, Mullet announced the dates of the 2026 Ohio Furniture Market will be April 7-9, including a VIP Night on April 7. VIP Night was huge success

To no one’s surprise, Mullet said the 2025 VIP Night “meet and greet” session held the evening

prior to the show was enormously popular. He indicated the response was universally positive, and will be included in 2026.

The VIP Night was billed as a “no sales” event where builders displaying at the show could meet and talk with atten dees in a relaxed atmos phere similar to a reception.

The icing on the cake, as it were, was that the VIP Night was catered with small plates of culinary favorites from Ohio’s Amish Country: Think: Yummy Amish comfort food served at multiple stations!

For 2026, the VIP Night will be held Tues. April 7 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. event, mark your calendars now! There’s really never been a better opportunity to chat and get to know the builders — or renew old friendships.

expanded space being filled to capacity — and then some.

Sadie Beachy, Principal and Creative Designer from S. Flynn Design and Build gave an update on the popular Showcase House,

tomers. The tags emphasize the “Made in America” aspect of Amish-built furniture and are expected to be a hit with retailers. They are available exclusively to OFG members and their retail clients.

In addition, the hours of the show have been extended, giving attendees more time than ever to check out the expanded venue and talk with builders.

As a reminder, the event venue is being greatly expanded, allowing more vendors than ever to display thier furniture.

In fact, Mullet said the demand for booths is higher than ever before, with even the newly

460 entries to be included in the 2025 Showcase House! The nine-room model

outside) with items sourced exclusively

Judging took place in

Beachy also gave the members an update on expected design/color trends for 2025 and beyond.

Another highlight of the event was the introduction of new hang tags that members can use to place on items they ship to retail cus-

Finally, Jordan Mullet, Senior Partner/ Owner at Sandler by The Ruby Group, gave a two-part presentation designed to familiarize members with various slaes and followup techniques to use when talking with retailers.

The 2026 Ohio Furniture Market is set for April 7-9 in Mt. Hope, OH. If you want more information please visit: ohiofurnitureguild.com and click on “Market info.”