How Manufacturing Changed: From Grand Rapids Furniture Factories to Global Production

For much of the late 19th and early 20th century, Grand Rapids was known as “Furniture City.” Hundreds of factories in West Michigan produced dining furniture, bedroom sets, office desks, and cabinetry using locally harvested American hardwoods.

The region developed a reputation for skilled craftsmanship and industrial woodworking. Immigrant cabinetmakers brought European woodworking traditions, while Michigan’s forests supplied abundant maple, oak, walnut, and cherry.

By the early 20th century, Grand Rapids had become one of the most important furniture manufacturing centers in North America.

Grand Rapids wasn't just making furniture; it was selling it nationally through massive furniture markets and showrooms.

The Grand Rapids Furniture Market was once one of the largest furniture trade shows in the United States, drawing buyers from across the country.

Beginning in the mid-20th century, furniture manufacturing in the United States began shifting away from traditional Northern industrial centers like Grand Rapids.

Several factors contributed to this transition:

Labor costs and unionization
Manufacturers increasingly moved production to Southern states where labor costs were lower, and factories were newer.

Transportation and logistics changes
Improved trucking and interstate highways made it easier to distribute furniture nationwide from different regions.

Industrial consolidation
Large manufacturers began centralizing production in fewer facilities designed for higher output.

By the 1970s and 1980s, major furniture manufacturing hubs had developed in states such as North Carolina, Mississippi, and Tennessee.

By the late 20th century, the furniture industry experienced another major shift as manufacturing moved overseas.

Countries including China, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia became major exporters of furniture to the United States and Europe.

Several forces accelerated this transition:

• lower labor costs

• large-scale factory production

• global shipping logistics

• large retail distribution networks

Trade policies and tariffs have occasionally shifted where production occurs. For example, when tariffs increased on certain Chinese furniture imports, some manufacturing moved to Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries.

As a result, the global furniture supply chain continues to evolve.

This broader shift in furniture manufacturing also influenced related woodworking industries, including recreational furniture such as pool tables, arcade cabinets, and shuffleboard tables.

In the mid-20th century, many recreational games were manufactured in the United States by companies associated with the coin-operated entertainment industry. Over time, production of many recreational products followed the same pattern as furniture manufacturing, shifting toward larger factories and global supply chains.

Even during the height of Grand Rapids’ furniture industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, manufacturing was already evolving beyond small cabinetmaker shops.

Early American furniture was often produced by individual craftsmen or small workshops where one builder might construct an entire piece from raw lumber to finished product.

As demand for furniture increased nationwide, manufacturers began organizing production into larger factories. These factories divided work among specialized roles—machining parts, assembling cabinets, applying finishes, and preparing furniture for shipment.

Factory manufacturing offered several advantages:

• consistent production
• standardized designs
• higher output
• lower costs

Many Grand Rapids furniture companies became highly efficient industrial manufacturers capable of producing large quantities of furniture while maintaining a reputation for quality.

However, factory production also encouraged the use of faster assembly methods and more standardized materials. Over time, the furniture industry increasingly favored production systems designed to produce furniture that looked refined and consistent at scale rather than pieces built slowly by individual craftsmen.

Today most furniture—including recreational furniture such as pool tables and shuffleboard tables—is produced in large factories designed for high-volume output.

These factories can produce thousands of units efficiently and with consistent finishes.

This approach is used by many modern manufacturers worldwide, whether production occurs in the United States or overseas.

Smaller woodworking shops operate differently. Instead of maximizing production volume, they focus on:

• thicker hardwood components
• slower milling processes
• greater control over wood selection
• lower production volumes

Both approaches have existed throughout furniture history, but they represent different manufacturing philosophies.

You can see this practice at McClure Tables, built by hand in Michigan using solid hardwood cabinetry. rather than high-volume factory assembly systems.

Hard maple eventually became the dominant material for shuffleboard playboards because of its exceptional durability and smooth grain. The same properties that made maple ideal for bowling alleys and gymnasium floors also made it well-suited for shuffleboard playing fields.

Many of the maple forests that supplied these industries were located in the upper Midwest, including Michigan and Wisconsin.

Today, hard maple remains one of the most durable woods used in shuffleboard playboard construction.

➡️ Learn more about how shuffleboard playboards are built in our guide: