Amish furniture is a world brand. Buyers pay $2,000-10,000 for a table that will outlive their grandchildren.
Wood
Oak: strongest, heavy, classic. Cherry: warm color, darkens with age (beautiful aging). Maple: light, strong, elegant. Walnut: dark, expensive, for exclusive pieces. All wood is local — from their own forests or neighboring sawmills.
Joinery
Mortise and tenon: primary. Dovetail: for drawers — beautiful and strong. Wooden pegs instead of nails. Glue: natural (hide or bone). No screws, no particle board, no plywood.
What They Make
Dining tables ($1,500-5,000). Windsor chairs ($300-800). Dressers ($1,000-3,000). Beds ($800-2,500). Cabinets ($2,000-8,000). Rocking chairs ($500-1,500). Cribs. Shelves. Benches.
Business
Furniture workshops are the most profitable Amish business. Revenue $100,000-500,000/year. Orders months ahead. Online sales (through English intermediaries) expanded the market nationwide.