16 new products that spurred sales: WOOD 100 Strategies for Success

New product lines and innovations continue to bring increased sales opportunities and business growth for those in the 2024 WOOD 100.

Now in its 35th year, the WOOD 100: Strategies for Success highlights the innovative as well as tried-and-true initiatives put in place by 100 North American wood products manufacturers of cabinetry and casework, furniture, closets and home organization systems, architectural woodwork/millwork, retail fixtures and other items, to improve their businesses. 

Here's what some of them had to say about their product innovations:

 

Timber Wolf Forest Products created a brand new product line marrying metal and wood.

Timber Wolf Forest Products, Hudson, NC 
“This new innovation is transformative to the cabinet industry,” said Madison Roper, co-owner of the components manufacturer. 

“We have created a new category of products with the award-winning Fast-Snap product line. These products allow the end user to [marry] metal to wood in their corbels and posts. The metal is magnetically attached and is easy to remove and replace with a variety of designs and colors,” Roper said. “Timber Wolf is working now to expand this application to other products and industries.” 

The family-owned firm supplies wood embellishments to the cabinet, furniture, hospitality, millwork, and store fixture industries. Timber Wolf also recently invested in a new 5-axis Intorex machining center to improve the speed and accuracy of turned items.

 

Hansen & Company Woodworks created a new design for its casework.

Hansen & Company Woodworks, Saint Joseph, MN
The custom large-volume, build-to-order cabinet and millwork manufacturer “initiated the exploration of a completely new design for our casework, from material thickness to plastic legs to metal drawer sides, which we will continue to incorporate into our product lines in 2024,” said Ryan Dammann, Marketing specialist. 

The company serves the commercial construction industry, mostly in the multi-family sector.  “We invest in our team and their skills, while continually focusing on new product development to ensure our leadership in the market, with a product that stands above the rest.”

Recent investments to aid production include a Grass cabinet drawer machine, with more purchases planned “to create our fully automated frameless batch-one cabinet line, set to launch in 2025.”

 

Craftsman optimized drawer production and engineered a new door jamb and casing.

Craftsman Specialty Products, Delta, BC
Along with innovations to its dovetail drawer boxes, “[in] partnering with a large door manufacturer we engineered an innovative door jamb and casing product that is primarily based on engineered wood and textured melamines,” said Richard Wilson, president. “This product gives a perfect match to door face finishes in higher-end installations.” 

2023 sales rose 66.7%, with future projections also good. 

The full-service, custom components manufacturer offers a wide variety of products and services for B2B including cabinet boxes, dovetail drawers, store fixtures, engineered door jambs, and large-volume structural wood components. To aid production, it recently invested in a Homag edgebander, CNC end drill, and machinery for the dovetail drawer division. 2024 plans include the addition of a saw for cross-cutting 16-foot panels.

More Hot Products

Ideal Cabinetry, Bartow, FL
The cabinet firm has made a name for itself for its quick delivery and new product development. “We have driven [the industry] on new products to the market that can be shipped in 7-10 days as semi custom, or getting a custom product to our customers fast, decreasing their wait time,” said Lindsay Powell, director of Product Innovation & New Material Sourcing. Ideal also recently invested more than $2 million in new machines to increase capacity and efficiency, he added. Products, including its recently launched easy-reach corner wall cabinet and microwave over base cabinet, are sold nationwide via dealers, home centers, and Costco.  

Hooker Furniture, Martinsville, VA
The residential furniture firm celebrated the extension of its partnership with Susan G. Komen with new accent pieces with subtle pink hues. “We are honored to extend our partnership with Susan G. Komen,” said Mike Harris, president of Hooker Case Goods and Upholstery. “This terrible disease impacts the lives of so many people across the globe and it is our sincere hope that through this partnership we can play at least a small part in the mission to create a world without breast cancer.

Sauder Cabinetry, Archbold, OH
The cabinet manufacturer, a division of Sauder Woodworking, unveiled a new line of frameless cabinetry. The Evolve line features fully assembled, full-access cabinets with slab doors and drawer fronts. “We’ve been developing this new line for nearly two years and we’re excited to share it with the world,” said Jonathan Zublena, VP of Sauder Building Products. “Evolve cabinetry was created to meet the rapidly shifting market preference for cleaner modern lines and more woodgrain finishes.  It looks like something that costs significantly more than it does and it’s so well-built it will last for years.”

Designs of Distinction by Brown Wood Inc., Chicago, IL
A division of Brown Wood Inc., the components maker unveiled a host of new products earlier this year, including three new base shapes for use with tambour panels: angled, cylinder, and rectangle. Each shape features recessed panels for bevel, bead, cove and square style tambour. The shapes were inspired by key findings from NKBA’s 2024 Kitchen Trends Reports.

Fabuwood, Newark, NJ
The large cabinet firm is well known for its new product innovations. 2023 saw the launch of the Illume frameless cabinetry line and the receiving of AWI’s Premium Grade certification for its Allure cabinets. New introductions earlier this year included the addition of Pistachio Green and Graphite Black to its Designer Collection. The company also made headlines just last month with its acquisition of Plain & Fancy Cabinetry.

Indiana Furniture, Jasper, IN
With every new Dab series chair sold, the contract furniture maker will donate a percentage of the sales to The Common Thread for the Cure. “A little Dab goes a long way,” said Mike Blessinger, VP of Sales & Marketing. “This collection provides customers with a quality chair that also gives back to the environment and helps in the fight against breast cancer. And that’s what sets Indiana Furniture, and Dab, apart from the rest.”

Dura Supreme, Howard Lake, MN
The cabinet manufacturer recently announced its Curated Color Collection for 2024. “Beautiful shades of blues and greens have continued to evolve as fresh, sought-after hues for home interiors,” said Karen Wistrom, VP of Marketing. “The challenge for homeowners and designers is deciding on which shade of blue or green they should choose. Dura Supreme’s Curated Color Collection selects six specific shades of trending colors and makes them readily available for your custom-crafted cabinetry.”

Fellowes, Itasca, IL
The workplace furnishings firm launched markerboards to complement its Contract Interiors products. The category expansion follows its acquisition of Springboard Working Surfaces in 2023. “Adding yet another important accessory to our portfolio is a testament to our dedication to providing businesses with the tools they need to create inspiring and efficient workspaces,” said Todd Holderness, general manager.

Village Handcrafted, Lansdale, PA
Reserve is a new semi-custom cabinet line with 10 door options and 40 finishes. “We’re really excited to launch this line,” said Joe Trave, owner and CEO. “It’s been a long time coming and we hope it helps our partners with their ancillary room designs.”

Specified Components, Lake Villa, IL
Known for its cabinet components, the company is expanding its portfolio to include product solutions for the closet and office furniture industries. The decision to diversify was driven by an understanding of market dynamics that it feels it can leverage in these new industries.

Haworth, Holland, MI
The furniture firm’s collaboration with Ralph Lauren will expand the production and distribution of Ralph Lauren’s furniture offerings and include the development and operations of a network of freestanding, immersive Ralph Lauren Home stores in strategic locations. “Like Ralph Lauren, at Haworth Lifestyle Design we are driven by a passion for craftsmanship, innovation, and helping people around the world lead a life well-lived,” said Dario Rinero, CEO, Haworth Lifestyle Design. “Ralph Lauren has defined for more than four decades what a luxury lifestyle can look like through its iconic and timeless home designs.”

Wellborn Cabinet, Ashland, AL
The cabinet manufacturer recently added four new transitional door styles: Everett, Langley, Breckenridge, and Ridgebrook. “Our current selection offers a broad range of popular styles, but we always stay on top of upcoming trends and strive to introduce new and exciting products to our customers,” said Mara Villanueva-Heras, chief Marketing officer.

Stance Healthcare, Kitchener, ON
At NeoCon, the contract furniture firm unveiled Rochester, Ventura and Flora from recently acquired Plural Studios. The new introductions “reaffirm our commitment to transforming the healthcare furniture landscape,” said Carl Kennedy, president & CEO.

Read more 2024 WOOD 100: Strategies for Success

Marketing Initiatives

Business Strategies

Productivity Enhancements

Technology Integration

Product Innovations

Customer Service

Return to WOOD 100 main page

Read the FDMC October issue online
 

.

Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Profile picture for user karenkoenig
About the author
Karen Koenig | Editor

Karen M. Koenig has more than 30 years of experience in the woodworking industry, including visits to wood products manufacturing facilities throughout North America, Europe and Asia. As editor of special publications under the Woodworking Network brand, including the Red Book Best Practices resource guide and website, Karen’s responsibilities include writing, editing and coordinating of editorial content. She is also a contributor to FDMC and other Woodworking Network online and print media owned by CCI Media. She can be reached at [email protected]