Let’s Hear It For American-Made Furniture
Gat Creek Completes Expansion, Doubles Capacity
Two words you don’t expect to see side-by-side when talking about furniture manufacturing: 1) American, 2) Renaissance.
With Gat Creek’s factory expansion now complete, it feels like an American Renaissance is taking root in Berkeley Springs. The 2.5-year project increased the company’s physical footprint by 40% and includes a hefty investment in technology that will help double capacity. “We’re pretty smart about understanding what you automate and what you don’t,” said Gat Caperton. “The new technology handles repetitive, mindless work. This will free up our builders to focus on the art and beauty of our products — the things humans will always do better than machines. ”
A win for all who appreciate American-made, Appalachian Hardwood furniture
The Gat Creek brand touches a lot of folks. This expansion is good news for all:
- Customers, dealers, and designers: doubling capacity means more choices and faster delivery of your orders
- Current employees: come to work in a clean, safe, modern environment
- Future employees: anticipated growth will increase the workforce by 30-40% over time, giving young people career opportunities here at home
- Morgan County and the region: as the county’s largest private employer, Gat Creek’s growth promises increased revenue for public resources.
Local Perspectives
“The influence on the region goes upstream and downstream. It’s a full 360-degree impact,” said Sean Forney, a Berkeley Springs native, small business owner and county commissioner. “Everything I hear from Gat Creek’s vendors and everyone who has contact with them is positive. When you tour the facility you can feel the pride of the workers and see the care they take with their products. It really helps put Morgan County on the map.
“A company like Gat Creek that employs so many, donates constantly to the community, their employees supporting numerous events … it means everything,” Forney continued. “And the fact that Gat chose to proceed with this expansion right on the heels of COVID with interest rates like they were just shows you how committed they are to what they are doing.”
Made in America since day one
Commitment to American-made, Appalachian hardwood furniture has never been in doubt at Gat Creek. When Gat Caperton bought the company 30 years ago, about 90% of furniture manufacturing had already migrated to Asia and it seemed those jobs would be gone forever. “When I bought the company and determined to build 100% in America, folks in the industry looked at me as though I was stupid, or crazy,” Gat said. “Today, people have rediscovered an appreciation for American manufacturing and what makes us different and better.”
“When you live and work in the same place you are accountable for what you do. You are responsible for doing what’s right for the environment”
Accountability and Quality in American Manufacturing
The list of why American-made is better is a long one, but at the top is accountability, according to Gat. “When you live and work in the same place you are accountable for what you do. You are responsible for doing what’s right for the environment, what’s right for the consumer, and what’s right for employees because we look them in the eye every day. Someone across the world isn’t accountable for any of that and so doesn’t have the same care.
The Future of Furniture Manufacturing
“It takes a lot to build furniture in America, but we can be competitive thanks to the technology. Maybe it’s impossible to get back to where this industry once was, but it sure feels nice that the pendulum is swinging back.”
Call it what you will, but it sure feels like a Renaissance around here.
