“The project will teach us what it needs to be” as it grows, Bush said. The initial focus was on hospice patients because of need, but it may expand and evolve. The website allows box creators, recipients and their loved ones to share their stories, helping in this organic growth. Board meetings are focused on feedback as well.
Yoder and his wife, Mary, opened the store in March 2006 with the goal of bringing quality American-made furniture to the area. In January, the Yoders opened a location in Tulsa at 81st Street and Sheridan Road.
Bennett said he likes to work in Japanese torii style, which is a style of a traditional Japanese gate most commonly found at the entrance of a Shinto shrine or inside. He’s been building furniture for about 16 years and has a background in boat work.
The Chouteau location will be running a sale during the event. Yoder said the store will offer 10 percent off every item, with selected floor items up to 25 percent off.
Marston told me that ebooks were less of a concern to IKEA than other dazzling doodads taking up more of a market share. The biggest concern was how customers used furniture. And ebooks, while a modest factor, was hardly the whole enchilada. “We’re more focused in say a laptop or how they’re using an iPad,” said Marston. “How would that change the way a living room is configured? Or how people are taking their media?”
She consulted Jeff Slaton, the associate manager at Rockler Woodworking and Hardware in Sandy Springs, and began talking about the idea. Some time passed and Slaton later told Bush it was time to start the project. He connected her with Woodworkers’ Guild of Georgia members who might be interested, including Paul Fussell, who does community outreach for the guild.
