Caperton FurnitureWorks is located in Berkeley Springs, WV and has been for nearly 40 years. When most furniture factories have gone out of business or moved overseas, Caperton is producing high-quality pieces using local wood and local skills for national companies like Crate and Barrel and Room + Board. (See the photo at right for a taste of the products, ready for shipping.)
Demand for American-made furniture is growing, said owner Gat Caperton, and they're meeting that demand right here in Central Appalachia. A recent trade magazine article about the growth in American-made furniture featured Caperton:
"Three to five years ago, when I told people I was a U.S. manufacturer, they looked at me with a sense of puzzlement, disdain, or just felt sorry for us," said Gat Caperton, president of solid wood bedroom, dining room and occasional furniture producer Gat Creek Furniture "I was almost apologetic telling people I was a U.S. manufacturer. They felt I was doomed to failure."
Now, he said, the attitude is different, with people "looking to you with appreciation and even praise," he said. "This Made in America revival has been absolutely critical to our business and important to our country as a whole. We appreciate and feel fortunate people see the value in buying American products again."
After learning all of this – and seeing the gorgous pieces – it was hard to tour the factory and not want to buy everything I saw. Luckily for Caperton's business, there area lot of other folks who feel the same way.
