Mouser Custom Cabinetry Acquired by Kith Kitchens
Mouser Custom Cabinetry Acquired by Kith Kitchens
Pfingsten, located in Chicago, IL, recently announced that its portfolio company, Kith Kitchens, based in Haleyville, AL, has acquired Mouser Custom Cabinetry LLC, a manufacturer of semi-custom and custom kitchen and bath cabinetry. Headquartered in Elizabethtown, KY, Mouser manufactures premium framed and frameless cabinets in a wide variety of wood species, finishes and door styles. Among the wood species it procures are the following: Alder, Cherry, Hard Maple, Hickory, Red and White Oak.
“We are excited to add Mouser to the Kith platform,” said Mark Smith, CEO of Kith. “Mouser’s outstanding reputation and extensive product portfolio of premium kitchen and bath cabinets will be highly complementary to Kith. The combined business will offer its customers high quality products in a variety of price points, customization options and materials.”
Pfingsten became the majority shareholder of Kith in 2016. Kith offers a comprehensive portfolio of semi-custom kitchen and bath cabinetry for both the remodeling and new customer markets under the Kith and Eudora brand names.
Learn more at www.kithkitchens.com and www.mousercabinetry.com.
James+James More than Triples Furniture Plant Size
A spokesperson for James+James, located in Springdale, AR, recently confirmed that the solid-wood furniture maker more than tripled the size of its production facility this year after it finished 2020 with 60 percent higher sales revenue than in 2019. James+James’ facility expanded from 15,000 square feet to 50,000 square feet.
Furniture is built by hand by the team at James+James using an array of solid wood, such as Black Walnut in its nightstands and Knotty Alder in a line of its dining tables.
At the time of this writing, the company included 36 full-time employees. Also, according to published reports, company owner James Smith stated that January 2021 sales were expected to be triple the sales reported in January last year. He attributed the pandemic for the meteoric increase in orders for home office pieces, such as solid wood desks and dining furniture.
James+James was founded in 2011. See their products at www.carpenterjames.com.
Cabinetry Business Expedites Adding 150 Jobs with SEDA-COG Loan
Cabinetry Business Expedites Adding 150 Jobs with SEDA-COG Loan
William Penn Cabinetry, of Freeburg, PA, is ramping up production and will be hiring 150 employees sooner than expected thanks to a $500,000 loan from SEDA-Council of Governments (SEDA-COG).
According to a statement released by the SEDA-COG EDA COVID-19 loan, owner Maurice Brubaker expects to hire the employees over the next several months. They currently have 30 employees at their 401 E. Front St. plant.
“This loan allows us to get the company the resources it needs to further ramp up our production much more quickly than our original estimate of a year. If it wasn’t for this loan, we wouldn’t be able to hire people as fast,” Brubaker said.
At the time the loan was announced, he expected to add a second shift in the next six to eight weeks.
The loan will fund inventory, equipment, rent, payroll, utilities, benefits, payroll taxes, and purchases.
Brubaker said working with SEDA-COG’s staff met an urgent need just when he needed it.
Brubaker formed and registered William Penn Cabinetry LLC in July 2019 after he saw the abrupt closure of Wood-Mode. His company started production last March.
Out of 30 total staff, 15 are former Wood-Mode employees.
Only days after opening, however, the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard, and the company had to close from March 19 to May 8 last year due to the statewide business shutdown.
Since that time, while they haven’t been able to scale as they first wanted to, SEDA-COG’s loan helps put them in a better position to do so.
For more information about the company, visit www.williampenncabinetry.com.
As a community and economic development agency, SEDA-COG enhances the quality of life and economic advantage for residents and businesses in 11 central Pennsylvania counties through its vital partnerships and initiatives. SEDA-COG also is an advocate for the interests of its communities at the state and federal levels.
For more information, visit www.seda-cog.org.
HF Issue Alert: China Trade and Tariff Exclusion Extension
HF Issue Alert: China Trade and Tariff Exclusion Extension
The Hardwood Federation recently reported that the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has received notice from the U.S. Embassy in Beijing that the Chinese Government has extended the tariff exclusions for 65 U.S. products, including Hardwood lumber and logs, through September 16th, 2021.
According to AHEC, U.S. Hardwood logs and lumber were the only agricultural products included in the extension. AHEC is working with the embassy to clarify all Harmonized System codes involved but they believe it includes most, if not all species that were originally hit with tariffs. They have identified the following preliminary list:
44039100 Other Oak logs
44039960 North American Hardwood logs
44079100 Jointed-end, other Oak lumber
44079100 Non jointed-end, other Oak lumber
44079400 Cherry lumber, with thickness over 6mm
44079500 Ash lumber, with thickness over 6mm
44079930 Other North American Hardwood lumber with thickness over 6mm
The Hardwood Federation will continue to work with AHEC and provide support as appropriate.
For updates, visit www.hardwoodfederation.com and www.ahec.org.
Rockler Announces $50,000 Donation to the Hardwood Forestry Fund
Rockler Announces $50,000 Donation to the Hardwood Forestry Fund
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware of Medina, MN announced the company has made a $50,000 donation to the Hardwood Forestry Fund (HFF) to support 2021 tree-planting projects across the country. The contribution to HFF continues Rockler’s commitment to supporting the nonprofit organization, which is dedicated to establishing sustainable Hardwood forests.
“We are proud this contribution will help with the important work of growing beautiful Hardwood forests for everyone to enjoy,” said Ann Jackson, executive chairman of Rockler Woodworking and Hardware. “The Hardwood Forestry Fund is working to ensure future generations of woodworkers and furniture-makers have access to renewable Hardwood lumber resources.”
Since 2008, Rockler has donated more than $100,000 to HFF to fund tens of thousands of tree-plantings across the country. Rockler’s donations to HFF have helped fund reforestation projects in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Wisconsin and more.
“We are grateful for the ongoing support of Rockler, a company that has continued to provide considerable contributions over the years that have advanced our mission to establish high quality Hardwood forests,” said John Varner, chairman of the board for HFF. “These important donations provide for the key resources to help our organization plant new, thriving forests.”
Since 1990, HFF has planted and managed more than 4 million trees in 30 states across the U.S., as well as in four international countries. Native tree species are selected for each unique site, but common species planted include Black Cherry, Black Walnut, Red Oak, Hard Maple, Hickory and Ash. Every sponsored project is required to have a management plan and harvest and regeneration schedule.
Rockler Woodworking and Hardware supplies lumber, such as Walnut, Maple, Cherry, Basswood and White Ash, to woodworkers online and in stores. More information about Rockler’s commitment to the Hardwood Forestry Fund and how individuals can participate can be found at rockler.com/forestry-fund.
The Hardwood Forestry Fund creates sustainable forests on suitable and quality public sites. The Hardwood Forestry Fund is a 501 (c) (3) educational foundation based in Sterling, VA, and is supported by the forest products industry, conservation-focused foundations, and individuals.
To make a donation or submit a grant application to the Hardwood Forestry Fund, please visit: www.hardwoodfund.org/. Contributions are deductible to the extent allowed by law. Tax ID 54-1674210.
