A cross-national investigation of competitive factors affecting the United States wood furniture industry

Few wood products industries in the United States have felt the competitive pressures from the globalization of their markets as much as the furniture industry. In 1978, imports claimed only 6.6 percent of the U.S. consumption of wood household furniture. By 1986, they had reached 26.6 percent of consumption according to U.S. Commerce Department statistics. Globalization of an industry is an evolutionary process that is likely to become a prevalent trend in the future. The secondary wood products industry in the United States has largely been protected from foreign competitors because of its established position within the domestic market, abundance of raw materials, and certain transportation barriers. However, future strategies for this industry should be developed that consider global competition a possibility, if not a reality. This paper examines the position of U.S. furniture producers within a global industry by examining important strategic issues and alternative strategies facing competitors in a global industry. In addition, trends affecting global competition will be explored. To analyze competition in a global industry, it is necessary to examine industry economics and competitors in the various national markets jointly rather than individually. Therefore, the competitive structure and strategies of the key Pacific Rim countries of Taiwan and South Korea are examined. Primary data collection, via mail surveys and personal interviews, provides the basis of this cross national exploratory investigation.

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