Bedroom manufacturer Barn Door to close

N.C. factory cites low-cost imports, declining sales, mounting losses

-- Kids Today, 9/26/2007 11:46:00 AM

By Jeff Linville

Battered by low-cost imports, 30-year-old rustic youth bedroom maker Barn Door here will cease production at the end of October, with the factory closing by year’s end.

“After several years of declining sales and mounting losses with no improvement in sight, the company’s owners decided to close the facility,” said John Paul Tate, son of President John Tate.

Some of the company’s 62 workers will stay on during November and December to ship finished goods. Barn Door is based in Henderson, N.C.

Barn Door, which had a High Point showroom on the second floor of the International Home Furnishings Center’s Main wing, won’t show at next week’s market. The company once showed in Tupelo, but pulled out there several markets ago.

Barn Door’s rustic line included twin beds, bunk beds and bed systems that included storage, sleep and study. The company was hurt not only by Asian imports, but by pine suites from such South American countries as Brazil, said John Tate.

John Paul Tate said he had worked in advertising before leaving that field to help his father at Barn Door. He said the furniture industry had left a bad taste in his mouth, and he likely would return to advertising, perhaps opening his own firm.