The latest copycat we've come across is a company calling themselves American Eco Furniture.  See any similarities in our logos?  Our Vermont Woods Studios logo (above) has three trees made with thumbprints to signify the handcrafted nature of our furniture. The trunk on each tree is unique to convey that our furniture makers are independent, with their own styles, designs and crafting techniques. Our American made furniture is carefully handcrafted in Vermont of solid, sustainably harvested wood.  It's guaranteed for a lifetime.  It truly is the real thing.

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but it's still frustrating to see people take your work, copy it and try to sell it as their own.  Contrary to the information on their website, most of the furniture sold by this copycat is neither eco-friendly nor American made.

By contrast, most of the furniture sold by this company is neither American made nor eco friendly.

It turns out that we can have attorneys go after this company (and the many others like it) but I'm not sure we can afford to take our focus off making Vermont Woods Studios best in it's class– in order to chase them down.  It's kind of like that "Whack-A Mole" game.  New scams just keep popping up.

I can't help humming that old song by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell.  Remember it?  Ain't Nothin Like The Real Thing, Baby.

So I just have to hope consumers aren't getting us confused with the fly-by-nights.  In talking with our customers we've learned they typically spend 3-4 months shopping and researching before they make an investment in American handmade furniture.  I think that's what it takes anymore to make sure you're getting the real thing. 

What do you think?  Drop us a line in the comments section below or on our Facebook.  We love hearing from you!

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Many times customers who come to us looking for real wood (usually teak or mahogany) outdoor furniture opt instead for our "faux wood" Polywood all-weather furniture. 

Why?  Well although we love the warmth and integrity of real wood, it's is increasingly being seen as inappropriate for outdoor, all weather furniture.  The main issue from an environmental standpoint is durability and longevity.  Eco conscious customers are looking for furniture (both indoor and outdoor) that's built to last a lifetime… stuff that's not going to end up in a landfill.  So for all you wood lovers (myself included), here are the:

Three Best Features Of Faux Wood All Weather Outdoor Furniture

1. Faux wood, Polywood furniture doesn't rot, mold, mildew, crack, flake or warp like real wood outdoor furniture does
2. Faux wood, Polywood furniture is maintenance free. No more scaping, sanding or painting.  It's made to rest and relax in, rather than create work at the end of the season
3. Faux wood, Polywood eliminates the need for winter storage.  You can leave your polywood furniture outside all winter.  So you save storage space, you save wear and tear on your back (remember wood and polywood furniture are heavy).  And you save the time it takes to haul that heavy furniture around every Spring and Fall

Now I know how hard it can be for wood lovers to come to terms with buying "fake wood".  I never would have considered it myself if I hadn't seen the statistics our environmental conservation partners are citing about the rate we're losing the world's precious rainforests.  But as I started to look into Polywood and try out their "faux wood" furniture I became hooked.  It looks fabulous, it's very comfortable and it's maintenance-free.  It's the clear environmental and design/style choice for all weather outdoor furniture. 

At Vermont Woods Studios, as wood furniture makers, our mission is built upon forest conservation.  We're especially committed to preservation of the rainforests– the places where teak and mahogany outdoor furniture originate.  In concert with rainforest protection groups worlwide, such as Rainforest Relief, we'll continue to work showcasing better alternatives to outdoor furniture made of tropical woods as part of our rainforest conservation efforts. 

Still not convinced?  Here's a few more reasons to buy polywood "faux wood furniture".  Check them out and let us know what you think.

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