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About Brown Wood, Inc.

Our People

Creativity, lateral thinking, innovative mindset, imaginative leap. These are all synonyms for “thinking outside the box” and a good description of what you get when you work with any of our Brown Wood Associates. Whether helping you design a new product, stepping in to help when your supply chain falters or working with you to improve efficiencies in your JIT programs, our Associates will partner with you to get the job done. Through its two distinctive brands, Made To Spec and Designs of Distinction, Brown Wood Inc. serves as an industry leading partner to manufacturers, retailers, distributors, engineers, architects and interior designers. Founded in 1927 and FSC certified since 2001, Brown Wood offers cutting edge capabilities, a consultative approach, and a vast array of products to help each customers project realize it’s greatest potential.

Our Team

Terry D. Gross

President

Kathryn Constantine

Vice President

John Oliver

Director of Sales - Made-to-Spec®

Nick Constantine

Sales - Made-to-Spec®

Laura Rodelius

Controller

Eli Albert

Online Marketplace Manager - Designs of Distinction®

Kathy Rocklin

Customer Service Specialist

Mimi Rubin

Customer Service Specialist

Chuck Cutler

Warehouse Manager

Enrique Perez

Warehouse Team Member
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Founded in 1927

Our History

In 1927, George Brown, an entrepreneur, recognized that OEMs lacked a source for quality wood products in the Midwest. Mr. Brown initially focused on providing wood turnings for tool handles and garden implements. But his efforts quickly expanded to include wood bearings for agricultural equipment and fully machined parts for military needs. By the early 1950s, Mr. Brown had evolved his business into a full service company providing wood parts and component for virtually every conceivable need for diverse markets across the US. Today, Brown Wood, Inc. continues to grow. The firm has facilities just outside Chicago as well as in Maine, and Ohio.

1927

Brown Wood Products Established

George Brown started the company in 1927. His son, Ken Brown, succeeded him in the 60's.

1969

The Gavel Co. Founded

Brown Wood Products saw a need in the awards & recognition industry for a high-quality line of gavels. The Gavel Company began with a line of gavels ranging in size from 3 inches to 3 feet available in a wide variety of wood species.

1998

Designs of Distinction®

Brown Wood Products creates Designs of Distinction, a brand of decorative wood components for the Kitchen and Bath Industry.

2010

New Name & New Operation

Brown Wood Products changes its name to Brown Wood, Inc., and starts a new manufacturing operation in New Philadelphia, OH.

2014

More Than Just Wood

Designs of Distinction introduces a new line of decorative metal components

2017

90th Anniversary

For 90 years, Brown Wood Inc. has weathered the storms of depression, the surge in the use of plastics, the spotted owl, world wars and the mass exodus of manufacturing to Asia. We are proud to celebrate our 90th anniversary as a Made-in-America manufacturer.

2018

New Furniture Line

Designs of Distinction adds new line of furniture components. Designs of Distinction sees the growth of high end custom furniture and the need for modern metal and wood furniture components.

Our Facilities

HEADQUARTERS Centrally located and easily accessible, our corporate headquarters and Designs of Distinction warehouse are conveniently located just outside of Chicago, IL., making us your ideal partner for distribution. MANUFACTURING PLANT In the heart of Amish woodworking country, our manufacturing facility boasts CNC turning lathes, high speed Mattison lathes, and all the necessary equipment needed to produce both large and small volume domestic turnings. Our working relationship with other facilities in the area allows us to provide you with turnkey solutions for not only wood products, but the parts that go with them. If you need finished parts, packaged parts, or completely assembled table parts with hardware and instructions, we can do that….just say the word. OTHER LOCATIONS: Yarmouth, Maine Hutchinson, Minnesota

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Our Environmental Responsibility

Brown Wood, Inc. is committed to responsible environmental policies and practices within our manufacturing process. The implementation of environmentally responsible processes and manufacturing techniques enables us to keep the protection of the environment and the conservation of our natural resources at the forefront of Brown Wood’s corporate policy.

  • Electronic communications are used to limit the amount of printed materials

  • Recycle and/or reuse cardboard and paper products.

  • Practical rejected wood products are processed down to be used to manufacture other components.

  • All rejected wood products unusable in the manufacturing of another component is used to heat our facility.

  • All sawdust is recycled and used by local farmers as cattle bedding.

Made-to-Spec is a single-source custom wood components partner with cost-effective solutions for a wide range of industries including hospitality, store fixture, product display, furniture, kitchen and bath and OEM. We can produce virtually anything in wood, to any specifications – long or short runs, short timeframes – you name it. Trust Made-To-Spec as your high-quality wood products manufacturer. All of our products are made in the USA.

From the moment the first cabinet maker called and asked us to make a leg that was “bigger and wider, to hold up a countertop”, to the introduction of hand scraped floating shelves, Designs of Distinction has been working with cabinet and furniture makers to add beauty to their designs.

Responsive. Knowledgeable. Capable. Flexible.

Many wood providers only supply parts, without considering the big picture plan or timeframe. The result: you expend valuable time and resources just managing bids and logistics. Brown Wood is different. We work collaboratively with you, bringing our expertise and capabilities to add value to your projects. Flexibility defines our business.

  • Ability to produce virtually anything custom
  • Value engineering for cost savings
  • Tools for make-or-buy analysis
  • Immediate, clear, concise pricing (no cost overruns)
  • Vast US production capabilities
  • Ability to use FSC certified materials as required
  • Production, finishing, assembly and packaging
  • Long and short runs
  • Short lead times

Responsive. Knowledgeable. Capable. Flexible.

Our journey has taken us from a small supplier of furniture parts, to working with the largest brands to develop new and innovative products for cabinetry and home decor. We continue to seek inspiration from our customers and the design community as we move forward with our ever-changing line of decorative accessories for furniture, cabinets and the home.

  • Over $1,000,000 of on hand inventory
  • More than 3,000 sku’s and 35 collections
  • Stocked species include Hard Maple, Cherry, Red Oak, Alder, White Oak and Walnut
  • Stock metals include Stainless steel, anodized aluminum finishes and powder coated finishes
  • Patented undercabinet lighting program
  • Stock orders ship in 24-48 hours
  • JIT, Warehouse and Drop Ship programs available and warehousing of proprietary parts available
  • Product development and design
  • Small Quantity Custom components are our specialty
  • Finished goods programs available
  • Product training programs

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