MILLERSBURG − Hosting a signature event during a traditionally quiet time of the year is a win-win for the area, and that is exactly what the annual Ohio Hardwood Furniture Market provides, according to Holmes County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tiffany Gerber.

For three days last week, somewhere between 300 and 400 local manufacturers and vendors set up shop in two locations at the Exposition Center at Harvest Ridge and at the Mount Hope Event Center to display their hardwood furniture products for retail buyers from across the country.

The event is hosted by the Hardwood Furniture Guild of Holmes County, a nonprofit group of more than 200 members who operate under the auspices of the chamber. The HFG board is made up of 15 members from within the hardwood industry, and other affiliated businesses like Kaufman Realty, SSB Bank and Rea & Associates. Kendrick Mullet serves as executive director.

Mullet has taken the foundation that was laid by his predecessor Shasta Mast and helped develop it into a bustling organization, thanks to the efforts its members and the teams at the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau.

Mullet grew up in the furniture industry. His family sold their manufacturing and retail business in 2020. The HFG board reached out to him to see if he would be interested in being the executive director on a part-time basis.

"We market these guys year-round, not just here at this event," Mullet said. "I had a background as a manufacturer, dealing with retailers across the nation, so I understand from the manufacturing end what the people walking through these doors are looking for. Plus, because we had a retail store, I used to walk through these same doors as a buyer. I had a relationship already with many of the manufacturers."

He noted that as a nonprofit, no one is in it for themselves; rather they work for the benefit of the industry.

Gerber said the objective of the event is to promote the local hardwood furniture market, while connecting members of the furniture building industry with retailers from across the country, and continuing to grow the local hardwood industry. It also combines the resources of builders to collectively market their wares.

She added that the Ohio Hardwood Furniture Market is trying to be in the league with the High Point Furniture Market in North Carolina, which is considered the pinnacle of the home furnishings industry trade shows. High Point is the longest running event with around 2,000 exhibitors.

Creating a marketing brand

Gerber explained that the Ohio Hardwood Furniture Market is a way to take all these shops, both big and small, and give them a marketing brand.

"They are so much stronger together, and to be known as a furniture destination, it just fits our mission as a tourism destination." Gerber said. "It also fits our mission as a chamber to support local business, and the hardwood furniture business is such a huge part of our economy.

"It behooves anyone with an interest in that market to put this show on," she continued. "Each of these companies might have their own outside sales person, but not every company can do that. And, depending on the company, they might not have the technology. This brings them all under one umbrella."

Retailers are aware of the quality of product that comes from this area, as well as the number of producers, which explains why the event draws visitors from across the country, as well as from Canada.

Gerber pointed out that the show exists to showcase the variety of styles and design trends available to retailers around the country. The show isn't just about local furniture retailers, but local furniture builders and their suppliers.

"It's about getting a piece finished. It's about getting the hardware. There are some cases where a specialty shop is involved, like Bentwood Solutions, where bent wood is used in making a piece of furniture," Gerber said. "This is so far beyond visitors coming to Amish Country to buy furniture.

"Our furniture makers have done a tremendous job of staying ahead of styles and designs," she continued. "It's not just heavy oak. It's modern. They've incorporated different design styles. It's about getting beautiful, modern furniture."

According to numbers from the Ohio tourism bureau, the average traveler spends a little over $100 a day. If they spend the night, that amounts to roughly $300 a day.

Gerber said 300 to 400 companies with three or four representatives spending at least two nights here adds up.

"The economic impact of hosting this, even though it's not open to the regular tourists, these are all business travelers who are dropping a lot of money, stimulating our economy even before the start of tourism season," Gerber said. "Here we have a signature event early in the spring that really impacts the local economy."

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Ohio Hardwood Furniture Market is a signature event for Holmes County