Meet John Sligh, Co-Founder of Legacy Restored
How did you get started in the furniture industry?
My Great Grandfather founded Sligh Furniture Company in 1880 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I wanted to go into the family business as long as I can remember. After college I worked for companies related to the furniture business on the commercial side for several years until a Sligh sales position opened. I held that position for over 20 years until the company was sold in 2011.
What are the earliest memories of your family’s furniture business?
Growing up, Dad was the President of Sligh Furniture. Dinner table conversations were often about family business. As kids, Dad would take us to the furniture market in Chicago where Sligh had a showroom at the Merchandise Mart and put us to work waxing desk drawers, dusting, moving furniture around the showroom and helping with general set-up. In college, I worked two summers at the factory, enjoyed learning how fine furniture was made and getting to know the employees.
What did you learn from your experiences in and around the furniture business?
Furniture is a relationship business and people are friendly - dealers, furniture representatives, management, everyone, which makes it fun to go to work. While the increase of imports has made it more challenging for domestic companies to compete on price in recent years, quality still appeals to customers who appreciate fine furniture, either vintage or new. Therefore, there will always be a market for good quality.
What is your goal for Legacy Restored?
Our goal is to repurpose pre-owned fine furniture that was made in the United States and make it available to future generations. There’s a lot of well-made furniture manufactured generations ago by talented craftsmen and women. Our family was part of that furniture history along with other family-owned furniture businesses throughout the United States. Working with my son Bill to help bring this furniture back to life is our way of honoring all the people involved in making fine furniture in years past. Their legacy will live on, or you might say their Legacy will be Restored.
#furniture #vintagefurniture #legacyrestoredfurniture #repurposedfurniture #grandrapids #furniturerestoration