BUSINESS OF THE MONTH
January: Troutman Chair Company
The Troutman Chair Company is a true Troutman original! Established in 1924, the Troutman Chair Co. has been family-owned since its inception. The Brown family of Troutman, North Carolina is responsible for starting and maintaining the quality manufacturing process of solid wood furniture for almost three-quarters of a century.
In 1999, Champ and Jean Land purchased Troutman Chair Co. continuing the tradition of handcrafted furniture in the same manner established back in 1924 – with farmhouse, shaker-style chairs, rockers, stools, and tables. A true family-run business, the Land’s son Cam is now a driving creative force.
The Land family has continued the tradition of excellence and made few changes to the Troutman Chair Co. business and products. The goal of purchasing a company already manufacturing the best product in its category and enjoying a near-perfect reputation was to merely enhance the best and offer it to the rest of the country: Troutman products were historically sold only in the Southeast. Troutman Chair Co. now ships anywhere in the continental United States and as far as Germany. Minor adjustments were made to the products over time – the Lands added a deluxe finish line with stain and painted finishes. They moved to stainless steel nails and arm braces to avoid rusting. Since taking over, the Lands have expanded the product catalog and continue to look for new ways to bring quality made wood products into customers’ homes, on front porches, resorts, and in unique places like the Charlotte airport and even the White House.
In this time when a good deal of furniture manufacturing is being done overseas with cheap materials and plastic, the Land family feels a sense of pride in knowing that they are overseeing the continuation of a true Southern tradition – hand-making rockers the time-honored, quality way of old master craftsman.
Check them out online at www.troutmanchairs.com
