The changing face of our furniture industry: cherish or drop?

Gerben Kestens - Commercial agent/entrepreneur at Kestens Agenturen in Lichtenvoorde. Decades of experience in the market of high-quality furniture accessories.

In the shadow of days gone by, where well-known furniture factories like Nijpels , Vroomshoop and Oldenhuis left their mark on the Dutch (furniture manufacturing) landscape, the luster of these industrial powerhouses has faded. The decline began in the 1970s, reinforced by the waves of change that came with the 1980s. Furniture production shifted to places like Poland and Romania, and the once vibrant industrial as well as craft heartbeat of our country slowed. And sometimes it even stopped altogether. Especially when part of the production shifted to the Far East.

But new pearls rose from the ashes of this disappearance. A generation of artisans and visionaries, armed with computerized CNC machines, took over. These modern furniture makers not only cherish the functionality of a handle, but happily continue to strive for perfection in every detail. Together with interior stylists, they create unique furniture pieces that capture the hearts of consumers.

And precisely in that "conquering" is the crux: for we live in an age of customization and individuality. No more standard handles chosen haphazardly, but carefully selected accents that harmonize with the furniture design and the rest of the home! Consumers desire originality, and thanks to this new generation of furniture makers, that desire is being fulfilled. Handmade kitchens and custom-made furniture are within reach, and we should cherish that.

However, while we enjoy the thriving creativity in today's furniture industry, we must also look ahead and continue to evolve. Automation is the key to efficiency, and the emergence of the aforementioned CNC-controlled machines is just the beginning. Let us further embrace the possibilities of artificial intelligence and optimize our processes even more. To avoid shutting down (again). Specialization is another pillar of guaranteed progress. Why strive for mediocrity when we can excel in our expertise? Let's focus on what we do best and get even better at it. 

However.... let us remain vigilant to the pitfalls that lurk. The lure of cheapness (from Eastern Europe or the Far East) must not blind us to the value of craftsmanship and beauty. Uniformity is never the answer to the demand for diversity. Therefore, shall we always strive for a rich palette of styles and materials?

Seems so to me, because consumers' buying habits have also evolved, and we need to grow with them. Mix and match are the watchwords of today, and it is up to us to meet that need. Let's always want to push the limits of our craftsmanship to the next level. 

Of course we continue to cherish what we have once built in this country, but the ambition to want to keep improving must in many cases be prioritized higher. The future of the furniture industry is still in our hands but... alertness is a must. Because the past has proven that things can suddenly go in the other direction.....

Thank you to the team at Binnenwerk for allowing me to provide this guest column!