A fatal cabinetry shop fire and Century's lawsuit against Walmart and Costco - it’s not all knuckles and know-how with Woodworking Network readers. The No. 1 item, about a DIY plywood Lamborghini made in China, was definitely a story on the lighter side.
Here's a recap of May's Top 10, plus a list of the next five.
It looks better than it runs - top speed of 55 MPH - but what would you expect for a $3,000 investment. Chen Jinmiao of China made his Lamborghini with plywood patterened after design drawings he downloaded from the Internet. (Posted 5-18-10)
2 State investigates fatal cabinetry shop fire
An early-morning fire at Jackson Cabinetry of Covington, LA, claimed the life of owner Gordon Jackson. State fire officials were investigating the blaze that started in the shop's paint room. Damage was estimated at $75,000. (Posted 5-20-10)
3 Century Furniture sues Walmart
and Costco
Century Furniture filed a lawsuit against Walmart and Costco, saying the big box retailers ripped off its trademark. Century alleges that Walmart and Costco each sold furniture products bearing the Century name. The suppliers of those products were also named in the lawsuit. (Posted 5-25-10)
4 MasterBrand Cabinets to expand Kinston, NC, plant
MasterBrand Cabinets Inc. announced plans for a $3.75 million expansion of its Kinston, NC, plant. Approximately 334 jobs are expected to be created over the next three years. The expansion will allow the division of Fortune Brands to produce a new line of kitchen and bath cabinets. (Posted 5-24-10)
5 New Stiles Shop Solutions linke targest hobbyists and pros
Serious weekend woodworkers are on the radar of Stiles Shop Solutions’ marketing plans. The Grand Rapids, MI-based company called a May 11 press conference to launch the Ironwood series of classical woodworking equipment designed for small wood shops and elite craftsmen. The initial offering includes jointers, planers and shapers priced between $5,000 and $30,000. (Posted 5-16-10)
6 Camping Cabins: New Woodworking Niche?
Do campground cabins present a growing niche for woodworking businesses? Campgrounds are increasingly offering rental units, mostly miniature wood log or cedar-sided cabins -- each under 400 square feet in area. Roughly one third of America’s campgrounds now offer park model rental units, according to Linda Profaizer, president of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds. (Posted 5-4-10)
7 Building New Sales Without Selling
New CWB Sales and Marketing Columnist Rick Hill's debut column generated a lot of interest among Woodworking Network readers. The column started with the premise "woodworkers usually hate selling," then proceeded to offer ideas for generating sales through by getting involved in civic groups and events. "The goal is to get your name mentioned and referred to by others that your customers will trust. This happens when you put your products in their space, not their face." (Posted 5-19-10)
8 Wood Cutting Productivity, with a Twist
Cabinetmaker and carpenter Bill Amaya founded Cimarron Lofting Inc. in Hailey, ID, to focus his efforts on fabricating stairways and other wood specialty items. From the beginning, he was intent on applying technology to be proficient and competitive. However, this took him even further than he imagined. (Posted 5-5-10)
9 Pyramid's Recipe for Success
Pyramid Custom Cabinets of Lockport, IL, mixes its own water-based finishes. “Since we formulate our own finishes, it’s easier for us to control the color, rather than ordering a gallon of each shade to see what we like,” said Co-owner David Owen. (Posted 5-5-10)
10 Barcalounger files for Chapter 11
Motion furniture manufacturer Barcalounger Corp, which abruptly halted production at its domestic facility in April, has filed for federal bankruptcy protection and agreed to sell its assets. Barcalounger is a division of American of Martinsville, which is owned by investment firm Hancock Park Associates of Los Angeles. The company reportedly has between $1 million and $10 million of assets, and between $10 million and $50 million of liabilities. (Posted 5-20-10)
THE NEXT TOP FIVE
11 Panel makers fret over U.S. bioenergy policy
12 Thousands flock to Xylexpo for new trends and technology
13 Scam artist fashions laptops from plywood
14 Making Furniture Healthy
15 Diversification Sets the Table at ProLam
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