Letter of Appreciation

Letter of Appreciation

Dear George’s Furniture

I am writing this appreciation letter to express the feelings of my wife, Linda, and I have regarding the bedroom furniture you have produced for us.

Some of our special moments involve all of you.  We got a good feeling from the first time we came to see your shop, June 6, 1995, our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary.  The brochure, we found at the Lancaster Visitor’s Center caused us to come see you that first time. Over a period of several years, we had been looking for something special in bedroom furniture.

Attention to detail

In June, we spent a lot of time looking at the showroom, taking the tour of the drying room and wood shop, reviewing virtually all the photographs, and making lots of notes on details of the furniture we saw. We knew then that if we ever got to the point that we could afford to have the bedroom furniture we really wanted; your shop would be given a lot of consideration.

Exploring furniture stores

In the summer of 2000, we took a drive tour of North Carolina, stopping at various furniture shops and outlets. Some were very nice, but none seemed to capture the feel for quality and detail that we knew existed in the furniture you had on display. None of the places we visited had the feel of friendliness and welcome we experienced from everyone we met in our visits to your shop. By the fall of 2000, improved finances brought us back to you.

Grateful for Design Team

Anthony was wonderful to deal with during entire time and the many times we had discussions by telephone since then. Georges was just where it seemed appropriate when we finished our discussion with Anthony that day –sitting in one of the reclining rockers, talking furniture with some folks.

 

Delivery with a smile

On Tuesday, February 6, we took delivery of the furniture. Roy and his wife were so nice. I imagine nearly everyone has had the experience of having a delivery made by individuals who are hard to get along with. It is hard to imagine George hiring anyone to make deliveries who would not fit the personality of George’s Furniture. I was very pleased to meet and work with Roy and his Wife.

Friendly craftsmanship atmosphere

Your craftsmanship is superb and having your furniture in our home had nothing to do with commercialism. The product you make results from treating a natural product with the skill held only by true craftsmen.

It is not just the furniture; it is the feeling that you all appreciate what you do and what you produce.

To me, craftsmanship of this kind produces a product that is so likely to survive for so many years. After that we hope to pass it onto others who will appreciate it, care for it and likewise pass it on through generations.

Sincerely,

Michael & Linda Burkey

Come and experience what Michael and Linda experience while working with George’s Furniture. From working with the design team to seeing the craftsmen work, you will understand the difference of quality, handcrafted furniture made by George’s craftsmen.

How to Spot Quality

To help you start the process to high quality, handcrafted furniture, we have created this handy checklist on how to spot high-quality furniture.  Download the checklist here so you know what to avoid in your furniture shopping.  When you are ready to design your own custom furniture, call and our designers will be eager to assist you in creating that one of a kind cherished piece of quality furniture.

 

 

Download your Guide to High-Quality Furniture
Furniture Store Expands

Furniture Store Expands

George realized his natural gift and talent for making quality wood products and wanted to spread the word. The challenge with spreading the word about quality of hand-crafted products is finding customers who appreciate handcrafted items.

Craft shows

George first displayed his wood items at Springs Festival, Springs, PA. He skillfully created live edge furniture such as stools, benches, tables, and bookends. Thin, woven wood-strip baskets and lamp shades characterized his unique, woodworking styles. Throughout the show day, wooden woven basket plaque engravingGeorge engraved custom plaques ready in one hour. Other larger wood items like rockers, dry sinks, trestle table and benches were available for purchase. Customers also used the furniture to explore the different furniture style options for placing custom orders. For many years, the order placed at the craft show supplied work for the next 12 months. George not only went to Springs festival but also displayed his crafts at the Dutch Family Festival in Lancaster, PA during the summer tourist season.

First Showroom

In 1973, he rented a small showroom at 4 Center Square, Elizabethtown, PA. Later that winter he moved his furniture store to 20 S. Market Street, Elizabethtown, where he sold furniture for thirteen years. This furniture store was quite small but allowed customers to see the quality of craftsmanship made by George and his craftsmen. On Friday and Saturdays, he also had a stand at Meadowbrook Farmer’s Market, Leola, PA. George purchased a 12-acre farm where he moved his wood working shop into the dairy barn.

Showroom and wood shop tours

One added benefit our customers enjoy is touring the wood shop. George moved the showroom to the same location as the wood shop.  Allowing customer to view the furniture manufacturing shows everyone the time and attention to detail given to each piece of furniture. The larger showrooms wood shop tours showroom storepresent a visual display of completed furniture. Larger furniture-dining room sets, bedroom suites, living room tables, entertainment centers are displayed.

Visit Today

Our two large showrooms are located 9 Reichs Church Road, Marietta, PA, Monday through Saturday. The wood-shop tour exhibits the manufacturing process from raw lumber to finished furniture. Take a trip to our location and enjoy the quality furniture and talk to our design team about a new piece of custom-made furniture. We also display our furniture at craftshows in the Eastern United States. Check our website for updated schedule.

No Birdhouses, Handcrafted Furniture Discovered

No Birdhouses, Handcrafted Furniture Discovered

David and Angela loved getting away from the stress of the office and the hustle and bustle of life in New Jersey.  They enjoyed traveling to Lancaster County to the peace and tranquility of Amish and Mennonite farmland. Their favorite place to stay was the Cameron Estate Inn and Restaurant, Mount Joy, PA.  The inn keepers, Abe and Betty Groff, were a delight to talk to which is the main reason why David and Angela’s return year after year.

Hand Engraved Road Signs

Traveling the Lancaster country roads, they often found hand-engraved road signs – George’s Woodcrafts- during their sight-seeing.   David and Angela would pass by wooden signs thinking they did not need any birdhouses or small wood crafts.  Finally one day they picked up an AAA travel guide and decided to check out George’s Woodcrafts. Were they surprised?  George’s did not make birdhouses at all.  Beautifully hand-crafted beds, dressers, long extension tables, smaller breakfast tables, tall tables were on display.  Desks, bookcases, chairs, rocking chairs, benches, anything one could imagine greeted them-all specially designed to their special dimensions.

Small space challenge solved

Special dimensions were the challenge David and Angela faced.  Their small house presented many problems for finding furniture that fit within the space.  The search was over.  They remember George Martin’s love for design and sharing of his unique designed rocker that did not tip over.  He quickly pushed himself way back and it stopped. They could not forget this amazing design. Later a rocking chair found its way into their home.  After sharing the history of the rocking chair, George proceeded to begin designing a small shelf that would mount to the side of the Finnegan’s bed.

Natural skill in designing

George’s did not need a picture of design from.  He would listen to the customer’s needs and space requirements, then design and draw out a sketch of what was in his mind. David was embarrassed about how much time George devoted to them, designing their little bed side shelf, even this other customers around.  The genuine desire to created and solve needs was why the Finnegan’s continued kept coming back for many more pieces of furniture over the years. Each room of their homes has at least one piece of furniture-except the bathroom.

George’s Legacy

Even though George has passed away, his daughter, son-in-law and skilled craftsmen carry the legacy of listening to customers’ needs and creating signed, dated, made by one craftsman, cherished hardwood heirlooms for over 50 years.  Visit George’s showroom and see for yourself the Lancaster County quality of that drew David and Angela and captured their hearts.

Handcrafted quality furniture discovered in Vermont

Handcrafted quality furniture discovered in Vermont

It all started when Bob and Rachel visited their friend’s home. They noticed beautiful furniture skillfully placed around the living space. Furniture of this quality is hard to find.  However, after years of searching, they finally found it right in their friends home. When questioned where the beautiful furniture came from, their friends ecstatically shared the journey that ended at George’s Furniture, Marietta, PA.

Journey begins

Bob had a remodeling project scheduled. After four years the new addition neared completion.  Subsequently, they planned a trip to Lancaster County.  A beautiful drive from Vermont to Pennsylvania brought Bob and Rachel to George’s Furniture’s showrooms and the wood working shop.  During a wood shop tour, Bob and Rachel saw the craftsmen skillfully creating quality heirlooms. Finally they knew this was the birthplace of their new dining room furniture.

Built your way

They met with Anthony and started the journey of designing their desired dining space. After the order was placed and the waiting began.  As an added benefit, Anthony sent several pictures of their furniture progression through the wood shop in the different build stages.

Bob quotes,

“Anthony did a fantastic job of working with us patiently while we determined what we wanted even to the point of thinking outside the box of choices to design the legs of the hall tree to match the table legs.” 

 

Careful Delivery

Upon completion, the delivery personnel carefully blanket wrapped the furniture and skillfully placed it in the van for its trip to Vermont.  A warm and excited reception greeted Chris and Juanita after a long 8 hour trip in the delivery van.  Several neighbors eagerly waited, ready with open arms to transport the table, chairs, table leaf storage, large hutch, buffet, hall tree and 2 non-tip rocking chairs into the house.

“We knew the kind of quality we could expect but when the dining room furniture arrived, we were blown away by the quality of each piece individually and how the whole room of furniture fit together.”

Quality on Display

Rachel’s excitement exploded as she shared their journey discovering George’s Furniture.  She looks forward to gathering everyone around the same table in their newly remodeled dining room.  Bob and Rachel joined the family of George’s satisfied customer that can’t contain their excitement and love for their furniture.  Join the family and create you next new piece of furniture.  Come and see where your furniture is built or contact us to started the journey.

It’s Worth The Wait

It’s Worth The Wait

Quality discovered

The search for furniture is a common need for people all over the America and beyond.  Some are looking for furniture that will only last for several years while others are seeking furniture that will be heirlooms and will shine the quality for years to come. The search for the highest quality, solid, hardwood furniture made in America led Linda and Ed Riffert to Lancaster County, PA. After several years of looking in many furniture stores and experiencing disappointment of the quality, they nearly gave up. Is quality furniture still being made these days?

It’s Worth the Wait

During a visit to Kitchen Kettle, Intercourse, PA, they discovered a brochure from George’s Furniture.  They followed their GPS clear across Lancaster County, through the cornfields, away from the tourist area and the heavy traffic.  It seemed so far away.  The GPS said they arrived, but where was the showroom.  To Linda’s delight, several small signs stating, “George’s Furniture.” “Straight Ahead”.  “It is worth the wait” “Where dreams come true.” greeted them as they made their final journey to the wood shop and showrooms.

Quality Furniture discovered

Finally, a place where quality furniture is made and you can even see it being constructed in the wood shop. cascading levered construction style end table or desk lamp  furniture store in lancaster york The quality was astounding.  Ed and Linda worked with George and purchased a large oak corner cupboard for their house. A new cascading LED light is now shining the beautiful grain on Ed’s desk.

Craft Show findings

The Rifferts love attending craft shows and seeing quality items.  They continue to stop by our stand at the Kutztown Folk Festival, Heart of Lancaster and the numerous Sugarloaf Shows.  They love sharing their experience with George’s Furniture to people at the shows.  I enjoy watching their excitement as they share about finding quality furniture.

Sharing with others

Quality is meant to be shared.  Recently the Rifferts brought their daughter and son-in-law into the showroom to assist in their new dining table.  Quality is passing to the next generation.  Come and experience the furniture made by one craftsman while you watch.  Contact us or visit our website for ideas of a new heirloom.