CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CUSTOM WOODWORKING INDUSTRY

Custom woodworkers are envisioned as relatively small companies that m anufacture a vast array of wood products to individual or other compan y specifications. Only recently have suppliers singled out this market segment. This paper reports on 168 custom woodworkers who responded t o a survey designed to characterize these companies by number of emplo yees, geographic location, products manufactured, space requirements, wage rates and benefits provided, distribution channels, business and production costs, and educational interests. Interestingly, 20 percent of the respondents were sole proprietorships and another 54 percent h ad only 1 through 10 employees. These companies were concentrated in s tates with high populations. Cabinets were the most common product man ufactured. Other products included millwork, furniture, and many other items. Small companies had much larger space requirements per employe e than larger ones. Average hourly wage rates for 1992 were $6.08 for unskilled labor, $8.37 for semi-skilled, and $12.15 for skilled crafts men. Benefits were comparable to those provided by other types of smal l businesses. Products were sold mostly to homeowners, commercial inst itutions, builders, dealers, and other wood manufacturing companies. S maller companies tended to sell more to homeowners while larger compan ies sold more to builders, dealers, and other wood manufacturers. Larg e differences existed in the dollar value of any particular company's raw materials, goods in process, finished goods, and value of tools. S everal companies reported leasing equipment. Well over one-half of the companies reported attending at least one educational program during the year. The largest percentage of respondents indicated that they wo uld like more educational opportunities on how to promote, market, and sell more products.