OFG event showcases quality, innovation from local builders

The Ohio Furniture Guild hosted its annual Ohio Furniture Market April 2-3 at the Mt. Hope Event Center, the market designed exclusively for wholesale buyers looking to stock their showrooms with furniture pieces built with passion and detail.

According to OFG Executive Director Kendrick Mullet, the two days were a flurry of everything the group hopes to achieve from the event.

“We had a record number of exhibitors, and the number of store representatives was way up from last year,” Mullet said. “Our number of first-time attending stores was way off the charts this year.”

The OFG continues to strengthen Holmes County’s reputation as a leading hub for handcrafted furniture, bringing national attention to the region through its annual Ohio Furniture Market.

The guild, a nonprofit organization made up of 260 local companies involved in the furniture industry, works year round to promote the community’s builders and manufacturers. Its mission is to connect those businesses with qualified wholesale buyers — primarily retail furniture store owners from across the United States and Canada.

That effort culminates each spring with the Ohio Furniture Market, held at the Mt. Hope Event Center. This year’s event drew buyers from 42 states and Canada, with more than 1,000 retail buyers in attendance. A record 194 exhibitors showcased their work, making it the largest market to date.

Mullet said there has been an intense spotlight shining on Ohio furniture makers in recent months, with a focus on purchasing domestically manufactured furniture.

He said the excitement surrounding this show was far more than that.

“The innovation, colors and designs these local guys are coming out with right now are incredible,” Mullet said. “Probably the No. 1 comment we got from buyers was that this year’s furniture was elevated to a whole new level, and they appreciate that.

“One of the things that sets this market apart is the direct connection between the people building the furniture and the people selling it. Our exhibitors are primarily owner-builders, so retailers are having real conversations about customization, quality and long-term partnerships.”

Mullet said building those relationships and inviting wholesalers to experience all the creative furniture being produced in Ohio is the crux of the show.

“It’s all about connecting people,” Mullet said. “It’s great to see builders and wholesalers meeting one another face to face and growing new relationships.”

Even as vendors highlighted their own furniture in their space on the enormous showroom floors, one unique opportunity to explore the best of the best awaited in the OHFM Showcase House.

The show builds a house inside the expo center complete with a living room, dining room, bedroom, kitchen, den and more. The house features nine fully designed room settings, each displaying award-winning pieces from guild builders.

“Each year we have builders submit pieces to be shown in the Showcase House beginning in July,” Mullet said. “They can submit up to one item in every category. Over two days in November, we have nine judges pick the winning pieces that will be showcased in the house.

“This year we had a really nice representation of 24 different builders with furniture in the Showcase House. It’s amazing how they can transform that space into what looks like a real home.”

Mullet said participation in the Showcase House is competitive. Builders submit pieces throughout the year, and a panel of judges selects the top entries based on design, craftsmanship and market appeal. Once selected, the pieces are styled and finished using coordinated woods, paints, stains, fabrics and hardware to create cohesive, real-world room settings.

The Showcase House is supported by key industry partners including Keim and Hood Industries, the guild’s premier providers of color, along with Hershberger Hardware, the official hardware sponsor.

A team of professional designers brings the showcase to life, incorporating current trends, colors and styles to inspire attending retailers. This year’s design team included Maggie O’Hare, senior marketing manager of color and design for Sherwin-Williams (North Carolina); Sadie Beachy, creative director of S. Flynn Design + Build (Berlin); Laura Fox, Laura Fox Interior Design (Washington, D.C.); and Sierra Beachy, Studio B Interiors (Sugarcreek).

“The goal with the Showcase House is to push and elevate our builders,” Mullet said. “We want to show what’s possible at the highest level, and our retailers are noticing that.”

It helped create a mesmerizing experience and appeal, and Mullet said feedback from attendees continues to be strong.

“The combination of world-class craftsmanship, thoughtful organization and exclusive access made the entire experience feel elevated,” one retailer from Texas said after the event. “It’s the best furniture show we’ve ever attended.”

With continued growth in attendance and participation, the OFG remains focused on expanding opportunities for its members while promoting the region’s craftsmanship to a national audience.

“Our goal is simple,” Mullet said. “We want to connect great builders with great retailers and continue building something that benefits the entire community.”

The show continues to shine a spotlight on why furniture builders throughout Ohio and Amish Country continue to be a driving force in the furniture market today.