When mass produced furniture first became possible, it was seen as a sleek, elegant way to furnish one’s home, whereas homemade furniture was considered shabby and rough. However, in modern times, the world of furniture design has gone the completely opposite way as people look for something that will last. Among young professionals, handmade furniture is a trendy, luxury item.
A popular example of this new trend is Era 66, a small-scale furniture store started by a couple, Kip and Alexa Perry, who are both just 23 years old. Their furniture is completely handmade, and it is based on mid-20th century furniture designs. After just two years in business, the Perrys’ store has become a resounding success. In fact, Alexa says that so many people have been interested in their furniture that the couple has been able to buy a house recently, and she states, “it’s been going shockingly well.”
The reason that this business model is going so well is because customers can be assured of quality when the business owners are involved in every step of the process. At Era 66, the furniture is made from hardwood and plywood that the Perrys find from local lumber suppliers. They design each item, cut out the pieces, assemble the pieces, and finish the item themselves. Their sideboards, which are a sleek way to store many items, are particularly high in demand right now, and many of them grace the trendiest condos in Toronto. With only two people working at the shop and the huge demand for their furniture, the young couple has trouble finding the time to finish everything. Instead of spending time running a shop, they sell all of their items through their business’ Instagram website.
The mid-century design of their furniture was extremely popular in the fifties and sixties, when furniture was inspired by Scandinavian craftsmen. Kip and Alexa’s designs are based on the piece that started their entire business venture, an antique furniture item that they refinished together. They decided to combine their love of mid century furniture with the woodworking knowledge they had received from Kip’s parents, who also make furniture. From this simple idea, the couple started a business that is the perfect example of the attention to quality and customer service that these small furniture manufacturers have.
In addition to the quality and style of places like Era 66, an added bonus of this business model is that customers can find one of a kind, quality pieces at an affordable price. Since the furniture makers are not selling items to a middleman who marks up the product before selling it to consumers, the cost of the items is far cheaper. Retailers who are also manufacturers make it simple for customers to find their ideal piece of furniture.