Sanders Furniture Refinishing Reinvents Their Business Model
Sanders Furniture Refinishing has been bringing family heirlooms back to life in the greater Waynesboro community since 2005.
David Sanders started his business out of a three-car garage before moving to 43 East Main Street to the unique location once home to Harbaugh’s Hardware store. Through the years Sanders estimates he has refinished more than 3,000 pieces of furniture. He has tackled everything from antique doors to dining room sets. His most unusual job was from a regular client of his who purchased an antique from overseas. The only problem, the antique was completely dismantled and brought in as a two-foot pile of wood. Sanders had no idea what it should look like. He pieced it together like a puzzle and after refinishing it had a beautiful nine-foot German antique wardrobe known as a Chifferobe.
Although Sanders is fortunate to not have lack of work, he does have lack of help. He said it is getting harder and harder to find people who want to refinish furniture. It is becoming a lost art. Sanders said it takes a long time to refinish a piece of furniture and not everyone sees the financial value in it.
He knew he had to stay on trend and continue to expand his business model so that he could generate more income in the store. In 2016 Sanders decided to expand his business by offering space for his daughters Seven Pines Pottery Collection. Soon after that he added seven more Artisans selling everything from beautifully crafted pottery, paintings, wood turning hand crafts, jewelry and more.
The Pandemic hit and Sanders said he had time to think about the avenue he wanted to take his business. He said he enjoys being a designer and after much research decided to purchase an AP Lazer with an Economic Injury Disaster Loan. The AP Lazer is a laser machine that can cut, etch, or engrave anything from wood to metal to glass. Sanders said about the only thing it will not engrave is PVC. The AP Lazer can take anything, regardless of size and weight and make it more personal. “The possibilities are endless,” said Sanders.
To stay on trend, Sanders is planning to sell off the remaining antiques in the other half of his store and make room for more Artisans. He will continue to work on refinishing antiques but will be putting more emphasis on marketing his laser engraving business. The laser business is called Sanders Creations & Laser Graphics.
The next time you need that special gift for someone, give-a-ways for your business, team or event awards or have a special project idea for yourself, be sure to stop by Sanders Furniture Refinishing & Sanders Creations & Laser Graphics.