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HomeShop at BookSurgeEducationTeaching Methods & MaterialsThe Furniture Wars: How America Lost a 50 Billion Dollar Industry |
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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 11 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 found the following review helpful:
This book can serve as a compass to navigate the turbulent times ahead. May 07, 2009
By Edward M. Tashjian
The Furniture Wars chronicle the last ~50 years in the furniture trade. But this book will have broad appeal to those outside the industry because the analysis and "truths" he tells are universal to every business. Since furniture is so well understood, the lessons are simply clearer. It is part textbook, part biography, and part memoir wrapped into one compelling saga.
Mr. Dugan is a raconteur. He peppers his stories with interesting facts and anecdotes that bring the pioneers, tyrants and impresarios to life. No punches are pulled as he exposes both the genius as well as the warts. He puts what happened into perspective by quoting a broad range of strategists from Carl Von Clausewitz to Michael Porter, and his dry sense of humor will find you chuckling to yourself.
More importantly, he makes sense of history by clearly delineating the lessons learned, replete with advice on how to avoid making the same mistakes. While this tome is meaty, (400+ pages) it is a fast read. With the US entering an era where manufacturing is outsourced, margins are thin and it is increasingly more difficult to differentiate, this book can serve as a compass to navigate the turbulent times ahead.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
 Furniture Wars May 05, 2009
By KEN MacARTNEY
This book very accurately recounts the history of the main events surrounding the disappearance of the furniture manufacturing segment of our economy. Having lived the retail experience in furniture myself for over 40 years, I can vouch for the firsthand knowledge that Mike Dugan brings to this chronicle. The book clearly endorses the principle that niche businesses can succeed in America if they are just left alone to manage themselves. Outside, ego driven, corporate parental guidance and contol adds absolutely no value. There was a time when I could unequivocally state that the best furniture in the world was made in the U.S.A., at any price level. What a shame, and thanks to Mike for sharing this story.
Ken MacArtney
3 of 3 found the following review helpful:
Furniture Wars/Future Wars May 11, 2009
By Rand Brandes
Like an Irish Bard chronicling the fortunes of his tribe, in Furniture Wars Michael K. Dugan lauds and laments the fate of the industry he fought with and in for more than thirty years. Moving between the macrocosm of the corporate world and the microcosm of manufacturing, his well-told tale is one of heroes and villains, successful strategies and flawed campaigns, inspired decisions and uninformed failures. Before the "Asian Invasion" in the 1990's, it was essentially a civil war. Domestic big business "Outsiders" thought that they had a clear advantage over the more-often-than-not family business "Insiders." As in recent wars, winning the war was much easier than winning the peace, and the "Outsiders" could not win the hearts and minds of the "Insiders" (or consumers) because they did not understand them. In other words, the more heavily armed and mechanized "Outsiders" did not appreciate the fundamental nature of the furniture industry, which was organic, built upon personal relationships in the factory and on the sales floor, and small, but worthy profit margins. It was a perfect clash of cultures, and Furniture Wars captures it in High Definition.
Dugan examines this war as more than historical witness or industry reporter; he writes as a well-informed insider, someone steeped in the daily operations of the furniture world and the canonical works on leadership, business and culture--new and old. Most importantly, Furniture Wars is not only about the history of the furniture industry, but also about the future of manufacturing in a post-industrial, post-Cowboy capitalism America. The future of America, one gleans from Furniture Wars, will depend upon thousands of niche/boutique industries with low profit margins, but highly committed and talented leadership--like those entrepreneurs and artists that built and may rebuild one of America's exemplary industries. Furniture Wars is illuminating, informative and instructive even to those who take furniture for granted and who only know that they like the look and feel of one chair and not another.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Furniture Wars Rocks Jun 17, 2009
By Old teacher
My husband, involved in the furniture industry for over three decades, has thoroughly enjoyed this book. He's highlighting and rereading portions - something I haven't seen him do since college days! Michael Dugan has created a wonderfully rich history of the furniture industry from an insider's point of view.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Furniture Wars - great read! Jun 14, 2009
By William A. Macdonnell
I think Mike Dugan has done a great job at given a view of the furniture business and how different it is than other industries. I think that many in government would benefit from Dugan's description on how China has taken over one of our oldest industries. We have countless unemployeed because of thisIt doesn't read like the typical business book. Comparing the furniture business to the "briar patch"gives great insight into the industry's challenges.This would be a great book for all college business majors & Harvard MBAs. They would have inside knowledge of the lies taught in school.
See all 11 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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