Solid wood manufacturer Jasper Cabinet said it plans to begin opening stores in China based on feedback from potential retail partners it saw at the China International Furniture Fair in Guangzhou in March, where it showed product at a 20,000-square-foot booth of a partner manufacturer.

Company President Robert Cribbs said the goal was to present the idea, without knowing what type of feedback the company might receive.

“It was essentially just to kick the tires and see what the reaction would be on the product,” he said.

The response, he said, was much better than expected, a factor that he attributes to the interest in selling U.S.-made product from an American company first established in 1906. Jasper, a case goods, home office and home entertainment resource that imports some of its display cabinets, primarily produces its products in partnership with Amish workshops in Ohio.

That includes a line of still popular secretaries, a product that has been the company’s bread and butter almost since its inception.

This development could provide a significant boost for a company that has had its share of challenges in recent years. Cribbs acquired the company in 2002, right around the time the company closed its doors following a period of financial challenges. Cribbs reintroduced the line at the inaugural July 2005 Las Vegas Market and has shown the product line both there and in High Point over the years.

At one point Cribbs shifted to imports, hoping to offer a value-priced line bearing much of its same historical construction and finishing standards. Then in 2008 the company partnered with Superior Furniture, which offered an extensive line of custom finishes on product that Jasper Cabinet brought into the U.S. in whitewood form. While the partnership got off to a good start, Superior ran into difficulties of its own, forcing the company to shut down around 2009.

While Jasper Cabinet remained in business, the closing of Superior had a negative effect on business, as many retailers had thought Jasper was gone, too.  Cribbs noted that business fell off as much as 70% around that time.

It soon found a new finishing company and continued to shift more product from overseas to the Amish workshops, some of which continue to produce its line.

The company pulled out of High Point about a year ago this past April but continues to market its product through various buying groups including BrandSource and Nationwide. As it continues to maintain a line of office and entertainment furniture, it also continues to show at the CEDIA contract show.

The Guangzhou show in March was an unexpected opportunity that Cribbs believes could boost business over the short term. Several entrepreneurs who had seen its products at the showroom took interest in developing a Jasper Cabinet store concept of their own. While the concept is in its infancy, Cribbs is encouraged.

“It was surprising how many people jumped on the idea,” he said, adding that the buyers perceived the quality and pricing of the line continues to be very strong.

（Source:furnituretoday.com)