Ohio-based Amish polylumber supplier leverages domestic manufacturing footprint to stand out in Atlanta, offering options galore and striking colorways.
ATLANTA — Domestic outdoor manufacturers have a clear leg up in the current high-tariff environment, especially suppliers that locally source most or all of their primary inputs, such as recycled plastic for polylumber.
But for homegrown exhibitors at the recently concluded Casual Market Atlanta, enjoying the fruits of these advantages required more than just opening the showroom door and watching the buyers stream in.
Domestic suppliers had to attract business by telling and selling the story of their sourcing, manufacturing and logistical advantages over importing competitors. For Ohio-based Amish polylumber supplier Berlin Gardens, that meant letting its products do most of the talking.
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“A big part of Berlin Gardens‘ brand story is that everything is fully customizable,” Director of International Sales Mark Cliffe told Furniture Today. “We offer 23 different recycled plastic finishes and 11 aluminum finishes. We source our recycled polymer just outside of Chicago and manufacture in Berlin, Ohio. It’s definitely a plus right now.”
That flexibility was evident in the showroom, where the company highlighted designs that blend functionality with social trends.
“This is a new dining table, size 66-inch square,” Cliffe said. “I really like this because if you do chairs, you can fit eight people around it. But if you use benches all the way around, you can get up to 12 people. That conversational element is a lifestyle trend that sells right now.
“Our Bristol collection is a dining chair collection that we’ve just expanded into a glider collection as well. It’s done exceptionally well for us.”
Color is another way the company reinforces its customization message. With a broad palette of finishes already in place, Berlin Gardens continues to adapt to shifting tastes.
“We’ve added a few new color options recently,” Cliffe said. “We’ve added a new sage color, which is popular. Greens are becoming more popular, while grays are fading somewhat. Chocolate browns and blacks are definitely coming back.”
Beyond dining and seating, Berlin Gardens has steadily expanded into product categories it sees as underserved in the outdoor segment.
“Kids furniture is something rather unique in our line,” Cliffe said. “The other thing that’s been a big launch is outdoor cabinetry to encase things like built-in iron grills, those sorts of things. The idea behind this is taking that Amish quality and expanding it beyond just furniture and matching it to your lifestyle.”
That Amish craftsmanship is another story Berlin Gardens emphasizes alongside its domestic sourcing and manufacturing.
“About 95% of our labor is Amish, so there’s a great attention to detail and quality,” Cliffe said. “We’re not going to build things light. If we’re going to build it, we might as well overbuild it, which creates a much better experience from the point of view of the customer. It may be a bit more expensive, but we make it worth it.”
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