Sit on the porch and enjoy the view
By Dave Mast
If variety is the spice of life, then Kauffman Lawn Furniture has to be one of the spiciest furniture stores around, with a complete line of outdoor furniture that runs the gamut from the smallest, most detailed ornaments to large playground items.
Offering a full line of outdoor furniture, Adirondack chairs, arbors, birdfeeders, baskets, gazebos, gliders, swings, gym sets, lighthouses, mailboxes, rocking horses, picnic tables, storage barns, playhouses and garages - including a large selection of poly-vinyl products - Kauffman Lawn Furniture can spruce up any outdoor landscaping project, or create that special look for your garden, front porch or yard.
If it decorates the outside of your home, chances are Kauffman Lawn Furniture will carry it. Kauffman Lawn Furniture grew, oddly enough, out of a pumpkin stand. Ten years ago, David Kauffman began selling pumpkins on the side of the road by his home just north of Berlin on U.S. Rt. 62. He had several people ask if he could sell some of their outdoor products on commission. The idea caught on quickly, and since then the pumpkins have been scarce, while the outdoor furniture has multiplied.
"We started out with small crafts, and kind of went from there," said Kauffman. "As we have grown, we have taken on a large line of products; pretty much anything that has to do with outdoors around the home." One of the store's biggest sellers is the children's playground equipment. Noah's Ark, playhouses, trucks - there is a large array of choices when it comes to offering playground equipment for the kids.
"We carry all of the playground equipment in Weaver's vinyl and in regular wooden style," said Kauffman. "We can custom-create any kind of playhouse in any number of styles, sizes and colors. The customer's imagination is the limit." Since the playhouses are modular, they can be shaped and formed in a lot of different ways. Plus, Kauffman's also sells new replacement parts for those worn out swings, monkey bars, slides, rings or baby swings which can wear out from time to time.
Another strong line for Kauffman has been the lawn furniture line. With a half dozen product lines, the possibilities of creating something unique and fitting for your outdoor patio or deck are great. "We've got treated lumber, poplar, oak, cedar, Cyprus, and the new poly-lumber has become very popular. It is being used in picnic tables, chairs, rockers, and it comes in seven different colors."
Why has the poly-furniture become such a big star among outdoor furniture?
"You never have to paint it, it won't ever fade and there's very little upkeep," said Kauffman. "It pretty much takes care of itself, and it's nice looking. "I'd like to think that we carry as much poly-furniture as anyone around."
A third item which Kauffman's have built their reputation on are their lighthouses. One of the features denoting their store is the 20-foot lighthouse by St. Rt. 62 marking their site. They have a huge selection of these rustic lawn pieces which can be used to decorate inside and outside, and are able to create each according to the customer's wishes. "From two feet to 20 feet, we have a whole line of treated lighthouses that we can paint in any color," said Kauffman. "There's always been something stylish and impressive about lighthouses that people like."
Kauffman's also offers a complete line of gazebos, in a variety of sizes. And with a huge selection of colors and materials, the possibilities are endless. "We even offer gazebos with the hot tub enclosure, which you don't see in too many places," said Kauffman.
Doing customized pieces is something that Kauffman takes great pride in. Being able to create something which the customer has specifically in mind is another way that they can treat their customers the way that they would like to be treated themselves. "We're not some huge superstore cranking out product that looks assembly-line," said Kauffman. "A big part of what we do here is keeping our customers happy and coming back because they know they'll be treated right and taken care of. We try to form relationships with our customers that will last, and being able to offer them something that they want in specific is part of that."
They also carry a complete line of custom barns created by JDM Structures of Berlin, as well as a new line of concrete statuettes.
Kauffman Lawn Furniture is open from Monday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Although Kauffman, who lives right beside the store, said the hours can be flexible. "We're pretty much open all hours," said Kauffman. "We live right here. We're basically open until dark, any time but Sundays.
Kauffman's Lawn Furniture is located at 4540 U.S. 62, one mile north of Berlin. Just look for the big lighthouse. Phone: 330-893-3149.
