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From Home Furnishing Business

Don Willis Furniture Celebrates 65 Years

October 18, 2013  by in Furniture Retailing, Industry   

The fifth-generation retailer began buying American and buying locally in 1948. Founder Don Willis believed that Northwest woods made better quality furniture for Northwest homes; and performed better overall in the Pacific Northwest climate.

“Customers love the fact that their bed and dresser are made in the Northwest,” said Paul Willis, second-generation owner of Don Willis Furniture, adding that it's not just a sense of regional pride or patriotism. “The options available by locally made furniture gets our customers really excited.”

Customers have custom options for the furniture on sale--shorter, taller, deeper drawers, different wood; and can order furniture made from scratch using their own design, or work with the design team at Don Willis.

Made to order furniture sounds like a lengthy, expensive proposition, but it’s surprisingly affordable. There are no assembly lines to reconfigure, no oceans to cross. Every piece is made by hand, within an hour’s drive of the stores. Design changes are swift and inexpensive.

“There’s another advantage to buying furniture made in the Northwest,” Paul said, “Quality. Unlike much of the furniture made overseas which feature veneer masking particle board underneath, our local builders make their furniture using only real wood.”

Recently, Don Willis Furniture added upholstered chairs, sofas, and love-seats, also made in the Northwest.