Stoneville Furniture shuts down plant, lays off 200

The Charlotte Observer ^ | Friday June 27, 2003 | The Associated Press

[Willie Green]

For education and discussion only. Not for commercial use.

STONEVILLE, N.C. - Weakened by the prolonged economic slump, Stoneville Furniture closed its manufacturing plant Friday and laid off 200 people.

Robert Koenig, the president and co-owner of the Rockingham County company, told the News & Record of Greensboro that the plant was on "extended shutdown." The layoffs affect almost the entire workforce of the company.

Koenig said he and six co-owners would search for ways to reopen the Stonesville factor, which makes dinette sets, parson chairs and bar stools.

Robert Martin, 49, had worked for a year and a half at Stoneville.

"There are just no jobs out there," Martin said. "People, they want to be able to eat every day, and they're not going to be able to do it."

North Carolina's furniture industry has struggled to compete with cheap imports, particularly those coming in from China.

Last week, Thomasville Furniture said it would close its Winston-Salem plant by October, laying off 400 workers. Another 270 are expected to lose their jobs when Hooker Furniture in Kernersville closes one of its plants.

Information from: News & Record

[Willie Green]

Furniture execs ponder future of U.S. manufacturing jobs
Trade official hears about furniture industry concerns

I don't know what North Carolina did to offend the Zoellick/Bush Administration,
but between the textile and the furniture industries collapsing, those poor people are taking an awful beating.

[templar]

"There are just no jobs out there," Martin said. "People, they want to be able to eat every day, and they're not going to be able to do it."

These people are just going to have to learn to go to where the jobs are, or to lower their expectations to a more realistic level.

[knowtherules]

I'm sure Pat would have made it all better.

[Willie Green]

I'm certain he would have.

[knowtherules]

Just too damn bad he is so marginalized and will never get the chance.

[Uncle Miltie]

Po Po Patty.

[Uncle Miltie]

"People, they want to be able to eat every day, and they're not going to be able to do it."

Separately, obesity is the #1 health problem among the poor.

[Ed_in_NJ]

So all these workers will get retrained to make Happy Meals. They won't be able to afford to buy any, just make them for others - at least they won't be eating all that fat.

[lelio]

In Zoellick's Washington Post article he mentioned that he wanted to see more Egyptian furniture in the country.
Why is he not looking for ways to export goods? Perhaps that's just a little too dirty for his hands.

[giznort]

In Sheboygan/Sheboygan Falls Wisconsin, Richardson Furniture just announced this week that they would be ceasing operations due to Chinese import competiton, a total loss of 138 jobs in the Sheboygan County area. Now, when I buy furniture (couch, chairs, etc.) I want something decent....Thomasville, Lexington, etc. I see what Wal-Mart/Sam's Club sells, and this is NEVER a factor in my purchase decision. Has this cheap crap crowded out decent, well-made furniture that will last 10+ years? Maybe I am a dinosaur. I also don'y buy tattoos, multiple body piercings, plastic sandals, etc.

[grania]

I'm sure Pat would have made it all better.

Do you really think we'd be importing all of these goods if Pat were in charge? Do you really think so many jobs would be going overseas? And so many workers would be taking US jobs at home? Do you really think the border mess would still be going on? Do you really think Iraq's border security would be more important than ours?

That being said, I'm fed up that people with vision (like Buchanan) don't get together and figure out a ticket that can actually win, with the correct combination of issues, and the vote-getting charisma.

[palmer]

Has this cheap crap crowded out decent, well-made furniture that will last 10+ years?

It has and it is not Wal-Mart's fault, nor is it the government's fault. People have to make the conscious decision to buy quality American products and support their fellow American worker. What is the point of saving a few $ when the items you buy fall apart sooner and you kill American industry so it can't recover and lose the ripple effect of keeping your $ in our economy?

[Ed_in_NJ]

The auction business is thriving, as the masses realize they are better off buying "old quality" than "new junk."