by Sue Hawkins McClure                             7/19/05

        When I asked Tracy Willaby, owner of Woodstyles Manufacturing in Greenville Texas, what sets his company apart from other furniture builders he didn't hesitate to say, "Pride!  We build quality furniture that lasts a lifetime."  That attitude of pride in workmanship is evident in every product this young company builds and sells.      

     Tracy and partner, Brent Stewart, have been designing and building high quality reasonably priced unfinished furniture for the wholesale market since 2003.  In March 2005 the partners expanded their business by offering their products to retail customers, adding new product lines, and selling finished as well as unfinished furniture.

Woodstyles  Manufacturing can also build custom furniture pieces of any style and using almost any type of wood.  A picture and dimensions of the desired piece are all Tracy needs to build the furniture of your dreams.   Within the next few months Woodstyles Manufacturing will further expand by selling products via the internet to both wholesale and retail markets. 

Tracy became a furniture builder "... really by accident."  Several years ago he was a long haul truck driver.  Knowing it was time for a job that allowed him more time with his family, Tracy purchased an antique and used furniture store in downtown Greenville.   The tools he acquired for minor furniture repair proved irresistible.  Tracy decided to try his hand at building some furniture.  While designing and building "a few tables, chairs, and rocking chairs" Tracy discovered he had an innate talent and a passion for furniture building.  "It's what I was born to do," says Willaby matter of factly, "and I'm good at it."  One look at any of the Woodstyles products confirms his statement.  Each piece of furniture is lovingly hand built.  The hand work allows Woodstyles Manufacturing complete control over the quality of the finished product.  Furniture with cracks, poorly placed knotholes, chips, and other imperfections never leaves the shop.  Instead it is scrapped. 

Tracy attributes the company's success to what he calls his "pickiness".  The company uses #1 grade Eastern White Pine plywood and solid wood as well as Baltic Birch plywoods.  They use the high grade plywoods because they offer long term strength and support that unglued wood does not.  All lumber is hand chosen.  "Many of the mass producers use only Ponderosa Pine and pressed wood instead of plywood." says Tracy with a grimace  "The furniture is no good." Ponderosa is a lower grade of pine that typically contains soft areas of sap that, over time, tend to crack.  It's also more difficult to stain or paint because of the bleed through nature of Ponderosa Pine.   Pressed wood swells when wet.  It also sags and warps.  The Eastern White Pine used by Woodstyles, is a superior grade that is dried to 6% moisture which prevents sap bleed through and cracks.

     You can reach Tracy, Brent, or office manager Regina of Woodstyles Manufacturing by calling 903/455-6424.  The website address is http://www.WoodstylesMfg.com.  The website, still under construction, will be completed and ready for viewing by Monday July 25.   Bookmark it now so you don't forget.  

     We all talk about how we need to support locally owned businesses.  Woodstyles Manufacturing offers an opportunity for you to support a locally owned company while getting quality products at reasonable prices.  Everyone wins!