Wooden Leaf means value and variety
By Joanne Lehman
Wooden Leaf Furnishings is an outlet store with a difference. Located along U.S. Route 62, this company offers many smaller furnishings, accessories and wooden toys that are handmade by area crafts people. The company produces a large number of products onsite and gathers others from small local shops and individual woodworkers. Although the company was previously a wholesale dealer, a retail showroom and an outlet store have recently been added.
This business, once known as the Wooden Toy Shop, now goes by a new name that reminds customers of the source of beauty for the home -wood. A new vision drives Wooden Leaf Furnishings, owned by J.R. Schrock. “We have taken many new steps in the last year, changing our business name, designing new products and currently working to incorporate improvements,” said Schrock.
While they maintain their status as the largest handcrafted toy factory, their retail showroom attracts visitors who enjoy browsing among the many unique handcrafted objects gathered into interesting displays.
Katie Geiser, marketing manager, has been helping put the company on the map by working with the owners to develop a Web site, catalog, interesting displays and signage that lets people know there are bargains inside.
She is also happy for the opportunity to design a few new home accessories that will meet the needs of young consumers- for instance; a recent project was a deep enclosed shelf with hooks beneath it, in antique black. It could function as entryway organizer for the young family or, alternately, as a display piece for collectibles or a functional bath accessory.
This is just one of the many small items the company offers. Here you will find those unique classic gifts people treasure- handmade games and puzzles, beautiful jewelry boxes and desk organizers along with all those kitchen accessories that make a house feel like home- everything made in the USA, of course.
Geiser and others at Wooden Leaf are happy to help customers who want to order a custom-made item. She says their company knows many artisans in the area and will find the best manufacturer or crafts person to create any type of custom item-large or small.
Shoppers will be thrilled to find so many of the small wooden products the area's Amish and Mennonite families use everyday to keep their homes organized-things like oak quilt display racks, shelves, and bread boxes. If tastes run to contemporary, modern or country, there are plenty of accessories in these styles too-from framed mirrors and folding photo frames to wall mounted or freestanding wine racks.
Wooden Leaf offers a large selection of P. Graham Dunn inspirational art and home décor manufactured in the area. Another vendor they work with is Berlin Gardens, a local company that manufactures poly outdoor furniture made from recycled materials. By offering stock from other major manufacturers in the area, Wooden Leaf Furnishings provides convenience for both wholesale and retail customers.
Wooden Leaf Outlet is the newest addition to the company. The outlet offers a variety of items at tempting prices. Here savvy shoppers will find items that are discontinued, overstocked, and the scratch and dent products from many area furniture dealers. The 5000 square foot room is lined with large and small furniture items and is available to area shops on a consignment basis.
Grandparents will want to be sure to put this stop on their itinerary. At Wooden Leaf Furnishings, there is a large selection of durable toys. Any one of them is sure to become a family heirloom. But be forewarned-it might be hard to choose. Should it be a wooden rocking horse with a floppy cotton yarn mane and leather ears, or a painted toy barn with farm animals, maybe a wooden train? For the feminine taste, there are doll cradles and strollers, dollhouses and rocking chairs. And, since no one is ever really too old for toys, there are toys for grown-ups too- sports and hobby items, specialized display cases for collections and wooden bird calls, engraved wooden pens and specially designed canes and walking sticks.
Visit Wooden Leaf Furnishings at 1299 U.S. Route 62, Wilmot, at their (under construction) Web site at www.woodenleaf.com, or call them at 330-359-7872.
