There’s a lot of reasons that you might be searching for custom Amish-made furniture. For one, the mass produced furniture sold by many retailers today is not of the same quality that it used to be decades ago. You’re likely looking to make an investment that will last you for many years to come. Or you’re looking to support American made products.
However, given the strict code that the Amish live by, you may be wondering how you’d be able to find furniture crafted by them.
Visiting a Community
Of course, unlike other businesses you aren’t able to pick up the phone and call members of an Amish community. If you’re lucky enough to live near an Amish community, you might be able to speak to the members there and see if anyone will custom make furniture for you. Your best bet would be to see if there is an Amish store, or grocer in the area that you can visit to ask. Of course, this method is dependent on your location and if you live near either an Amish or Mennonite community. There’s also the chance that there may be no one living there who can build custom furniture for you, which is a huge downside if you’ve had to travel there. However, if there is, make sure you’re paying by cash, and they’ll want you to pay ahead of time. Since you’ll be spending time communicating with members there, you also might want to do some research ahead of time on proper etiquette. For instance, common phrases like “thank you” should not be employed.
Amish Sourced Online Retailers
Since the Amish cannot use the internet, they’ll often use other parties to market their goods. Food and furniture are prime examples of this. You do want to be careful what online retailers you’re purchasing from though so they’re actually sourced from a community. The professionals of https://www.amishoutletstore.com/ name the community source of their Amish furniture. Businesses who work with specific groups give you a chance to verify their source.
Ordering from an online retailer comes with its pro’s and con’s. It means that you’re not going to need to travel to an Amish community directly, looking for someone to craft furniture (or be faced with disappointment if no one can). You won’t need to pay for any shipping if you purchase it in person, but if you don’t have a truck or a trailer it might be difficult for you to transport. Amish furniture is made out of solid wood, and tends to carry a higher weight than other furniture, so sometimes it’s best to have someone else take responsibility for delivery.
Second-hand
If you’re just looking for furniture that uses a certain wood and stain type, you may be able to find second-hand sources. This might be a cheaper alternative, especially if someone is moving and looking to get rid of the furniture quickly. However, you won’t be able to ask for specifications and you “get what you get”. You might choose to stain the furniture yourself, but this adds more work for you. When you’re purchasing from a second-hand source you’re not able to verify that the product itself is actually Amish made. It could simply be handcrafted furniture. If you’re looking for a higher quality Amish product, or to support a community directly you won’t be able to through this method.
Word of Mouth
If you know anyone that has had any past dealings with an Amish community you might be able to ask them. Towns that are in close proximity to an Amish community will be more likely to have people who have dealt with them. It can be a more attractive option than struggling to find someone to directly talk to, and they might be able to send you in the right direction. This option comes with a bit of luck, you need to know someone who’s had experience with an Amish community and you’ll need to live near a community.
If you do choose to source custom furniture directly out of a community, remember to always be respectful and use cash. Looking up general etiquette rules can go a long way, and you should avoid taking pictures of anyone. Depending on your current situation this is going to change which of these options is best for you. Shopping directly from the Amish might offer you a lower cost, but there’s more work involved in it for you. With this information in hand you’ll be able to find your custom made Amish furniture much easier.
