Authentic Amish pieces made to last
By Victoria Frank
“If a customer is going to get furniture from us, they’re going to get furniture that will last a long time.”
Those are the words and promise of Four Corners Furniture employee Marcus Miller. His brother, Myron Miller, started the family-owned business 11 years ago, now situated comfortably on an Amish farm in Millersburg. Today, the company makes hundreds of beautiful, handcrafted pieces of furniture on-site, creating something that will give the buyer a lifetime of happiness.
“Off the beaten path” on Township Road 652 in the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country, Marcus Miller described the location of the business as a key selling point. “When people go on vacation, they don’t want to be a part of a tourist trap,” he said. “We are not a tourist trap. We are the real deal.”
His grandfather was born on the farm and he was raised on the land where the business is now located. “People know that this is a place they can come back to in 10 years and it will still be here,” he said.
Four Corners Furniture offers a wide variety of Amish-made pieces, but bedroom furniture is their specialty. There are approximately nine different styles available, including Shaker, mission, deluxe/raised panel, and other contemporary pieces. Add on the 40 to 50 different types of beds to choose from and it is almost guaranteed that the customer will find what they’re looking for.
“You choose from your options and we make it right here,” Marcus Miller explained. This is what sets the business apart from the competition. The farm hosts a building for retail sales, a workshop where the furniture is actually constructed, a finish shop where the stain is applied, and a warehouse for hardware and packaging services. Approximately 14 Amish employees, including owner Myron Miller and his brother Matthew, make every piece of bedroom furniture.
The business began when Myron Miller featured some of his handmade outdoor furniture in a small shop on his property. When Myron’s parents inherited the Miller family farm, he began selling it from there, recruiting his brother Marcus as retail sales manager. The Miller brothers believed the increased amount of space, especially for parking, was a true asset. “After my nephews were sliding down people’s windshields, we knew we needed to go someplace where we had a parking lot,” Marcus Miller laughed.
As business increased, both Millers worked fervently to create and sell their masterpieces. “The business just kind of happened,” Miller said. “It wasn’t anything that was forced, which is the best way.”
Other items available for sale include bureaus, mirrors, dressers, chests, and hutches, as well as dining room and kitchen sets that include tables and chairs. Marcus Miller works closely with each customer to define exactly which pieces, styles and woods are desired. Wood choices include oak, cherry and rustic cherry, both brown and hard maple, and hickory. Top it all off with one of the varieties of stains and a finish, and “custom-made” becomes an affordable possibility for everyone. Because most everything is made on-site, prices have consistently remained reasonable at Four Corners Furniture.
For those that are unfamiliar with the various woods or undecided on what they want, “We don’t stress out the customer or ourselves,” Marcus Miller explained. As an experienced member of the team, he knows how to go through the process of elimination and narrow down choices based on each customer’s individual needs. “I learn what a customer wants after listening to them. I try to steer them in the right direction so they get what they want, not what I want, because in the end, that’s what matters.”
Overall, Four Corners Furniture is a business that will not disappoint. Detailed craftsmanship goes into every piece that is made. The Miller family relies heavily on word-of-mouth advertising to create a strong customer base, and if the steady flow of clients is any indication, their work so far has been nothing short of incredible.
“We try to keep it simple,” Miller said. “Better furniture is made here. And hopefully, once someone comes here, they’ll keep coming back.”
Four Corners Furniture is located at 7000 Township Road 652, Millersburg, and is open Monday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. To leave a voice mail message, call 330-359-0295.
