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Furniture Industry Archives ➔ Booklet, A Successful Experiment in Business Cooperation, Concerning "Value''
Identifier:
1984.33.7.4Description:
Second Edition. Booklet reprint of an article from The Michigan Tradesman, May 31, 1939 issue. Describes how Grand Rapids furniture makers formed a guild during the 1930's to promote their business during the Depression.Date:
1939Materials:
PaperCurrent Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
Gift of Donald B. AyersRelated Entities:
A. P. Johnson Company (creator) Grand Rapids Furniture Makers Guild (creator)The "Guild" was an independent organization within the Grand Rapids furniture industry whose mission focused on strengthening the business between the manufacturers and the dealers in presentation and sale to the public. The Guild operated independently from the Furniture Manufacturers Association of Grand Rapids (FMA), which promoted activities for the Furniture Market event and protected the "Grand Rapids Made" trademark. The formation of the Grand Rapids Furniture Makers Guild in 1931 accomplished several goals: it provided a new avenue for marketing Grand Rapids furniture during the Depression; it ensured that a large number of retail dealers would consistently carry Grand Rapids goods; it educated the general public about style and craftsmanship in furniture, and it advanced the reputation of Grand Rapids as the place where high-quality furnishings were made.
The Guild initially included nine Grand Rapids furniture manufacturers and increased to around 15 at its height. It was formed under the assumption that the "Grand Rapids" name and reputation held stronger sway with the buying public than did any of the individual company names. To capitalize on this, member companies sold their products through official "Guild" dealers across the country, and their products were labeled with a tag that often read "True Grand Rapids Cabinet Making Certified" instead of the individual company names. Each piece of furniture sold under the Guild name was numbered, and the buyer was given a certificate proving its pedigree as a Guild product. The tags usually take the form of a letter, followed by 5 digit number (such as I-46965), and researchers believe the letter indicates the name of the company that produced the piece. The Guild disbanded around the year 1967.
I - Imperial Furniture Company
G -
F - John Widdicomb Company
Donald B. Ayers (donor)
