Bassett furniture is one of the oldest furniture manufacturers in virginia. Bassett iii, of virginias vaughanbassett furniture, wasnt buying it. Bassett furniture industries is a furniture manufacturer and retailer, headquartered in bassett, virginia, united states. The first half of the book is given over to bassett history. With bassett, you get custom furniture without the customary wait. Journalist beth macys page about her books, beginning with factory man, in.
Her book is also a revealing account of the paternalistic bassett dynasty, whose infighting was a constant diversion for everyone living in the company town. And if that reporter is beth macy, who never stops digging for the facts and is a great storyteller to boot, youve got a book you wont be able to put down. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading factory man. His story led former roanoke times reporter beth macy to write factory man. But beginning in the 1980s, the first waves of asian competition hit, and ultimately bassett was forced to send its production overseas. How a factory man fought to save his furniture company in the town of bassett in southern virginia, some of the downtown street lights are dark.
And if his furniture business is alive today it is largely because mr bassett won his fight. How one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed local and helped save an american town, in which she discusses about the bassett furniture company. Beth macy painted a colorful word portrait of bassett and his battle in her 2014 bestselling book, factory man. John bassett iii discusses book factory man 550ktrstv. Jul 15, 2014 so, lets try for a better description of factory man, the one macy herself uses. For some wood products, we stock components that we source globally. Furniture maker john bassett on how to save jobs raleigh. Factory man by beth macy is the story of the famous bassett family of bassett furniture fame and fortune. Ultimately, bassett s efforts saved some 700 jobs and his vaughan bassett company, the nations largest wood bedroom furniture maker. Factory man is so thick with rich characters, family secrets and backwoods wisdom that this very abundance becomes its one flaw.
Jul 14, 2014 how a factory man fought to save his furniture company virginia furniture owner john bassett iii was determined to beat out foreign competitors. Aug 19, 2014 beth macy talks about the bassett furniture company and its decision not to offshore its production, even though the company faced tremendous competition from china. How one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed localand helped save an american town by beth macy. One man s battle to save hundreds of jobs by taking on china and demonstrating the greatness of american business. So, lets try for a better description of factory man, the one macy herself uses. Feb 06, 2015 john bassett iii joins the mcgraw show to introduce book factory man. Factory man john bassett iii shares words in own book. Factory man explores human side of how globalization. How a factory man fought to save his furniture company. As she shows how he uses legal maneuvers, factory efficiencies, and sheer grit, cunning, and will to save hundreds of jobs, she also discovers the hidden and shocking truth about industry and america. The decline of an american furniture maker the new yorker. Jun 10, 2019 factory man proved very popular and helped boost the companys popularity.
The project, produced by tom hanks and gary goetzmans playtone, is based on beth macys nonfiction book factory man. Our beautiful furniture line is made by 700 american craftsman. How one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed local and helped save an american town little, brown and co. Tom hanks to produce factory man miniseries at hbo deadline. The first half of the book is given over to bassett history in great detail. Bassett, iii, chairman of vaughanbassett furniture company and his fight to keep 700 furniture jobs in the united states. I kept thinking about our worthless antique as i read beth macys factory man, a wellcrafted and epic tale tracing the rise of a virginia furnituremaking empire through the 20th century and the. Our commitment to quality has earned us the respect of our customers and made us the largest manufacturer of wooden adult bedroom furniture in the country. In factory man, a struggle to stay competitive the new. Factory man brings a dilemma home dayton, oh entertainment. In factory man, beth macy brings to life bassett s deeply personal furniture and family story. The lamps, maintained by the once prosperous bassett. Bibliography and more below is the bibliography for factory man.
If you are looking for another quality bedroom furniture company then i suggest you take a look at coaster furniture. Jeffrey brown profiles factory man, a new book by beth macy, that recalls of the rise and fall of the industry, as well as one hardearned success story. Bassett furniture has a wide variety of handmade living room, bedroom, and dining room furniture that works with all styles. Factory man is a portrait of a specific individual, namely john bassett iii, the son of a north carolina furniture manufacturing dynasty. Because of our commitment to custom furniture without the customary wait, we dont make it until you order it. The instant new york times bestseller about one mans battle to save hundreds of jobs by demonstrating the greatness of american business. Factory man the first line of factory man is once in a reporters life career, if one is very lucky, a person like john d. Built by 500 skilled craftsmen in our galax, virginia factory, our furniture is constructed from solid maple, solid cherry, or solid oak to ensure the highest level of quality. In factory man, beth macy brings to life bassetts deeply personal furniture and family. How one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed local and helped. The book tracks john bassetts fight to keep american jobs on this side of. In his quest to stem massive layoffs and plant closings he also had to take a stand against some americans. Factory man by beth macy little, brown and company. Virginia furniture owner john bassett iii was determined to beat out.
How one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed local and. John bassett iii discusses book factory man youtube. I document the battle in my forthcoming book factory man. The factory man of her title is john bassett iii jbiii, the man who is still making furniture at his vaughan bassett furniture factory in galax, va. Its about a battle, by a thirdgeneration furniture manufacturer, john bassett iii, to save his factories and. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The subject of national bestseller now is the author of a howto book on. Jul 15, 2014 beth macys new book factory man tells the story of a furniture maker in virginia who took on the asian factories that produced inexpensive knockoffs of american furniture.
The company began its operation in rural virginia and quickly emerged as a leader in the us furniture manufacturing industry. Bassett iii, who was determined to maintain american manufacturing and fight chinese dumping imports. It is also a reflection of the history of furniture manufacturing in america and the world. The company began its operation in rural virginia and quickly emerged as a leader in the us furnituremanufacturing industry. How one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed local and helped save an american town. John bassett iii, whose fight to keep his furniture company afloat was the subject of beth macys 2014 bestseller factory man. Author beth macy documents him, and the collapse of the u. How one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed. Factory man proved very popular and helped boost the companys popularity.
When youre ready to design your own recliner, book an appointment with a bassett design consultant. Factory man chronicles bassett family and their furniture. Jul 03, 2014 in beth macys factory man, the head of a southern furniture company pushes back against chinese competition and unfavorable trade policies. Vaughan bassett ended up with fortysix million dollars in antidumping duties, a. The book, titled factory man, follows bassetts travels and tribulations including to the hinterlands of china to meet his ultimate competitors. Factory man wonderfully recounts the davidandgoliath. Jul 14, 2014 factory man npr coverage of factory man. Aug 17, 2014 factory man is so thick with rich characters, family secrets and backwoods wisdom that this very abundance becomes its one flaw.
In factory man, beth macy brings to life john bassett s fascinating business, with wildly colorful stories from an american industry that once ruled. Bassett, iii, chairman of vaughan bassett furniture company and his fight to keep 700 furniture jobs in the united states. Theyll help you turn inspiration into reality with furniture that looks beautiful and will last a lifetime. I kept thinking about our worthless antique as i read beth macys factory man, a wellcrafted and epic tale tracing the rise of a virginia furniture making empire through the 20th century and. A thirdgeneration factory owner, john bassett is from the bassett furniture family, the founders of what was once the largest furniture making enterprise in the world. Run by the same powerful virginia family for generations, it was also the center of life in bassett, virginia. Describes how the chairman of vaughanbassett furniture fought for his more than 700 employees in a small virginia town using legal maneuvers, factory efficiencies. In factory man, beth macy brings to life bassetts deeply personal furniture and family story, along with a host of characters from an industry that was as cutthroat as it was colorful. Click here to order this book one mans battle to save hundreds of jobs by taking on china and demonstrating the greatness of american business read the new york times best seller about john d. Factory man explores human side of globalization youtube. How one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed local and helped save an american town, in which she discusses about the bassett furniture. Journalist beth macy traces his quest to preserve his family factory and save the jobs of the 700 people who work there as he proves that one person can make a difference.
With its success came the need for more and more factories and more and more employees. How one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed localand helped save an american town, awardwinning journalist beth macy tells the story of john. Based in galax, virginia, vaughan bassett furniture company has been manufacturing quality furniture for 100 years. As she shows how he uses legal maneuvers, factory efficiencies, and sheer grit and cunning to save hundreds of jobs, she also reveals the truth about modern industry in america. We replace every tree used to make our furniture through a unique and innovative program developed with the virginia department of forestry. How one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed local. How one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed local and helped save an american town kindle edition by macy, beth. How one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed local and helped save an american town, in which she. Vaughan bassett have one priority of keeping the customer happy. The american furniture maker who battled wall street, chinese competition and.
Factory man book click here to order this book one mans battle to save hundreds of jobs by taking on china and demonstrating the greatness of american business read the new york times best seller about john d. Virginia furniture owner john bassett iii was determined to beat out foreign competitors. Find unique places to stay with local hosts in 191 countries. John bassett iii, a shrewd and determined thirdgeneration factory man who used grit, tenacity, and will to compete against china and ultimately save his familys company. When the 100yearold family furniture company started by his grandfather, now a public company, shuttered its virginia factory and gutted the town where it. The subtitle of this book is how one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed local and helped save an american. Meet john bassett, title character of factory man at. The instant new york times bestseller about one man s battle to save hundreds of jobs by demonstrating the greatness of american business. How one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed localand helped save an american town, awardwinning journalist beth macy tells. Vaughanbassett have one priority of keeping the customer happy.
John bassett iii, whose fight to keep his furniture company afloat was the subject of beth macys 2014 bestseller, factory man. Aug 31, 2014 factory man tells the story of one mans fight to save a dying industry and the small southern towns that depend on it. The book, titled factory man, follows bassett s travels and tribulations including to the hinterlands of china to meet his ultimate competitors. The first half of the book is given over to bassett history in. Factory man is a story of the bassett furniture company once the worlds largest furniture maker and heir john d. The bassett furniture company was once the worlds biggest wood furniture manufacturer.
One mans battle to save hundreds of jobs by taking on china and demonstrating the greatness of american business. More than 19,000 textile and furniture factory workers lost their jobs in henry county and martinsville, but two hours away in galax, john bassett fought back to keep his 700 factory workers employed. How one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed local and helped save an. There is an element of don quixote about it, as some of bassetts. The new book factory man by beth macy, chronicles the story. Bassett, iii, chairman of vaughanbassett furniture company, and his fight to keep 700 furniture jobs in the united states. As she shows how he uses legal maneuvers, factory efficiencies, and sheer grit and cunning to save hundreds of jobs, she also reveals the truth about modern. Sep 15, 2014 the project, produced by tom hanks and gary goetzmans playtone, is based on beth macys nonfiction book factory man. In factory man, beth macy brings to life bassett s deeply personal furniture. The company shouldnt be confused with bassett furniture industries. Jul 28, 2014 in her excellent new book factory man. Jeffrey brown profiles factory man, a new book by beth macy, that recalls of the rise and fall of the industry, as well as one hard. Ultimately, bassetts efforts saved some 700 jobs and his vaughanbassett company, the nations largest wood bedroom furniture maker.
We have for some time been awash in books detailing the. Factory man summary factory man by beth macy is the story of the famous bassett family of bassett furniture fame and fortune. We invite you to explore our beautiful, americanmade furniture collections. Roanoker beth macys bestselling book, factory man, quoted former bassett employees who described bob spilman sr. Factory man revolves around bassett furniture industries, once a household name in the furniture business.
The house is within walking distance of the lake and the mountains are just outside the door. How one furniture maker battled offshoring, stayed localand helped save an american town, was the winner of the 20 j. Vaughanbassett furniture chairman tells how to make it in. It is impossible to read beth macys factory man without casting the. In factory man, beth macy brings to life bassett s deeply personal furniture and family story, along with a host of characters from an industry that was as cutthroat as it was colorful. In summer you can enjoy many outdoor activities such as. All additional articles, papers and news sources cited are listed in the chapterbychapter notes section at the end of the book. Macys previous book, factory man told the story of the bassett furniture company and john bassett iii, chairman of vaughan bassett furniture co.
Factory man is the patriotic story of a family legacy, a relentless work ethic that includes 1 a. Author beth macy documents him, and the collapse of. Doug bassett, left, son of john bassett iii, owner of vaughan bassett furniture factory and subject of factory man, the bestselling book by beth macy, talks with longtime employee shirley. At vaughan bassett, we take pride in bringing you wellcrafted furniture at affordable prices.
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