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Top 5 Most Asked Questions about Working with Amish Woodworkers
As the operations director at DutchCrafters, I am often asked questions about Amish furniture in the community, and I am not surprised. Amish furniture is an intriguing subject, and few are as intimately familiar with its unique and captivating world as those in the industry.
When I am networking, I champion our woodworkers, promoting their commitment to excellence and a drive to produce furniture that is unmatched in quality and design. But there is more to these humble and creative artisans than what you see in the finished product. These are answers to the questions I am asked most often about Amish furniture and working with Amish woodworkers.
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Are you Amish?
I get this question more than any other question about Amish furniture. I am not Amish.
At DutchCrafters, we partner with about 150 Amish woodworking shops to bring their furniture to customers nationwide, but no one who works directly for DutchCrafters is Amish. Still, like my coworkers, I share many qualities with our Amish partners. I have been in the Amish furniture industry for over 11 years. I am passionate about delivering exceptional service, and like the Amish, who are masters of their craft, I take pride in my work. I am patient and precise in decision-making, overseeing sales and service, and tap into my strong work ethic to make the right choice for my team and the customer every time. As the Amish are dependable, I too share this standard when communicating with our partners inside and outside our organization. The Amish are also community-centered, fostering teamwork, and like my counterparts, I strive to support our community through involvement in local non-profit and business alliances.
How do you communicate with the Amish woodworkers?
One of the most significant challenges but most authentic experiences I encounter when working with the Amish woodworkers is how they communicate. We are used to instant responses from cell phones and emails in our modern world, but the Amish community is very different. Depending on the decision of the local Amish bishop, shops may use advanced technology, like cell phones, or must resort to slower technology, like fax machines and voicemails. In the shops with less technology, messages may be checked a few times a week, making phone tag an endurance sport. However, this communication style, rooted in a tradition of slower pace and focused craftsmanship, makes the thrill of the connection that much greater.
Is your Amish furniture built locally in Sarasota, Florida?
No, our furniture is not built locally in Sarasota. It is constructed by woodworkers in the heart of Amish country in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
However, many of our woodworkers visit Sarasota during the winter holidays, often stopping into our Sarasota Showroom to strengthen relationships with our team members and community. We spend time together learning about each other personally and professionally, working to bridge the gap across the country. We also learn about their newest products and processes, with our team members eager to share the latest innovations with our customers. These interactions are critical for forging deeper connections that foster trust and create lasting relationships.
Is all the furniture delivered to the showroom before delivery to the customer?
No, our products are not delivered to the showroom before delivery to the customer. All our furniture ships directly to our customers after being inspected at the woodshops or at our warehouse located in LaGrange, Indiana.
This delivery process reduces the customer’s wait time and ensures the furniture has fewer stops on its journey to the customer’s home. Our showrooms provide a small sampling of the products on our website but do not provide the space needed to house all our customers’ furniture on route to their final destination.
Is the furniture really made by Amish woodworkers?
Yes, our furniture is authentically made by Amish woodworkers.
Many of our woodworkers work in small, family-run shops, often on the same property as their home. They use time-honored techniques and practices, frequently passed on for generations, to craft furniture with attention to quality and detail. They are driven by their values, religious integrity, and strength of character. When visiting a friend or family member, they use a horse and buggy, rarely traveling more than 10 miles from home. And relationships matter. When I speak with a woodworker, they want to know about the weather, my family, and my day – it is never just about the order. When they build a piece of furniture, they use the customer’s name to reference the table, chair, or bed. It is designed for that customer and is always made uniquely for them.
It is obvious that the Amish are well known for their beautiful, heirloom-quality furniture, but there is more to learn about working with these talented and hardworking builders. These thoughtful questions are a joy to answer as they prove our community’s curiosity and willingness to open our minds to something new and different. Thank you for these questions, and I am eager to answer more of them next time I see you in the community.
This post was originally published on July 25th, 2013. It was updated on January 30th, 2025. If you have spoken Read more
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