16 Furniture Business Success Stories [2024]
The furniture industry involves designing, manufacturing, and selling various types of furniture for household and commercial purposes. With the increase in flexible workspaces and the real estate industry’s growth, the furniture business’s demand is boosted.
The furniture business is easy to start and does not require high investments. However, it is first essential to know your niche, for example, office, domestic, home furniture, and luxury items.
The furniture business needs a lot of preparation and prior knowledge. Taking business classes, learning about your local market, and making a solid business plan is advisable. In general, if your products are unique and one of a kind, consumers will be willing to pay a higher, including the shipping cost.
Here are some real life success stories of starting a furniture business:
1. Humphreys ($444K/year)
John Humphreys came up with the idea for his business, Humphreys (formerly Texas Rover Company), after a childhood fascination with mechanical objects and a passion for design. He drew inspiration from his father's solar home and his experiences with artists and builders, eventually leading him to develop a line of classically inspired leather, wood, and metal products. After facing challenges and setbacks in manufacturing and launching his flagship product, the Humphrey Chair, Humphreys eventually found success through trade shows, press coverage, and partnerships, attracting customers through Instagram and other marketing efforts.
How much they make: $444K/year
Current team size: 1
Humphrey's, a lifestyle industrial design brand, generated $550K in 2019 revenue, thanks in part to the success of its flagship product, the Humphrey Chair, which sold 50 chairs at $16,000 in its first year and became a hit after being featured in GQ and Neiman Marcus.
2. Branch Furniture ($6M/year)
Greg Hayes, the CEO and co-founder of Branch Office Furniture, came up with the idea for the business while working at a fast-growing company called Breather. He saw firsthand the pains of procuring office furniture and realized there was an opportunity to produce high-quality furniture and sell it directly to businesses, eliminating the need for expensive dealers or cheaply made options. Since launching in Q1 of 2019, Branch has done over $1M in sales, including nearly $400k last month.
How much they make: $6M/year
How much did it cost to start: $350K
Current team size: 20
Branch Office Furniture offers a new approach to the office furniture industry, selling high-quality furniture directly to businesses with space design, delivery, and installation included at one-third to one-half of the price of comparable quality products, resulting in over $1M in sales since launching in Q1 of 2019.
So... can you actually make money with a furniture business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
3. Suffolk Latch Company ($840K/year)
When Carl Benson's coat hooks supplier became unreliable, he discovered that the hooks were actually from an Indian manufacturer and cost significantly less. Recognizing this opportunity, Benson started Suffolk Latch Company, specializing in traditional ironmongery, and has experienced a 20% increase in turnover compared to last year.
How much they make: $840K/year
Current team size: 7
Suffolk Latch Company, an online store specialising in traditional and hand forged ironmongery, has experienced a 20% increase in turnover compared to the previous year despite economic turbulence, attracting and retaining customers through a multi-pronged approach of Google ad campaigns, reviews and social media, blog articles, and selling through eBay and Amazon.
4. B2C Furniture ($12M/year)
surged to $1.3 million, a 66% increase compared to the previous year, while online sales reached $2.6 million, a staggering 171% increase. The future looks bright for B2C Furniture as they continue to expand their product range, open new showrooms, and further establish themselves as a leader in sustainable e-commerce furniture.
How much they make: $12M/year
Current team size: 15
Anesley Clarke, the founder and CEO of B2C Furniture, achieved a 132% increase in revenue that primarily focuses on selling directly to end-users with their sustainable e-commerce furniture business that offers an extensive range of carefully crafted furniture which is constructed with hardwood and environmentally conscious design.
So... can you actually make money with a furniture business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
5. Deskmate ($360K/year)
Ashley 'JP' Lockwood, the co-founder of Deskmate, came up with the idea for the business after working at a coworking space and realizing the lack of affordable standing desks in the UK market. Through research and recognizing the gap in the market, he and his business partner launched Deskmate as a side hustle, and they have since sold over 5,000 units to nearly 100 countries. With a background in e-commerce, Lockwood was able to quickly design and prototype their first product, and they launched the business within 3 weeks with a pop-up at WeWork. Since then, they have utilized various sales channels, including direct-to-consumer, B2B, and wholesale, along with partnerships with companies like Virgin and WeWork to attract and retain customers. The business is focused on continuing to grow and aims to sell over 1 million units in 2020.
How much they make: $360K/year
Current team size: 2
Deskmate is the cheapest standing desk startup in the world, having sold over 5,000 units to just under 100 countries with no initial business plan, cash or strategy.
6. Soaring Heart Natural Beds ($3.6M/year)
Mike Schaefer, the founder of Soaring Heart Natural Beds, came up with the idea for his business after realizing the importance of building a great mattress using organic materials. With reliable access to high-quality raw materials and a commitment to leaving a positive impact on the planet, Schaefer created a sustainable, green business that offers all organic beds and bedding. The online component of Soaring Heart's business has thrived, with a focus on products like mattresses, free shipping, and personalized customer service through online chat.
How much they make: $3.6M/year
Current team size: 15
Soaring Heart Natural Beds is a thriving Seattle-based organic bed and bedding company with 25% of their business online, two brick and mortar stores, and a commitment to a healthy planet by producing sustainable, green products that avoid using petroleum derivatives, plastics, synthetics or added flame retardants or fumigants in any of their products.
So... can you actually make money with a furniture business?
Of course. There are millions to be made in this industry.
But how?
- Research real, profitable businesses and see exactly how much money they make.
- Study exactly what works, and what doesn’t.
- Take action, because now you have the roadmap.
Join Starter Story and build your next big thing:
7. Brooklyn Butcher Blocks ($300K/year)
Nils had a solid background in fine woodworking and constantly worked on new projects, including a cutting board-making venture. When his product was featured in the New York Times, he felt confident in his idea and decided to launch the business.
How much they make: $300K/year
How much did it cost to start: $20K
Current team size: 0
How Nils Wessell turned his love for woodworking into a profitable business grossing between $220K to $350K annually by making handcrafted cutting boards, and how he expanded his business into other creative projects with NilsWalker Designs.
8. Timber Grove Studios ($78K/year)
Sasha Weekes, the 25-year-old owner of Timber Grove Studios, started her business by making mountain shelves to sell on Facebook and Kijiji. After realizing their popularity, she launched her business on Etsy and focused on creating a clear color chart with 20 customization options for customers. Despite initial challenges with shipping, Sasha prioritized customer service and now runs a successful business with revenue ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 per month.
How much they make: $78K/year
Current team size: 0
Sasha Weekes, owner of Timber Grove Studios, turned her fine arts and cabinetmaking education into a successful home-based woodworking business that grew from a side project to netting 20-50% profits month-to-month and up to $10,000 in sales during peak periods through Etsy, with her company's growth continuing to increase through other social media outlets.
9. IsGood Woodworks ($1.99M/year)
How much they make: $1.99M/year
Current team size:
IsGood Woodworks has transformed from a small, independently funded contract woodworking business to a well-known neighborhood woodworking shop that brings in about $2 million annually, providing equipment, resources, education, one-on-one mentoring, and certifications to thousands of students and independent shop workers since its establishment in 1992.
10. Jennie and Davis ($20.4K/year)
How much they make: $20.4K/year
Current team size:
This case study is about founders who own a furniture business and run a YouTube channel with over 70k subscribers, sharing woodworking tutorials and business tips while also offering paid programs and private coaching sessions to people interested in building a career in woodworking.
11. Countryside Amish Furniture ($3M/year)
Mel Stutzman, the founder of Countryside Amish Furniture, came up with the idea for his business by combining his furniture expertise, Amish business connections, and entrepreneurial ambitions. After experiencing setbacks with previous furniture companies, he realized the importance of being conveniently accessible to target markets and decided to create a digitally-based operation that could sell throughout the country. Today, Countryside Amish Furniture generates millions in sales by partnering with Amish artisans to offer thousands of made-to-order furniture options to buyers across the continental US.
How much they make: $3M/year
How much did it cost to start: $120K
Current team size: 0
Countryside Amish Furniture is a highly successful e-commerce retailer generating millions in sales annually by partnering with Amish artisans to offer thousands of made-to-order, high-quality wooden furniture options and prioritizing customer communication and SEO strategy.
12. Austin’s Couch Potatoes ($2M/year)
How much they make: $2M/year
Current team size: 25
From selling broken couches out of his garage, Brian Morgan has grown the company to a successful furniture business by starting small, building a solid reputation, identifying a niche market, expanding the product line, building a strong team, using strong marketing strategies, networking, and continuously innovating.
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- 4,818 founder case studies
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- 8,628 business ideas
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- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
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- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
- 4,818 founder case studies
- Access to our founder directory
- Live events, courses and recordings
- 8,628 business ideas
- $1M in software savings
