In 1934, Erie Sauder started a woodworking business in a barn behind his Archbold, Ohio home. Originally building custom cabinets and church pews, he began crafting small tables from what he called “leftovers.”

Not wanting to waste scraps from expensive fine woods, the frugal businessman began producing inexpensive occasional tables. In 1940, these tables caught the attention of a traveling salesman, who placed an order for 25,000 tables, a huge order for the fledgling company.

Using ingenuity and sheer determination, Sauder Woodworking Co was formed and production began. In 1951, Sauder introduced an entirely new concept, a patented table that could be assembled in the home. This snap-together table marked the beginning of the ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture industry.

Today, Sauder Woodworking Co. remains a privately held, family-run company. It is the nation’s seventh largest residential furniture manufacturer and North America’s largest maker of ready-to-assemble (RTA) furniture. Currently, the company produces nearly 25 percent of all RTA furnishings in the United States and supplies the majority of RTA goods to the Rent to Own industry.

Headquartered in Archbold, Ohio, the company employs approximately 3,500 people. Sauder Woodworking RTA sales totaled $498 million in 2001. Subsidiaries include

• Progressive Furniture Inc.
  Manufacturer and importer of traditional solid wood, veneered and laminate furniture
• Sauder Manufacturing Company
  The nation’s leading manufacturer of church seating and a major provider of institutional seating
• Archbold Container
  Producer of packaging materials. Corporate revenues were $700 million.

Sauder markets more than 30 distinct furniture collections in a full line of RTA furnishings for the home, including home office, entertainment, bedroom, kitchen and storage. Offering nearly 600 items, Sauder supplies the broadest assortment of RTA offered in the industry.

Sauder was the first RTA manufacturer to launch a national advertising campaign. Extensive marketing efforts throughout the years have led Sauder to become one of the most recognizable brands in the furniture industry.

If your reading this article...you have their products on your floor.

Progressive Furniture, a division of Sauder Woodworking Co., recently named Paul Manley Senior VP of operations. Mr. Manley will report to another recognizable name, Pete Pilliod, Chairman of Progressive.